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Tag: air cargo

Air Cargo Hub Jewel

Posted on by David Priestman

Where is the air cargo market headed? David Priestman met Mr Lim Ching Kiat, Managing Director for Air Hub Development at Singapore’s Changi Airport Group (CAG), at the World Air Cargo Forum in Miami to gain a perspective.

Despite short-term challenges, such as global economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures, air cargo continues to flourish. CAG is owned by the Singaporean government but is self-governing and remains steadfast in its mission to facilitate global trade. “Our goal is to bring more traffic overall; more airlines and more destinations,” Mr Lim informed me. “Our motto is ‘Welcome to World Class’.”

Total air cargo throughput has recovered to near pre-pandemic levels, 2m tonnes p.a. at Changi, but is heavily dependent on belly capacity in passenger jets. “Cargo recovered more quickly than passenger traffic,” Lim added, “because there are no borders for freight. But it is quite flat so we are cautious.” The ban on western airlines flying in Russian airspace reduces capacity but is leading to new lanes. Another big holdback is the lack of travel in and out of China, which was Changi’s number two passenger market pre-Covid.

Changi’s top five air cargo markets currently are China, Australia, USA, Hong Kong and Japan. Lim sees growth potential in South East Asia, where diversification is creating new, resilient supply chains. He identified key verticals: perishables, pharmaceuticals, ecommerce, oil/gas and advanced materials.

New cargo links

Pursuing air cargo connectivity and capacity, as well as building long-term competitive advantages, are paramount to the Changi cargo hub and it will continue efforts to work closely with airline partners to expand their freighter operations and passenger flights. Changi Airport has recently welcomed three new freighter operators – SpiceXpress, Tasman Cargo Airlines and Atlas Air. DHL Express has supplemented its intercontinental trans-shipment network from Changi with partners, including five Boeing 777 freighters jointly operated with Singapore Airlines operating on routes via points in North Asia and Australia.

The pandemic has shown that global supply chains are vulnerable but there is a pressing need for the air cargo sector to move forward with digitalization and automation, in order to improve the efficiency of otherwise manual processes. Digitalization will also enable an interconnected air cargo ecosystem and empower data-sharing. Through this, improved supply chain visibility for better demand planning and operational excellence can be achieved.

CAG is facilitating closer industry collaboration. A community data-sharing platform – Changi Air Cargo Community System, is an open ecosystem of applications underpinned by an information-sharing platform that aggregates export data from all forwarders and shippers involved in the cargo handling process.

Among the first use cases is the Truck Dock Slot Booking application, which aims to even out cargo lodgement and collection at the handler’s airfreight terminals, thereby reducing waiting time. Lorries/trucks arrive exactly when the shipment is ready, optimizing resources and supporting the airport’s sustainability efforts.

CAG also focuses on pharmaceutical handling capabilities. Locally, it has established a large community of IATA pharma-certified companies. It meets to discuss emerging pharma supply chain trends and discuss how to address these. “We offer economies of scale, compared to other hubs,” Lim stated. CAG continues to automate materials handling in its warehousing due to the shortage of manpower.

Changi Airport’s cargo facilities will be expanded with the opening of the new Changi East Industrial Zone (CEIZ), built on land reclaimed from the sea, as part of the Changi East Development, in the mid-2030s. CEIZ will serve airfreight, air express and maintenance, repair and operation activities. Together with a re-modelled Changi Airfreight Centre that forms a contiguous cargo village, handling capabilities will increase from 3 million tonnes per annum today, to 5.4 million tonnes per annum when the project is completed. With CEIZ, CAG also hopes to better serve freighter operations with a sizeable increase in freighter bays.

 

Titanosaur Skeleton Flown from Argentina to UK

Posted on by David Priestman

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, has safely delivered one of the largest dinosaurs to walk the Earth on a shipment from Buenos Aires to London Heathrow. The titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum is around the same length as a British Airways’ Airbus A320 aircraft or four double decker buses.

The Natural History Museum confirmed IAG Cargo as its official exhibition logistics partner for its upcoming exhibition Titanosaur: Life as the biggest dinosaur back in November 2022. Now on UK soil, this will be the first time the magnificent titanosaur will be displayed in Europe.

