„General cargo forwarding 4.0“ becomes real in Germany

„General cargo forwarding 4.0“: Nellen & Quack – The Green Line and SLK-Kock form EuregioCargoHub – a joint general cargo production company

First digger move for the new hub in Schüttorf on 15 April 2015 / Germany’s unique cooperative model opens new paths for expensive general cargo logistics / short distance transport, throughput and introduction of general cargo lines by ECH EuregioCargoHub / companies remain autonomous and become partners of each others general cargo network

The forwarding companies SLK-Kock in Schüttorf and Nellen & Quack – The Green Line in Gronau (Westphalia) founded ECH EuregioCargoHub GmbH in March 2015. Both are equal partners of the company. The production company will act as a service provider for the neighbouring forwarders, taking over operative general cargo handling in short distance transport, throughput and introducing general cargo lines.

Michael Ketteler, previously head of the land transport division at Nellen & Quack, was appointed managing director of ECH. ECH will start operating in January 2016, as soon as its new terminal located directly at the Schüttorf junction of the motorways A 30 and A 31, is completed. The symbolic first move of the digger for ECH, which will provide a 4,500 m² throughput area and 50 loading bays, was on 15 April 2015.

Both forwarding companies are talking about “general cargo forwarding 4.0” („Stückgutspedition 4.0“) when it comes to the new outsourcing concept, covering short distance transport, throughput and liner services for general cargo. Uwe Brehm, managing director Nellen & Quack – The Green Line, outlines the concept as follows: “General cargo forwarding 1.0 had been rail forwarding, 2.0 had been the establishment of designated long-distance traffic, 3.0 was organising through cooperation – and now level 4.0 means outsourcing the entire general cargo production.“

Both companies remain independent and partners of their respective general cargo alliances: SLK-Kock is a member of the S.T.a.R groupage network, Nellen & Quack – The Green Line is involved in the 24plus logistics network. ECH will initially work as a service provider for its two parent companies. Later on, the production company will offer its services to other mid-sized cargo carriers as well.

The common approach of ECH EuregioCargoHubs goes far beyond the model of shared liner services. „We provide financial means to establish a shared property, but we also place throughput, short and long-distance transport with a joint outsourcing partner. Thanks to increased shipment volumes and highly standardized processes we can realize many synergies,“ said Manfred Kock, managing partner of SLK-Kock. Above all, this improves the utilization of short and long-distance transport and hence its economy. Further savings potentials are provided in the disposition, damages and pallets department or in the purchase of transport services.

www.thegreenline.de   www.slk-koch.de

Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com