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Seafrigo expands in Nordics

Posted on by David Priestman

Seafrigo, the cold chain logistics expert, specialising in food logistics has officially inaugurated its fifth warehouse in Sweden, marking a significant expansion of its operations in the Nordic region. The new 10,000-square-metre facility, located in Katrineholm, southwest of Stockholm, boasts 30,000 pallet positions and will enable Seafrigo to further enhance a range of its services in the region.

The grand opening was conducted by Seafrigo President and Founder, Eric Barbé, alongside Group CEO, Bruno Plantaz, and Chief Projects Officer, Stéphane Desseigne. They were joined by Seafrigo Nordics Directors Peter Jönsson and Magnus Mohlin, along with customers and local councillors, for a tour of the state-of-the-art facility.

Seafrigo specializes in the storage and handling of foodstuffs across four temperature zones, ranging from frozen to controlled ambient conditions. The company’s Nordic operations are headquartered in Helsingborg, a facility that opened in 2018. Across the Nordics, Seafrigo handles 3,000 specialist pallets daily and conducts 600 tonnes of blast-freezing of meat per week. The new Katrineholm site alone has the capacity to handle 100 tonnes of blast-freezing every week, reinforcing Seafrigo’s commitment to providing premium, specialist logistics solutions.

Built to the highest environmental standards, the Katrineholm facility is Miljöbyggnad Silver certified, in accordance with Sweden’s stringent environmental building certification system. Additionally, Seafrigo operates fully electric trucks in the region, eliminating the use of diesel and further reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Seafrigo Sweden is a key player in the protein logistics sector, handling beef, pork, and poultry. The company receives daily deliveries directly from slaughterhouses, blast-freezing products from +2°C to -18°C in preparation for export. The principal export markets for Seafrigo’s frozen products include Asia and Africa. The company also provides storage for meat before distribution to Swedish retailers.

With a robust infrastructure in place, Seafrigo ensures that 80% of the Nordic region receives overnight deliveries for products destined for local distribution.

“This new development enables us to further enhance Seafrigo’s extensive service offering across the Nordics and ensures we can better serve our customers’ precise, specialist needs,” said Managing Director Peter Jönsson. “Located close to major retailers’ national distribution centres, we can meet and exceed their requirements while maintaining our commitment to sustainability.”

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Swedish port receives Konecranes reach stacker

Posted on by David Priestman

The Port of Trelleborg in Sweden has received a Konecranes intermodal reach stacker for trailer and container handling at its intermodal terminal. This new lift truck replaces an older unit that has reached the end of its service life.

Across the five Swedish core ports, Trelleborg is second in terms of throughput tonnage. In addition, it’s the largest railway port on the Baltic Sea, and the most sustainable port in the region. It uses two intermodal reach stackers to provide fast, reliable and eco-efficient intermodal services between ship and rail.

“Intermodal traffic has been growing strongly in recent years, so it’s important for us to maintain our position as a leading intermodal hub,” says Thomas Ter-Borch, Port Operations Manager, Port of Trelleborg. “We’ve been very satisfied with Konecranes equipment, so we’re confident that our new Konecranes reach stacker will help us to continue to provide our customers with the highest levels of sustainable productivity.”

“The fact that Port of Trelleborg chose a Konecranes reach stacker again highlights the quality of our products and the excellent service and business relationship provided by our long-term local distributor N.C. Nielsen,” says Daniel Sjöstrand, Sales Support Manager, Lift Trucks, Konecranes.

The new reach stacker is a Konecranes SMV 4538 CCX4, a sturdy lifting machine that can safely stack 45 tonnes in the first row up to four containers high. Despite a long wheelbase of 7,500mm for extra stability, it is extremely manoeuvrable, and a special combi spreader can handle fully laden containers from the top and trailers from the bottom across more than one track. The truck features a spacious, ergonomic OPTIMA cabin with easy-to-use controls and excellent visibility. It runs on HVO100 renewable diesel and meets the emission requirements for an EU Stage V engine. TRUCONNECT Remote Monitoring follows the truck’s performance through usage data securely stored at the yourKONECRANES.com customer portal.