The dinosaur’s journey started in Trelow, Argentina, from where the cast travelled to Buenos Aires before it moved onto London. In Trelow, Argentina, Patagotitan was dismantled into more than 40 crates – to be flown in the bellyhold of two British Airways B787-9 passenger aircrafts. Upon landing at London Heathrow, the unique freight was transported to a special facility ahead of its journey to the Natural History Museum where it will be re-assembled ready for public display in March.

IAG Cargo has many years of experience in transporting high-value, unique and precious consignments via its dedicated ‘Secure’ product, ensuring total peace of mind when it comes to moving cargo like the awe-inspiring titanosaur.

John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo commented: “It is a privilege to partner with the Natural History Museum as the custodian of some of the world’s most important scientific artefacts. I want to thank our teams in Argentina and the UK who made this colossal task of transporting a 37-metre dinosaur a reality.”

Alex Burch, Director of Public Programmes at the Natural History Museum commented: “We’re pleased to have IAG Cargo as our exhibition logistics partner on this exhibition. As one of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth, it is so important that we are able to showcase this cast to the public, connecting our visitors with nature and inspiring them to care for the large animals we share the planet with today.”

British Airways’ Captain Simon Boswell, said: “I and the entire team felt honoured and privileged to fly this unique artefact from Argentina to the UK, and it was really very special to have been able to carry this precious cargo on a British Airways’ aircraft. Working with our sister company IAG Cargo, we’re delighted to have been able to play our part in its safe onward journey.”

The Natural History Museum is both a world-leading science research centre and the most-visited indoor attraction in the UK. With a vision of a future in which both people and the planet thrive, it is uniquely positioned to be a powerful champion for balancing humanity’s needs with those of the natural world.

It is custodian of one of the world’s most important scientific collections comprising over 80 million specimens accessed by researchers from all over the world both in person and via over 30 billion digital data downloads to date. The Museum’s 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency from biodiversity loss through to the sustainable extraction of natural resources.

The Museum uses its global reach and influence to meet its mission to create advocates for the planet – to inform, inspire and empower everyone to make a difference for nature. We welcome millions of visitors through our doors each year, our website has had 17 million visits in the last year and our touring exhibitions have been seen by around 20 million people in the last 10 years.

IAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April 2011. Following the integration of additional airlines into the business, including Aer Lingus, Vueling and bmi, IAG Cargo now covers a global network. In 2021, IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,673 million. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. Its parent company, International Airlines Group, is one of the world’s largest airline groups with 531 aircraft at 31st December 2021. It is the third largest group in Europe and the sixth largest in the world, based on revenue.

cargo-partner and Lufthansa send first SAF shipment

Posted on by Keith McKinley

International transport and logistics company cargo-partner has been pursuing a comprehensive sustainability strategy and championing environment-friendly transport technologies for many years. Now it has seized the opportunity to organise a climate-neutral air freight shipment using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and compensation of the CO₂ emissions generated by the provision of SAF.

The shipment took off from Vienna Airport in early December 2022 and landed at Dallas Fort Worth Airport in Texas the following day. The air freight shipment was carried out on behalf of a customer from the cosmetics industry and amounted to a volume weight of 340kg.

Jo Feiks, Corporate Director Product Management Air Cargo at cargo-partner, said: “We are pleased to set this first important milestone for sustainable transport technology together with our long-standing partner Lufthansa. For both companies, it was the first shipment to depart from Vienna under SAF criteria. With this starting signal, we want to jointly pave the way for CO₂-neutral logistics.”

Various raw materials and processes come into question for the production of SAF. For example, bio kerosene can be produced from residual and waste materials such as household waste, used oils or fats. Using alternative fuels instead of fossil fuels, in combination with other CO₂ offsetting measures, can enable 100% climate-neutral transportation.

“We hope that we can inspire many of our customers to opt for transport with sustainable fuels, and we look forward to numerous follow-up projects together with Lufthansa,” added Feiks.

 

European Cargo celebrates freighter milestone

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Bournemouth Airport’s goal of becoming a strategic air freight hub for the UK has taken a major step forward with news that European Cargo has received EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certification for its Airbus A340 wide-bodied freighter conversion programme.

Bournemouth-based European Cargo is converting a fleet of ex-passenger A340 aircraft into long-haul freighters. Two have already been completed and one more is in progress, with six targeted for completion in early 2023 and options on a further six as demand grows, especially for cross-border e-commerce.

