Global freight forwarder International Cargo Logistics (ICL) has nearly doubled the size of its cold storage facility at Heathrow Airport to meet growing customer demand.
Originally 153 sq m, the cold storage facility has grown to 300 sq m. The facility now consists of five chambers with varying temperature regimes, as well as X-ray and external temporary storage facilities (ESTF), plus temperature-controlled vehicles to transport goods across the UK.
To further streamline operations, the ICL Site Unit 13 facility boasts inspection areas for the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and a control point for Customs checks and clearances, fur streamlining operations.
“This expansion, which comes as we celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, greatly enhances our ability to deliver high-quality logistics services from our Heathrow site,” said Nick Finbow, perishables sales director, ICL.
“Our clients from the perishables sector can now benefit from centralised, round-the-clock logistics services as well as access to an efficient and reliable national distribution network, saving them valuable time and resources while allowing for fresher products to enter the UK food chain.
“Additionally, ICL is preparing to be BRC-accredited by the end of the summer, which means we will be able to deliver to a wider range of retailers and wholesalers.”
In March this year, Heathrow-headquartered ICL announced it would collaborate with fellow UK firm FreshLinc on final-mile delivery for UK airfreight.
In February, ICL also opened a new office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, as part of efforts to expand its perishables operations across Europe and beyond.
The company aims to further extend its global reach this year with plans to expand into Southeast Asia, starting with a new office in Vietnam.
The forwarder currently operates in over 207 countries.
US supply chain services company OIA Global has extended its European network to Ireland with the acquisition of Dublin-based multimodal freight forwarder Sandford Freight.
OIA Global said the acquisition is strategically important because Ireland is a key market for the electronics, healthcare, retail and lifestyle industries that it does business in.
Jeff Barrie, chief executive of Portland, Oregon-headquartered OIA Global, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Sandford Freight into the OIA Global organisation. The acquisition aligns with our long-term growth strategy to support our customer’s diverse networks, providing reliable local support.
“Sandford Freight has an impressive presence in Ireland, and the team has a long history of supporting the unique needs of customers in the electronics, healthcare, and retail and lifestyle vertical markets.”
Youssef Annali, chief financial officer of OIA Global, added: “This strategic acquisition enhances our competitive strength and underscores our commitment to sustained growth, network expansion, investments in growth verticals, and high-touch customer service.”
Brían Falvey, managing director of Sandford Freight, said: “Having spent the last 45 years as a privately owned and managed independent forwarder, Sandford Freight and all our valued staff are to become part of an exciting new adventure presenting many new opportunities within transportation services, contract logistics, packaging design, raw material management, and technology solutions with OIA Global, who are leaders in supply chain management.”
The acquisition now means OIA Global has a presence in 27 countries, with over 50 owned offices worldwide.
New Zealand-headquartered freight forwarding and logistics company Mondiale VGL has acquired Southeast Asia-based multimodal forwarder Interunion.
Prior to the acquisition, Mondiale VGL held an existing stake in Interunion and the two companies have partnered since 2012.
The company said it has been focused on building a global supply chain operation with its roots in Asia Pacific and the acquisition of Interunion further supports its ambitions in this area.
Interunion provides air, sea and land transportation, as well as warehousing and logistics services in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand and Vietnam.
“The acquisition was a logical next step for both parties and will further enhance opportunities for the customers of both organisations to access a wider network of global offices both in Southeast Asia via Interunion’s network and globally with Mondiale VGL,” said Mondiale VGL.
“The Interunion team, service offering, branch network and brand will all remain the same, and there will be no change for customers or agents on a day-to-day operational level,” added the company.
Mondiale VGL employs over 1500 staff across 56 offices in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe, and the US, supported further by over 500 agency offices worldwide.
The global logistics provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is strengthening its commitment to sustainability by expanding its Sustainability Division. The family-owned company is proud to announce the appointments of Şükran Gencay and Daniel Hülemeyer as Heads of Sustainability. These newly established global positions underscore Hellmann’s strategic focus on sustainability, which is also reflected in the structure of its Management Board through the nomination of Stefan Borggreve since the beginning of this year. This new emphasis allows Hellmann to continue fulfilling its responsibilities and integrating sustainability across all business units globally in order to meet the challenges of the coming years in collaboration with its customers and partners.
As Head of Sustainability – Social & Governance, Şükran Gencay will lead the ongoing development and global implementation of Hellmann’s social sustainability initiatives. In this role, she will ensure that the company maintains its commitment to social responsibility. With her extensive experience in the logistics industry and through various leadership positions at Hellmann since 2020, Şükran Gencay is well equipped to take charge of the company’s social and governance goals and deepen its sustainability strategies. In her previous role as Global Head of Leadership & Culture, she successfully established and promoted a new corporate culture, a task she will continue to drive forward in her new position.
As Head of Sustainability – Environment, Daniel Hülemeyer will spearhead Hellmann’s efforts to decarbonize and integrate ecological practices across all product areas and its real estate infrastructure. His primary focus will be carbon footprint reduction, promotion of renewable energies, and fostering a culture of environmentally friendly innovations in collaboration with the newly established “Hellmann Innovation Hub”. Daniel Hülemeyer brings over twelve years of experience in sustainability topics at Hellmann and has previously led the global Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental (QHSE) management team.