Gothenburg Named Top Swedish Logistics Location

Posted on by Keith McKinley

The Gothenburg region tops the list when leading Swedish industry magazine Intelligent Logistik annually ranks Sweden’s best logistics locations. As Sweden’s largest cargo hub, the Port of Gothenburg plays a decisive role in the award according to the jury, who state that the port’s infrastructure, investment program and growing cargo volumes form a good basis for future growth in the region.

“It is an honourable award that we place great value on, and it is of course nice to be recognized together with the region’s other actors in the field of logistics. Together, we create conditions for a strong freight hub that strengthens Swedish competitiveness and is the guarantor of Swedish industry’s access to the world,” says Jacob Minnhagen, senior business developer at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

The Port of Gothenburg handles 53% of Sweden’s total container freight and volume growth is stable with nine straight quarters of increased container throughput. The container terminal operated by APM Terminals is particularly highlighted in the justification, as well as the growing freight train traffic where the port reached an all-time high in 2022.

Good establishment opportunities

Access to logistics areas is crucial for the functionality of a logistics region, and hence an important assessment criterion in the designation of Sweden’s best logistics location. The growth in logistics space has been exceptionally large in recent years, notes the magazine, and in the past year additional new land for logistics establishments has been added – both in areas close to the port, as well as locations just outside Gothenburg, like Landvetter and Borås.

“In the port, for example, we are developing the Halvorsäng Logistics Park together with Castellum just ten minutes from the quayside, it will be an important addition to port-side logistics. Then the growth of logistics areas is also good further out in the region, which is very important. Overall, the future looks bright for the Gothenburg region and there are good opportunities to establish yourself here as a logistics operator in the long term as well,” says Jacob Minnhagen.

The high-profile list of the best logistics locations in Sweden has been published since 2001. The ranking is founded on access to a logistics base, flows and geography, infrastructure, land access, know-how and skills, and the collaborative climate throughout the region. The Helsingborg Region and Jönköping Region were ranked second and third.

Excerpt from the citation:
“The Gothenburg region has long been Sweden’s logistics capital with an excellent distribution location with access to the Nordics’ largest container port, which stood strong even through the pandemic; with stable container volumes and greatly increased train freight volumes. Upcoming multibillion-crown investments in the port with a fairway deepening also provide good conditions for future growth. Gothenburg has historically had exceptional growth for logistics, a development which, however, slowed somewhat in 2022 when only approx. 70,000 square meters were added in the region. In the past year, however, new land for logistics establishments has been added both around Landvetter and at Hisingen.”

Samskip launches Duisburg-Rostock rail link

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Samskip has added over 10% capacity to its multimodal connections between Germany and Scandinavia as a result of launching three-times weekly block train services connecting Duisburg and Rostock together with Hector Rail.

The all-electric train service links the Duisburg Hohenbudberg terminal and the Rostock Trimodal terminal for coordination with the port’s ro-ro ferry services. It creates a significant additional new routing option to connect Germany’s Ruhr area and the south-east of the Netherlands with Sweden’s key Stockholm/Gävle/Örebro/Jönköping region, Finland and other Baltic markets.

Departing from Duisburg on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the 700m length trains arrive in Rostock on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to coincide with Hansa Destination ferry connections to Nynäshamn (south of Stockholm). Entering the market in August 2021, Hansa has developed substantial freight volumes into and out of the Swedish midlands, with the regular Nynäshamn call periodically augmented by stopovers at Visby.

The Duisburg-Rostock rail link also means Samskip can offer additional service options direct into southern Sweden and Finland by coordinating with separate daily ferry departures to Trelleborg, Kotka, Hanka and Rauma.