The EASA certification paves the way for a similar assessment by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with European Cargo hoping for the green light in the New Year. Satisfying the safety authorities has included the installation of a sophisticated fire detection and suppression system, including live testing at altitude.

European Cargo’s Managing Director Iain Edwards said: “EASA certification is a landmark moment in the development of our fleet. Our pod containment system has proven itself through a rigorous testing regime and means we are on track for full cabin utilisation, giving each aircraft a combined belly and cabin capacity of 77 tonnes or 450 cubic metres.

“With six freighters already at Bournemouth for conversion and a further six available to us, that catapults us into the No1 slot of UK-based wide-bodied carriers by some margin. And it makes Bournemouth Airport a huge contender in the UK air freight market.”

Transformative year for air cargo

Steve Gill, Managing Director at Bournemouth Airport, which has its own dedicated freight operation, Cargo First, said: “We’d like to congratulate Iain and his team on achieving EASA certification for their first A340 conversion. It’s a great achievement and pending further CAA approval paves the way for the introduction of hundreds of tonnes of global freight capacity from Bournemouth in the New Year. Combined with our location just 90 minutes from London, we think 2023 will be a transformative year for air cargo operations at Bournemouth Airport.”

The announcement has also been welcomed by BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council. Cllr Philip Broadhead, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Development, Growth and Regeneration, said: “This is a huge step forward in establishing a strategic air freight hub at Bournemouth Airport, which will attract further investment and create jobs. The combination of European Cargo’s freight capacity and Cargo First’s efficient handling operation means Bournemouth is well placed to attract more business from the congested hub airports around London.”

European Cargo’s fleet is made up of former Virgin Atlantic and Etihad Airbus A340 passenger aircraft. Its first conversion is an ex-Virgin A340-600, once the world’s longest airliner stretching to 75.4m (247ft) and capable of carrying up to 370 passengers.

Fire containment pods

The conversion process has involved the removal of all bulkheads, rear galley and toilets and replacing them with 39 pods in six different sizes. Each pod is covered by a fire containment bag tested to withstand a lithium battery fire for six and a half hours. It means that any fire can be contained to a single pod, safeguarding the rest of the cargo and aircraft, and enabling a safe diversion to a suitable landing location, even during long trans-oceanic flights.

European says it has a waiting list of freight customers and sees considerable growth opportunities with e-commerce, with global volumes predicted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to double from 131 billion parcels in 2021 to 260 billion in 2025.

 

Dachser appoints new COO

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Dachser is setting the course for future growth in its Air & Sea Logistics (ASL) business field through long-term succession planning. Dr. Tobias Burger (45 – pictured) will succeed Edoardo Podestà (60) as COO Air & Sea Logistics and member of the Executive Board, effective 1st January, 2024. After a Dachser career spanning 20 years, a little over four of them at the helm of ASL, Podestà will step down from active working life at the end of 2023.

“Dr. Tobias Burger is an experienced logistics strategist and we are helping him prepare to take his seat on Dachser’s Executive Board. With his holistic, forward-thinking logistics outlook, he will prove a valuable addition to our Executive Board team,” says Bernhard Simon, Chairman of the Dachser Supervisory Board. “Dr. Burger will also be in charge of all of Dachser’s marketing activities. This means we will be best placed to proactively address complex market changes, particularly in air and sea freight, and to position ourselves accordingly.”

A former management consultant, Dr. Burger joined Dachser in 2009. He worked in controlling and strategy development before being given responsibility for Corporate Governance. At that time, he was already overseeing the development of air and sea operations toward a seamless global network. As Deputy Director Air & Sea Logistics, Dr. Burger has served as Podestà’s right-hand man since 2019. During this period, he was first put in charge of ASL global sales, a position whose responsibilities currently include strategic development for the entire business field. Since 2021, he has also been leading the ASL EMEA business unit.

Dachser appoints Meier to replace Burger

Effective 1st January, 2023, Dr. Burger will hand over the role of Managing Director ASL EMEA to Marc Meier. To prepare himself for managing the regional business unit, Meier (53) joined Dachser already on 1st October, 2022. As a logistics manager whose expertise includes air and sea freight, overland transport, and warehousing, he has built up more than 30 years of international experience in the logistics industry.