“The new sustainability organization reflects the importance of the topic for Hellmann’s strategic direction. We want to be a driving force for positive change – even beyond our company boundaries. With Daniel Hülemeyer and Şükran Gencay, we have two outstanding personalities who, together with the global teams, will turn our sustainability vision into reality,” says Stefan Borggreve, Chief Digital Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
GEODIS, a leading global logistics provider, and L-Acoustics, the industry leader in premium professional sound, opened their new regional distribution center in Singapore. The distribution center, the first for L-Acoustics in the Asia Pacific region, is a testament to the manufacturer’s commitment to this strategic and growing market.
“Our mission is to strengthen our ties with clients, creating a hub from which we can provide ideal support,” explains Tim Zhou, CEO APAC at L-Acoustics. “The new warehouse will enable elevated customer service and faster delivery for their important projects.”
All L-Acoustics solutions are manufactured in Europe and prior to the opening of the Singapore distribution centre, orders for customers in the Asia Pacific region were fulfilled from France. The new centre will allow the company to better support clients throughout the region, shortening delivery times and streamlining the supply chain.
L-Acoustics and GEODIS have grown a global partnership which began in 2018 when GEODIS was trusted with the distribution of the manufacturer’s products in France and Europe, with GEODIS providing L-Acoustics with global end-to-end logistics solutions covering freight, and customs and trade compliance management. The choice to partner with GEODIS for the launch of a new distribution centre in Singapore stems from the company’s supply chain expertise and track record in setting up bonded warehouses which demand licensed storage facilities with robust security measures, skilled personnel and operational capabilities aligned with local customs regulations. The Singapore distribution centre is a bonded/zero-GST (Goods and Services Tax — GST) facility.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for L-Acoustics as we expand our regional logistics hub network with the help of our partner GEODIS, aiming to bring our customers the same level of service worldwide” says Hervé Guillaume, CEO at L-Acoustics Group.
“The foundation of our relationship with GEODIS is built on a shared spirit of innovation and performance, and a people-first mindset. Together, we champion hyper-care for our partners throughout all our operations.”
“This recognition of our shared values reaffirms that our commitment to excellence and care is valued by our partners,” commented Onno Boots, President and CEO of Asia Pacific and Middle East, GEODIS, “It is a testament to the strong relationships we have built, the service we provide, and the trust we’ve earned. Together, we will continue to raise the bar of excellence and support L-Acoustics in their growth.”
The WACO System (WACO) has appointed Rotra Air & Ocean as network members for Belgium and The Netherlands–Rotra Air & Ocean N.V. and Rotra Air & Ocean B.V., respectively.
Established in 1909, family-owned Rotra has offices in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Brussels and offers worldwide services by air, ocean, rail and barge, as well as AEO-certified customs brokerage.
“We are pleased to welcome Rotra to the WACO network–the company has established itself as a tried and trusted freight forwarder but is also leading the way in digitalising the freight sector,” said Richard Charles, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), WACO.
“Rotra has digitised the entire supply chain through its in-house platform rotraNext, driving cost and time savings for customers and offering process control and quality through transparency.”
“As well as digital innovation, the company has an impressive track record in sustainability–with its commitment to being 100 per cent climate neutral, Rotra is a great example of how freight forwarders can contribute to sustainability.”
As of 2022, Rotra became the first climate-neutral certified freight forwarder in the Netherlands and Belgium by measuring and monitoring its CO2 footprint, implementing a SMART reduction plan, and offsetting residual emissions.
The company has over 100 years of experience in freight forwarding and expertise across several sectors, including dangerous goods, aerospace, aviation, automotive, pharma, healthcare, consumer goods and food.
“We are pleased to join The WACO System and look forward to collaborating with other network members on initiatives that support our values of reliability and sustainability in the global freight industry,” said Machiel Roelofsen, Director and Co-Owner of Rotra.
“We believe that the combination of our innovative platform with our expertise and personal touch can make a significant difference in optimising supply chains,” said Paul Rombeek, Managing Director of the Rotra Group.
This year, WACO continues to strengthen its network worldwide and is leveraging digital initiatives to benefit its members.
DHL eCommerce UK announces the opening of a new £7m facility in Camberley. The site is the first operationally carbon-neutral site in the DHL eCommerce UK network and is powered almost entirely by solar energy.
The building has obtained the highest Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, A+, thanks both to the onsite renewable energy generation as well as IoT technology to minimise energy use, low-use water appliances and submeters and the use of equipment and materials throughout with low embodied carbon.
In instances when weather conditions necessitate the use of grid electricity, the site will source renewable energy.
The 3,000 sqm site will handle 10,000 parcels a day and features ten electric van charging points.
Camberley is the latest development to come from DHL’s £482m investment in its UK infrastructure to deliver sustainable growth. DHL will be opening its second hub in Coventry in the coming months, significantly increasing volume capacity and setting a new benchmark in eCommerce automation.