Samskip already offers an extensive network of containerised rail services connecting Duisburg with destinations in Sweden, operating its own block trains into Katrineholm, Falköping and Nässjö 14 times a week.

“Hector Rail is delighted to be able to expand its excellent long-term cooperation with Samskip by establishing a two-way intermodal offer between the Ruhr area and Scandinavia,” commented Stig Kyster-Hansen Managing Director of Hector Rail GmbH.

Shortsea operations out of Rostock represent a strategic addition to transport options for all types of multimodal freight customers, according to Gert-Jan Meijer, Head of Trade, Sweden, Samskip. In addition to offering capacity for ISO containers, Mega trailers and P400 trailers, wagons deployed accommodate non-cranable trailers, opening the new route to a wide range of third party and shippers’ own equipment.

“There has been a clear need to increase capacity between Germany and Scandinavia based on growing trade volumes and new requests, but high diesel prices and continuing driver shortages are also steering more cargo away from the road,” said Meijer. “Offering an additional high-frequency service option consolidates the competitive edge that multimodal  has over road haulage in terms of reliability in the supply chain.”

Thomas Vitte, Commercial Manager of Hector Rail GmbH, added: “Through this broader service offer it will be possible to attract more cargo to rail with an even more competitive and efficient product, thereby enhancing sustainable transport solutions between Germany and Scandinavia.”

The capacity boost comes during a period of opportunity for multimodal in Europe, whose lower emissions align with sustainability goals set by corporates. EU Mobility Package measures to improve haulier conditions are also driving road freight out of the market.

High frequency in rail services strengthens the case for sustainable transport, Meijer commented. “Our larger customers want to do more using lower carbon options, new customers are knocking on the door and it’s fair to say that there is a general mood in Germany that now is the time to switch away from road.”

The combination of all-electric rail traction, short sea economies of scale, short last-mile over the road operations and flexibility on unitised options “epitomises what Samskip is striving to deliver in sustainable connections for the European logistics market”, said Meijer. “We want to thank Hector Rail, Hansa Destinations and the Port of Rostock and to celebrate this joint effort in ‘Making Green Logistics easy’.”

 

Helsingborg launches ”Paris Agreement” for logistics

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Helsingborg is one of Europe’s most innovative and climate-smart cities. Now Helsingborg, together with representatives for the entire logistics chain, is launching the Helsingborg Declaration – the logistics sector’s equivalent to the Paris Agreement with a view to becoming climate neutral by 2030. “We aim to be Europe’s most sustainable and fast-moving logistics hub. The Helsingborg Declaration is the answer to how we get there,” says Peter Danielsson, Mayor and Chairman of the Municipal Executive Committee in Helsingborg.

Helsingborg has the best logistics location in Sweden, according to the latest ranking from Intelligent Logistik. Now the city is taking the next step on its journey towards becoming Europe’s most sustainable and fast-moving logistics hub.

At H22 Arena during H22 City Expo, leading representatives for the logistics chain will sign the Helsingborg Declaration, the logistics sector’s equivalent to the Paris Agreement, with sights set on becoming climate neutral by 2030. Among the powerful stakeholders that are first to sign the declaration are Scania, Volvo Truck Center, Postnord TPL, Peab, Schenker, Skanska, Catena, Johnson & Johnson, Frigoscandia and the Port of Helsingborg. All signatories have a clear ambition to accelerate their green transition to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Realising this goal requires collaboration between different industries, sectors, and organisations.

“This is a milestone for the logistics sector’s sustainability work. For the first time, representatives for the entire chain are now agreeing on common goals and guidelines with a view to achieving climate neutrality by 2030. This is historic,” says Peter Danielsson, Mayor of Helsingborg and initiator of the Helsingborg Declaration.

”We and other companies are already doing a lot to develop a climate-smart and sustainable logistics chain. But we work away in our own corners and there is a great need for coordination and joint commitments. It is here that the Helsingborg Declaration will play an important role for the future,” says Håkan Lindberg, Area Manager at PostNord TPL.

