Crises like tornado s, they come... and go by Henk Hofman

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1 Nr. 5 November 2008 c o n t e n t s 01 Introduction 01 Introduction 02 New season 03 In Memoriam 04 Meetings/Visits 04 Istanbul 05 Gökbil 06 Board Italy 07 Next meetings 08 Vopak 09 Member in the picture 09 Henk Hofman 10 Sponsors 10 GreenCat 11 Gröninger 12 Chemical division 12 Haanpaa 13 Haanpaa Moscow 14 Hinterberger & Richter 15 De Vries 16 Food division 16 Rodella 17 Dekker Poland 18 Chip tuning 19 Keijzer 20 Transfood 21 Change of staff 21 Laabs & Buchner 22 Wauters & Transfood 23 Central and Eastern Europe 23 Czech Republic, Estonia & Hungary 24 Poland 25 Russia, Serbia, Slovakia & Slovenia 26 Colophon Crises like tornado s, they come... and go by Henk Hofman It is not so very long ago that our clients were begging us for extra capacity, and even paying higher rates than usual. It is not so long ago that our suppliers were unable to deliver when we wanted and we were forced to accept long waiting times. At that stage their position was so strong that they were able to demand higher prices than ever before for their products. Equally, only recently the prices of stainless steel and oil were increasing like never before. Now we are back in the real world again, where globally the financial crisis and lack of trust has resulted in a situation where nobody is sure what the eventual outcome will be and when the bottom will be reached. For the time being we have to accept this situation, and in order to survive we have to anticipate and adapt very quickly, which means reorganizing activities where necessary, and even to calling a halt to those activities that are structurally loss-making. In addition, we must, of course, keep in close contact with our customers, as competition will be much tougher than before. This brings me to Tankceu. I am convinced that your participation in Tankceu - with its principles of mutual cooperation and trust - gives you a tool that will prove its worth more than ever before in the months to come. The forthcoming meetings in Prague and Amsterdam, where participation will be almost 100%, will provide an opportunity to learn from each other about ways of reacting to the current situation and how to intensify and reinforce our co-operation. To sum up: economies are like roller coasters they go up and down, but they always go UP again eventually!

2 2 A new season is coming by Enrique Soravilla i n t r o d u c t i o n In the May edition of Tankceu News I wrote an article entitled 2008: a difficult year. A few months down the road it is clear that unfortunately my expectations have been proved correct, and there will be no positive outcome to this year for our business. In September the Tankceu Board held an interesting meeting in Italy, and following our discussions I understand and believe that we are entering a new season, as the title of this article suggests. Certain facts are unmistakable: last July the price of a barrel of petrol reached historic levels as high as 140 dollars; the financial crisis has escalated, and worst of all, there is insufficient cargo to keep our fleets moving to capacity. These circumstances, plus the rapid and major increase in operating expenses have led to a situation in which our companies are losing money. Notwithstanding the above, this stage in the economic cycle may have a positive side, as it will bring about a reorganisation of the sector, which should favour those businesses that have been and continue to be well managed. However, it will also be necessary to take certain steps to enable us to survive. The time has come to put our entrepreneurial skills into practice and try to guide our businesses in the right direction so that we can face this new season calmly and keep our place in the game. The measures that seem appropriate to me at the present time include: a) adjusting our businesses to the current market realities, without stopping thinking about the future. This means adapting our staff, fleet and structures. b) increasing productivity as a fundamental approach for the future so that we are not forced into decreasing salaries, which we will have to do if productivity is not improved. c) applying new IT and communications technologies, using fleet controls and modern vehicles, which will help us to save on fuel and respect the environment. d) quality control of our work in compliance with our customers strictest demands, especially since customers temporarily have an abundant choice of transport alternatives. If properly applied these measures should be sufficient to make it through the interim period and enter a new period of prosperity. Unfortunately I am unable to guess when this will be, especially if those politicians responsible for the economy continue to change their expectations and strategies several times a year. I wish you all lots of success, and hope to appear in a future edition of Tankceu News with an article announcing the start of a good year!