Together with the owner, he served as CEO of Hamburg-based air freight forwarder Senator International until that company was acquired by Maersk in 2021. Prior to that, he spent over five years as CEO of Fr. Meyer’s Sohn, a forwarding agency specialising in sea freight. He began his career at Kühne + Nagel, where he held various management positions, lastly as President of the Canada country organisation.

“In Marc Meier we have gained a seasoned air and sea freight manager with an international reputation. He is the ideal person to guide our ASL business in the EMEA region to a successful future,” says Dachser CEO Burkhard Eling. “And dovetailing this business with our European overland transportation network will lead the way to further growth.”

Müller to take over in ASL APAC

Dachser has also already planned the succession in its ASL APAC business unit. Effective 1st January, 2024, Roman Müller (41) will succeed Edoardo Podestà, who has led the regional business unit with great success since 2014, and in conjunction with his other role of COO ASL since 2019. Swiss-born Müller has worked in Asia his entire career. Over the past 15 years, his management positions at Dachser include Manager of the Korea country organisation and Senior Sales Manager for the entire APAC region. Since July 2021, he has served as Deputy Director Asia Pacific in the ASL APAC business unit, reporting to Podestà.

“Roman Müller knows the Asian markets and their requirements inside out. In all his previous positions – especially those in sales – he achieved outstanding success and helped advance our presence in Asia,” Eling says. “So he is ideally placed not only to continue the stellar development of the ASL APAC business unit but also to take it to a whole new level by focusing even more on offering integrated services. In 2023, he will work closely with Edoardo Podestà to chart a course for this success.”

Dachser’s Air & Sea Logistics business field employed more than 4,300 people and generated €2.1bn in revenue in 2021. It operates 139 branches in 36 countries. Dachser’s ASL 3 EMEA business unit comprises 21 country organisations with 71 locations and employs more than 2,100 people. The company’s ASL APAC business unit is represented in 11 countries, with more than 1,500 employees working across 43 locations.

 

CargoWise connects with IAG Cargo

Posted on by David Priestman

WiseTech Global has announced that IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), is now directly integrated with CargoWise, enabling freight forwarders to efficiently choose, book, confirm and change shipments, in real-time from within the industry’s leading logistics execution platform.

IAG Cargo uses the freight capacity of passenger aircraft of IAG, which consists of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer lingus and LEVEL. With five airlines, and over 500 aircraft it’s a model that provides IAG Cargo with great capacity and a truly global network. IAG Cargo has become one of the largest cargo operators in the world, serving key sectors of the global economy including ecommerce, tech, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical and aerospace.

Direct data connection with IAG Cargo’s operational data allows CargoWise customers direct access to schedules, dynamic rates, capacity and allotment bookings. The integration also allows CargoWise users to easily change digital bookings without leaving the application, supporting IAG Cargo’s Destination Digital strategy.

CargoWise helps digititalsation strategy

John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo, said: “Connecting through CargoWise is another exciting partnership strengthening the digital development of IAG Cargo. This partnership is the latest step in our journey to transform the way we do business, making it easier than ever for CargoWise customers to book their freight directly with IAG Cargo.”

Jorre Cobelens, Vice President – Logistics Data and Connectivity, WiseTech Global, said: “We are pleased that IAG Cargo has joined the growing group of leading cargo carriers that integrate with CargoWise, supporting our industry digitalisation and integration strategy. This direct digital data exchange helps increase data security, data quality and simplifies the eBooking process between parties.

“CargoWise customers, including 10 of the top 25 global freight forwarders who have either completed, or are in progress of, global rollouts of the CargoWise platform, will have access to IAG‘s dynamic rates, schedules and services for key routes between Europe, Asia Pacific, and North- and South-America fulfilling an important part of our global network needs.”

DHL flies gorilla to new London home

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A Western lowland gorilla named Kiburi has made his debut at ZSL London Zoo after global logistics expert DHL Express flew the 193kg silverback to London as part of an international breeding programme for the Critically Endangered species.

The 5ft 4ft (1.62m) tall ape has arrived to lead the conservation zoo’s current troop, females Mjukuu and Effie, and youngsters Alika and Gernot, in the family’s Gorilla Kingdom home – with high hopes the match-making effort will lead to a further increase to the gorilla population.