“Growth is strong in the industries within the logistics chain and the demand for these services will continue to increase, but the climate footprint does not have to. We therefore call on the chain’s various stakeholders in Sweden and Europe to join in signing the Helsingborg Declaration so that we can jointly set the framework for future climate commitments,” says Peter Danielsson.

The Helsingborg Declaration was signed on Tuesday 14 June at H22 Arena on Hamntorget square in Helsingborg.

Facts: The Helsingborg Declaration

The Helsingborg Declaration is an agreement that brings together the entire logistics chain and sets the framework for the sector’s joint climate work. All stakeholders that sign the declaration have a clear ambition to accelerate their green transition to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The focus areas of the declaration are:

  • Fossil-free energy
  • Smart and efficient logistics with coordinated loading solutions
  • Technology and infrastructure
  • Packaging logistics
  • Circularity, reuse, recycling

 

TX Logistik tests 838m train in Sweden

Posted on by Keith McKinley

TX Logistik AB, Swedish subsidiary of Germany’s TX Logistik AG, has test-run a freight train with a length of 838 meters in Sweden. The rail logistics company, which is part of the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), operated the fully loaded train on the approximately 500km route between Malmö and Frövi (Örebro province). Foodstuffs from the Swedish retail chain Coop were transported. The Swedish transport infrastructure authority Trafikverket was the third partner involved in the test run.

So far, only trains with a maximum length of 630m are permitted on most routes in Sweden. “An expansion to 838m would significantly increase transport capacities and thus make rail freight transport even more efficient and attractive for shippers,” says Lars Winther Sørensen, Managing Director of TX Logistik AB in Sweden. This is in turn an essential prerequisite for shifting more goods from road to rail. Even for goods that have so far been transported almost exclusively by road, Sørensen believes that more extensive use of rail is possible.

The use of longer trains is also an important impulse for climate-smart rail transport. In particular, the combination of high load capacity per train and high speed ensures a highly productive transport system. The test train carried 48 semitrailers and travelled at speeds of up to 120km/h. This was faster than trains in comparable test runs in other countries. It was driven by a four-axle locomotive, which is normally used in rail freight transport.

Coop has been transporting food and other goods by rail in Sweden since 2009. From 2012, TX Logistik has been operating on behalf of the retail chain between Bro, 30km northwest of Stockholm, and Malmö. Just two years ago, the number of round trips was doubled from 10 to 20.

“Today, 30%of our transports are handled by rail,” explains Peter Rosendahl, transport manager at Coop Logistik. The retail chain would like to increase the share further. “That’s why we participated in this forward-looking project and hope to be able to extend our trains in the near future.”

TX Logistik, Coop and Trafikverket worked closely together to plan and implement the two test runs on 8th and 9th May 2022. Further tests in Sweden are planned.

 

TX Logistik expands Swedish intermodal services

Posted on by Keith McKinley

TX Logistik AB, Swedish subsidiary of the German TX Logistik AG, is expanding its domestic intermodal services in Sweden. As of 31st January 2022, the rail logistics company, which is part of the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), will add a further connection between Trelleborg and Eskilstuna, around 100km west of Stockholm, to its network.

The new block train will be operated as a company train for the Austrian full truckload specialist LKW Walter. The new connection is a further milestone for LKW Walter for the expansion of combined transport on the European continent.

Four round trips per week are planned. Up to 38 units can be loaded onto one train and most of the units will be trailers. The trains will run between the port in Trelleborg and the combined transport terminal in Eskilstuna, one of the most important hinterland terminals in Sweden. The route runs via Frövi and the transit time will be about seven hours.

TX Logistik is responsible for traction, terminal handling and customer service. In Trelleborg, LKW Walter uses the ferry connections to and from Rostock and Travemünde. By shifting transports from the road to the new route, both companies are taking part in a further reduction of CO2.