Stuart Hill, CEO DHL eCommerce UK, says: “The new Camberley site really demonstrates how our UK investment is being put towards sustainable growth, it’s a blueprint for the industry. With our Coventry Hub opening soon, we’re expanding capacity and enhancing service levels all across the country.”
The Camberley site has been built with employee wellbeing in mind and features biophilic design principles to improve employees’ connectivity to the natural environment, including a living wall in the lobby. In addition, employees have access to EV charging and a sustainable cycle shed to encourage employees to opt for sustainable travel.
Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) has started work on a new e-commerce centre located close to Dubai World Central (DXB) Airport.
The new facility will provide fulfilment and distribution services and is located in dedicated e-commerce area EZDubai, which offers exemption from customs clearance procedures within bonded logistics corridors.
It will offer 23,000 sq m of warehousing equating to around 45,000 pallet positions when it opens in the second quarter of 2025.
“With the development of this new e-commerce fulfilment centre, Kuehne+Nagel continues to show commitment to the UAE and Dubai, supporting one of the fastest growing economies globally,” said Lee I’Ons, Gulf Co-operation Council cluster managing director at K+N.
“The new facility brings our customers ‘ease of doing business’ in Dubai and across the region.”
Mohsen Ahmad, chief executive of the logistics district, Dubai South, added: “We are pleased to witness the groundbreaking of Kuehne+Nagel’s new facility, which will be of great added value to the logistics sector.
“We are committed to reinforcing the company’s expansion and growth, via our advanced services and solutions, and to contribute to Dubai’s position as a global logistics hub.”
The new facility is the forwarder’s second project announced in Dubai over the last year.
In December, the company announced it would operate social enterprise IDA Foundation’s healthcare hub for the Middle East and Africa region, located in Dubai.
The new IDA Foundation hub is located at the K+N facility at Dubai South and will serve as a centralised kitting and global health logistics centre for the region and beyond.
A sustainable warehousing development, known as the ‘Rhenus Campus,’ was officially opened in a launch ceremony in April, by third-party logistics (3PL) provider Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK.
The campus reaches high levels of sustainability by being certified “BREEAM Outstanding”. It is setting new standards for environmental protection, helping Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK to put sustainability at the forefront of its operations.
Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK, which won the 2023 UKWA Award for Excellence in Sustainability, and Baytree are committed to pioneering environmental and social advancements associated with logistics buildings and creating new benchmarks in the sector.
The ‘Rhenus Campus’ is home to two warehouses, measuring one million square feet across 64 acres. The first warehouse is 210,000 square feet, whereas the second warehouse totals 771,000 square feet.
Significant reductions in whole-life carbon are being achieved, such as the CLT timber floors having 64 percent lower embodied carbon than a standard floor. Three air source heat pumps, enough to heat and ventilate the campus offices and provide frost protection for the warehouses, and 80 electric car charging points have been installed.
Renewable energy is being generated on-site via 2,288 415-watt solar panels, which give a total system size of over 949 kWp (kilowatt peak). The system will feed an estimated 870,000 kWh per annum into the campus – the equivalent power consumption of approximately 250 homes for a year.
DP World, a leading global provider of smart end-to-end supply chain solutions, has commenced warehousing operations in Loutulim, Goa.
Located 31 km from the Mormugaon Port, 23 km from the Dabolim airport and 25 km from Panjim city, the Grade A warehouse is compliant with all safety standards and provides seamless connectivity to the Goa-Bangalore-Pune highway.
The facility is fully compliant for the storage and handling of chemicals and healthcare cargo.
With three operating docks and 2620 pallet positions, the 27,512 sq. ft. facility is fully equipped to handle and store chemical products. The new facility provides comprehensive safety features throughout the premises, including a dedicated pump room, advanced fire sprinklers, Rockwool insulation on the roof and bubble wrap insulation on the sidewalls. To ensure air quality and promote the well-being of employees, the facility has six air changes per hour and a dedicated Resident Safety Officer on campus to implement and monitor adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).
Speaking about the new warehouse in Goa, Anoop Chauhan, Head – Contract Logistics & Cold Chain Solutions DP World Subcontinent said, “At DP World, we are committed to building an integrated multi-modal supply chain network that will unlock trade opportunities for customers.
“The addition of our Grade A warehouse in Goa will strengthen our expanding warehousing network and deliver customers in the region with a seamless supply chain experience.
“This facility enabled with advance warehouse management systems will serve as a pivotal hub, providing customers with links to multiple markets within the country, thereby driving trade growth at local and national level.”
This facility adds to DP World’s warehousing network of over five million sq. ft. in India, strategically spread across more than 60 locations.
The Grade A warehouse in Loutulim will benefit chemical goods traders in Goa by providing them with customizable storage solutions, assured hygienic storage conditions, facility design and development, secondary distribution services, and complete visibility of shipment with reports and documentation like dashboard of stock available. Additionally, customers will also benefit from DP World’s seamless logistics solutions that will optimize their supply chain for maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness in Goa and beyond.
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