DHL gave 18-year-old Kiburi, who travelled from Zoo Loro Parque in Tenerife, the VIP treatment for the 1,903-mile (3,062km) door-to-door journey – travelling in a custom-built crate supported by a dedicated team of zookeepers, aircraft engineers, cargo handlers, security teams, pilots and drivers.

“Kiburi enjoyed an in-flight meal of nutritious leafy greens, snacked on leeks and a banana and had a refreshing drink of cold fruit tea during his first-class trip,” explained gorilla keeper Glynn Hennessy.

“After spending his first few days at London Zoo settling into his new digs behind-the-scenes, Kiburi today ventured into the troop’s indoor play-gym for the first time, where he enjoyed a breakfast of juicy red peppers and tested out the area’s new rope swings – a housewarming gift from the ZSL team.”

Arriving in London late on Friday 18th November, the silverback slept over at Heathrow Airport before arriving at the Zoo at 8am the following morning; a team of vets and zookeepers at London Zoo was on hand to receive the special delivery, and after giving Kiburi a check-up, introduced him to his new Gorilla Kingdom home.

Gorilla to lead the troop

The exciting move was four years in the making. Following the passing of London Zoo’s male Kumbuka in 2018, ZSL London Zoo began the search for the perfect male to take his place, working with the European Endangered Species Breeding Programme (EEP) co-ordinator for Western lowland gorillas, which holds detailed records on each gorilla in the programme.

“We wanted to find a gorilla to lead the troop in Kumbuka’s stead, which is an important part of a healthy gorilla group’s social structure,” said Hennessy.

“We were excited when they suggested Kiburi, a playful but authoritative silverback who had just come of age. But we wanted to make sure, so we flew out to meet him last November and spent five days getting to know him and watching how he interacted with other gorillas.

“We found him to be a calm, friendly individual and a great fit for our own gorilla family’s dynamic. He loves a lie-in in the mornings and is more active in the afternoon, which is why we spent the past few weeks installing lots of fun new climbing apparatus for him to enjoy – when he ventures out of bed!”

Kiburi will spend the next few weeks exploring the rest of his new Gorilla Kingdom home – which includes a lush private island, complete with hidden caves, giant jungle gym and a flowing stream. His slow introduction to his new troop will be in time for their first family Christmas.

First-class care

“Like any blended family, when getting to know each other it’s important to take thing slowly, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on the troop and introducing them to each other face-to-face at a pace that they’re comfortable with.

“We’re so pleased Kiburi has joined us here at London Zoo, and are grateful to DHL for the first-class care they gave our oversized package throughout this carefully planned delivery.”

ZSL London Zoo’s Zoological Operations Manager Dan Simmonds, who oversaw the move, added: “Western lowland gorillas are sadly declining in the wilds of central and western Africa and face threats from poaching, disease, deforestation and climate change.

“ZSL is working to protect the species at ZSL London Zoo by taking part in this vital global breeding programme, while investigating wildlife diseases at ZSL’s world-leading Institute of Zoology, working with partners in the field to strengthen wildlife protection and surveillance, and empowering local communities to combat wildlife crime.

“In time we hope to hear the pitter patter of tiny gorilla feet once again in Gorilla Kingdom – adding to the dwindling population numbers of this Critically Endangered species.”

Roy Hughes, EVP Network Operations & Aviation Europe at DHL Express said: “Helping Kiburi move to London has been a huge privilege. The logistics effort behind transporting him was no mean feat but our team of experts, working closely with ZSL London Zoo and Loro Parque, went to every length to ensure his journey was safe and comfortable. Everyone at DHL is very invested in this conservation move, and we look forward to seeing Kiburi enjoying his new Gorilla Kingdom home.”

www.dhl.com

Maximising loading efficiency for air cargo in Kenya

Posted on by David Priestman

Joloda Hydraroll, world leader in loading and unloading solutions, has partnered with Sai Raj, a fibreglass moulder, vehicle body manufacturer and conversion specialist in Kenya.

For Sai Raj’s long-standing customer, AirFlo Kenya, Joloda Hydraroll has supported the development of a new air cargo trailer that can be loaded and unloaded far more efficiently. Joloda says the process is faster, safer and doesn’t require forklifts.