TX Logistik is experiencing sustained high demand for freight transport by rail. The company foresees potential for further growth above and beyond this in transports on the north-south axis and within Sweden. TX Logistik is already one of the most important providers of combined rail freight transport in the Scandinavian country. For the retail chain Coop, for example, TX Logistik transports food products 20 times a week between Bro (near Stockholm) and Malmö.

The rail logistics company also supplements the domestic network in Sweden with the national line between Trelleborg, Malmö and Eskilstuna. The line currently operates seven round trips per week as an open train system.

Konecranes reaches delivery milestone  

Posted on by David Priestman

In November 2021, The Absolut Company accepted the delivery of a Flow Drive Konecranes reach stacker for its operations in the south of Sweden. This particular machine is a milestone in Konecranes history, as it is the 10,000th lift truck to roll off the production line.

Since its creation in 1879, Absolut Vodka has become one of the world’s most iconic liquor brands with export to more than 120 markets. Today, the company has 300 employees at its production facility in Åhus, a town in the southern Swedish province of Skåne. Here it needs to move equipment, raw materials and finished product around the site every day. The most efficient, safe and flexible transportation method in the work area is lift trucks. Now the time is right to invest in another reach stacker, and they have chosen Konecranes again.

“It was not difficult to decide on our next reach stacker,” says Harri Tossavainen, Warehouse Manager for Absolut. “Konecranes provides locally produced equipment of the highest quality, and they have helped us to maintain our productivity under tight schedules for over two decades. This high standard continues as the new eco-friendly Flow Drive aligns well with our long-term commitment to environment and sustainability, and will play a key part in our journey to make our products climate-neutral by 2030.”

“In 1995, Absolut bought the first commercial reach stacker Konecranes ever produced and in 2004, they took delivery of our first ever produced second generation reach stacker,” says Roger Persson, Technical Product Manager for Konecranes Lift Trucks. “Now, we celebrate the delivery of our 10,000th lift truck to the very same company. Local agent N.C. Nielsen has been a significant part of this relationship, and has provided excellent support whenever needed. We’re honoured to have both Absolut and N.C. Nielsen share in this historic occasion.”

The 10,000th lift truck is a Konecranes SMV 4632 TC5 reach stacker, a sturdy 46-tonne machine able to stack up to five containers high. It features the OPTIMA cabin for comfort and visibility, and a range of safety features to maximise load stability and safe handling. The truck is fitted with Flow Drive, a Konecranes innovation that uses hydromechanical variable transmission (HVT) to limit power at low speed, reducing wear and carbon emissions while cutting fuel consumption by up to 25%.

With longer intervals between refuelling and less maintenance, Konecranes says it can significantly increase productivity. Absolut will run this lift truck on HVO100, a completely renewable and fossil-free chemical copy of regular diesel, based on vegetable oil, which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%. It is also equipped with Start/Stop function to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling.

Smart systems integrate with Work Zone, a geofencing feature for safety and efficiency, and TRUCONNECT Premium, which adds tire pressure and shock sensors to a remote and almost real-time view of truck usage, for easier operations and maintenance planning.

Roger Henriksson, an operations tester at Konecranes Lift Trucks, assembled the first reach stacker Konecranes sold to Absolut back in the 1990s. Still with Konecranes, he tested the 10,000th machine and handed it over to Absolut as part of a small ceremony and site tour at the Konecranes Markaryd factory on 18th November 2021. To celebrate the delivery, the reach stacker has been painted in Absolut style.

“This is a proud moment for Konecranes Lift Trucks. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers, partners, distributors and all the colleagues who have helped us achieve this number,” says Andreas Falk, Senior Vice President BU Lift Trucks.

This contract is part of Ecolifting, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with its product and service portfolio – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimising diesel drives, to hybridisation and fully-electrified fleets, Konecranes says it will continue to do more with less.

 

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