Bespoke Solution

AirFlo Kenya is a specialist provider of logistics solutions for perishables, such as fresh cut flowers, vegetables, and fruits. In early 2022, the company approached Sai Raj with the request to build a new air cargo trailer to transport pallets from the warehouse facility to Airside operations at Nairobi airport, where they would be unloaded onto the aircraft. AirFlo Kenya wanted to make the loading and unloading process safer and more efficient compared with traditional loading and unloading practices reliant on forklifts or pallet trucks.

Sai Raj decided to partner with Joloda Hydraroll to create a bespoke rollerbed vehicle to meet the brief. Joloda Hydraroll’s Pneumatic Roller Track (PRT) solution utilises rise and fall rollerbed technology, and is integrated into the trailer’s floor, customised to fit its length.

Efficiency Gains

The addition of Joloda Hydraroll’s solutions and loading/unloading expertise has enabled Sai Raj to build and deliver its first air cargo trailer – named Cargotuff by Sai Raj – to AirFlo Kenya. With it, operators can transport up to four ULDs at one time, with the ability to load and unload in a simple and speedy manner. The rollerbed floor is pneumatically operated, meaning air cargo can simply be rolled in and out of the trailer without the need for forklifts.

Amar Bahra, Director at Sai Raj, explains: “We got in touch with Joloda Hydraroll because their customer service was extraordinary, and the pricing was competitive. We thought the installation stages were going to be complicated, but we were made to feel at ease. The installation was complete in just three days, which allowed us to keep operational downtime to a minimum.”

Since its delivery in May 2022, the trailer has been in use daily. The team at AirFlo Kenya have found that loading and unloading the trailer is now much quicker. With the rollerbed loading solution, the process is also safer as the pneumatic rollers are automatically lowered when the trailer is in transit.

New Revenue Opportunities

Working with Joloda Hydraroll has opened new avenues for Sai Raj. “By working with Joloda Hydraroll, we can now provide new solutions to other supply chain businesses; and we have already started to have these conversations,” says Bahra.

Additionally, with the logistics market in Kenya experiencing accelerated growth, Bahra sees this project as a sign of things to come: “We’re proud to provide such a solution in Kenya – it’s been a very positive journey for us. There’s a lot of scope for growth in logistics in Kenya, as well as throughout Africa, and by partnering with Joloda Hydraroll, we already have a head start in meeting such demands.”

Arjan Nobel, Global Sales Manager, Joloda Hydraroll, concludes: “We’re thrilled to have supported Sai Raj –  our first customer in Kenya, Central East Africa – with its new air cargo trailer. Kenya, like many countries in Africa, has a growing and demanding logistics market, exporting masses of horticultural produce into Europe.

“Doing so quickly and efficiently is reaching new heights of importance – and this is where the loading and unloading process in particular can make a big difference. The addition of Joloda Hydraroll’s Integrated Rollerbed Loading System means the air cargo trailer can be loaded/unloaded with ease. The whole process is safer and faster, helping to reduce the time that perishable cargo is in transit.”

AFKLMP Cargo introduces more sustainable transport

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) and Jan de Rijk Logistics have joined forces to take a new Long Heavy Vehicle (LHV) into operation. This completely new truck combination will run on BioFuel – Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil 100 (HVO100).

The big advantage of using an LHV is the huge volume of cargo it can carry. An LHV can carry six unit load devices (ULDs) at a time, whereas a normal cargo carrying vehicle can only take four. This means that using an LHV for two trips saves an entire truck trip, therefore substantially reducing CO₂ emissions as well.

The new LHV will be used exclusively on the route between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Frankfurt am Main. This strategic choice stems from the high cargo volumes carried on this route. Within AFKLMP Cargo’s extensive network, Frankfurt, like its Dutch home base Schiphol, is one of AFKLMP Cargo’s larger cargo hubs.

Adriaan den Heijer, EVP Air France KLM Cargo & Managing Director Martinair, said: “To achieve greater sustainability, we in the logistics sector are especially aiming to forge alliances to promote innovative and effective solutions. I’m therefore extremely proud of our partnership with Jan de Rijk Logistics in creating this sustainable combination of an LHV powered by HVO, specially developed for air cargo. This initiative contributes towards our goal of reducing CO₂ emissions further.”

Fred Westdijk, CEO Jan de Rijk Logistics, added: “We’re extremely proud of AFKLMP Cargo for being the first airline to join us to invest in further reducing CO₂ emissions. Jan de Rijk Logistics has actively promoted the use of Long Heavy Vehicles (LHVs) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in recent years and is pleased to welcome AFKLMP Cargo as a ‘first mover’. Now that the first airline has joined us, we hope that others will follow soon to reduce the impact on our climate.”

Jan de Rijk Logistics and AFKLMP Cargo have already carried out several projects together in their long history. AFKLMP Cargo and Jan de Rijk Logistics both invested in developing the LHV specifically for air cargo. Both parties have prioritised making the logistics chain more sustainable. Taking the LHV into operation therefore marks a significant milestone.

The structural deployment of an LHV means fewer trips and therefore reduced CO₂ emissions. What’s more, the LHV will be powered by a different fuel. This new fuel, HVO (also known as “blue diesel”), can reduce CO₂ emissions by as much as 89%. At present, the combination of an LHV powered by HVO is unique in transporting (air) cargo by road and, in the short term, it represents the best viable solution for more sustainable transport.

AFKLMP Cargo and Jan de Rijk will continue to take initiatives directed at achieving further sustainability throughout the logistics chain. Examples here include the development of electric truck combinations and the use of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.

 

Herfurth Logistics moves into Brussels Airport  

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Less than a year after the foundation stone was laid, Herfurth Logistics and its Brucargo Air Freight division have taken occupancy of their brand-new logistics building located in the heart of the cargo area of Brussels Airport. A building combining modernity, modularity and sustainability thanks to the numerous technologies that cut down on energy consumption, one of the priorities of Brussels Airport Company, which thus continues its investments in the cargo area.

Herfurth Logistics has been a partner of Brussels Airport for many years and has recently exchanged its two old buildings for a brand-new second line building on a site of more than 8,300 sq m. Brussels Airport Company has invested in the construction of this new building, in line with the company’s Real Estate strategy, which consists of investing in real estate development in order to offer modular buildings for rent.

With a total volume of almost 63,000 cu m, the new building combines a 5,000 sq m warehouse, including eight loading and unloading bays, with 700 sq m of offices spread over three floors. Like the other new buildings at Brussels Airport, it was built using sustainable construction materials, including an all-concrete skeleton with light grey insulated concrete panels and black and white insulated steel sandwich panels, as well as aluminium joinery.

Reducing energy consumption was a priority for the new building. For example, 100 solar panels were installed on the roof and three rainwater tanks supply the flush mechanisms of all the toilets. LED interior lighting with sensor, mechanical ventilation, heating and cooling via a heat pump are also some of the features of the new Herfurth Logistics building. It also comes with charging stations for electric cars and a covered bicycle parking area.

Herfurth Logistics and its Brucargo Air Freight division currently employ around 40 people at the logistics site at Brussels Airport. Herfurth was one of the first concessions granted at the Brucargo site. The acquisition of Brucargo Air Freight in 2016 (building 740) combined with the end of the concession at building 727 in 2010, as well as multiple developments, meant that the infrastructure requirements were no longer compatible with the existing sites.

Herfurth Logistics sets itself apart from its competitors by a highly personalised approach to its customers in order to gauge their exact needs and the specific characteristics of their business. This strategy has enabled Herfurth Logistics, in addition to its traditional import-export forwarding and Cross Docks Operations activities, to become a key player in the fields of logistics and transport of aircraft and helicopters (Heli-Aviation Logistics).

The handling of perishable goods (with a brand new 400 sq m cold store), Project Cargo (M-Star Projects), customs and excise management and unaccompanied luggage are other main areas of expertise. In terms of destinations, Herfurth operates world-wide and can rely on an international network of agents. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi are a few of Herfurth’s main destinations from its branch at Brucargo.

Thanks to its new facilities, Herfurth will be able to shore up its existing niche activities but also develop new ones in order to be omnipresent in the logistic chain with an indisputable added value. These facilities will be an undeniable asset in attracting new skills, as well as young and not so young employees who want to work in good conditions in a sustainable environment that takes account of the ecological constraints of our future.

 

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