3 3 In Memoriam Pino Rossi On the 16 th June we told you in a TankceuFlash about the sudden death of Mr. Pino Rossi. In this edition of TankceuNews we would again like to dedicate a few words to his memory. i n t r o d u c t i o n Many of you met Mr Rossi at Tankceu meetings in his capacity as general manager and joint owner of Ciat Rossi, now BM Italia, or will have known him from cooperation in the field. Ciat Rossi was one of the companies that co-founded Tankceu in We will remember him as an exceptionally friendly and warm personality - always a gentleman, helpful, open to co-operation and an active participant in our meetings, where he occupied a special place. We are grateful to have known and worked with him.

4 4 Tankceu meeting in Isanbul, 23 rd May 2008 by Petra Jongejan m e e t i n g s / v i s i t s This year the annual joint meeting of Tankeu s chemical and food grade divisions took place on the 23 rd of May in the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel in Istanbul, which is centrally located near Taksim Square. The choice of Istanbul was partly made because of the bridge function between Europe and Asia of this huge metropolis with officially 12 (unofficially 20!!) million inhabitants. During the morning, several interesting topics from the agenda were discussed, and company presentations were given by the latest newcomers to our organisation - Rodella (food grade) and De Vries (chemical). The members intermodal activities and IT planning systems and on-board computers were also highlighted. In the afternoon two interesting guests were invited to speak, namely Alper Özel from the Turkish hauliers association, UND, and Kaan Kulga, managing director of the Turkish haulage company, Gökbil A.S. They provided an interesting overview of the current situation in Turkey in terms of the economy and logistics, and talked about the services provided by Gökbil, a modern Turkish transport company. In the evening, dinner took place in the renowned Feriye restaurant, which is situated right on the Bosphorus, offering a fabulous view of the illuminated Ortaköy mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge. The food was delicious, and as a small additional local present, we had a first hand view of a wedding party next to us, with Turkish music and dancing! The next morning the official programme concluded with a tour of the city, which took in some of the best known monuments in Istanbul, such as the impressive Aya Sophia, the Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque.

5 5 m e e t i n g s / v i s i t s Gökbil A.S. Kaan Kulga presenting his company in Istanbul As a follow-up to Kaan Kulga s interesting power point presentation on his company in Istanbul, and the good relationship that we have developed with him, below is a short summary of the Gökbil company s activities. Gökbil A.S. is a logistics company that specialises in liquid bulk chemicals. It is located in Dilovasi Gebze, Turkey. This is a region where, due to the presence of shore tank terminals and production sites, a large number of chemical movements take place. Apart from its intermodal and road transport services, Gökbil also offers additional services, such as filling, product transhipment, static tank storage, tank container heating and depot facilities for packed chemicals. In Turkey, and in particular in the region around our site in Gebze, an area that is rapidly becoming a regional hub from and to Russia, Ukraine, the Balkans, the Middle East and surrounding countries, transport volumes are increasing rapidly. In order to cope with the rising transport demand Gökbil is constantly investing in new equipment to enlarge its fleet, which currently consists of 95 road transport units and 200 tank containers. The company has made serious efforts in terms of SHEQ in relation to its transport and handling operations and recently underwent a successful audit leading to Gökbil becoming an SQAS assessed company. For further contact: Kaan Kulga / Director kaan.kulga@gokbil.com Gökbil Nakliyat Depolama San.ve Dis Tic. A.S. Dilovasi Organize San. Bölgesi 1. Kisim D-1008 Sokak No 5 Gökbil Terminali PK Dilovasi Gebze Kocaeli/Turkey Tel: +90 (0) Fax: +90 (0) Web:

6 6 Tankceu board visits Italy by Herbert Hinterberger m e e t i n g s / v i s i t s 2008 s second Board meeting was held on the 15 th of September in Desenzano del Garda in northern Italy. Activities that took place included preparing for future meetings and discussing candidates for membership and developments within our member companies. We had chosen this place for our Italy-based meetings and visits with the intention of combining our Board meeting with a visit to Rodella Trasporti s new site. It also created an opportunity for our members with branch offices in this part of Italy to meet their colleagues in the region to discuss possible synergies and how to improve cooperation between their companies. Once this side of the business was taken care of, the next day we headed for Rodella Trasporti in Medole, only 20 km away from our hotel in Desenzano. The Board members, Filippo Rossi (Wauters Piacenza) and Franco Fogli (SAR Trasporti) received a warm welcome from Bruno Rodella, his daughter Eleanora and Cesare Romano. To start we had a busy and constructive meeting, during which the market situation in Italy, tenders, and cooperation possibilities were extensively discussed. Tongues really loosened when another main item on the agenda, namely intermodal activities from Italy to different parts of Europe and vice versa, was brought up. The Board plans to explore this item further and produce a follow-up report. On this day I was once again positively surprised by the deep involvement shown by the management of the member companies in the day-to-day business and their comprehensive knowledge of the European market. My colleagues on the Board and I could feel the participants positive attitude towards Tankceu and the many good opportunities that exist to strengthen our cooperation in Italy. After the meeting our hosts showed us the new site and impressed us with the hard work being done, which includes brand new offices and a new cleaning station and storage. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Rodella family and others for their generous invitation and the excellent Italian cuisine that we enjoyed before travelling home again.

7 7 Prague Tankceu Meetings m e e t i n g s / v i s i t s When 22 November December 2008 March 2009 March 2009 April 2009 June 2009 Amsterdam Where Prague /CZ Amsterdam /NL Prague /CZ Amsterdam /NL Amsterdam /NL Not decided yet Who Planners chemical Managers chemical Planners food grade Managers food grade Board chemical and food grade Managers food and chemical

8 8 DTSA visits VOPAK Source: Transport en Logistiek, no nd October 2008 introduced by Henk Hofman Vopak - Botlek terminal m e e t i n g s / v i s i t s Within the scope of Tankceu s membership of the DTSA, Etienne Wauters and I recently attended a DTSA meeting where the main item for discussion was VOPAK and the way that tank trucks are handled on its terminals. Also present at this meeting were Casper Pieper, managing director of VOPAK Netherlands, and Pieter Lek, VOPAK s IT director. This occasion enabled Etienne and me to engage in a thorough exchange of views with the two gentlemen, with whom we shared a table. Here is a short report on this meeting. On 17 th September, the Dutch Tank and Silo Association (DTSA) held its fourth general meeting of the year. This time the meeting was organised in conjunction with VOPAK. VOPAK is the world market leader in the field of independent storage of bulk liquid goods, including oils, chemicals, vegetable oils and liquidised gases. The reason for this joint meeting was VOPAK s need to think hard with the DTSA members about better ways of handling tank trucks in its terminals. In practice, the companies are faced with restrictive loading and unloading times according to strict time schedules, which seriously limit the planning and progress of the members daily operations. This not only causes a lot of irritation among drivers, but in particular results in a considerable increase in costs for the companies. The meeting was opened by Frans Kooijmans, the DTSA s president. He emphasized DTSA s appreciation for the fact that VOPAK was trying to resolve the problems by working with the logistics service providers. He expressed the hope that the initiative would also result in a positive effect on other shippers in the tank and silo transportation sector. Next Casper Pieper, managing director of VOPAK, gave a presentation on VOPAK s worldwide performance and policy spearheads. Pieter Lek, the process manager, presented a blueprint for accelerating the implementation of truck turn around time on a number of terminals. After the presentations, the meeting s participants were shown around the Botlek terminal by bus.

9 9 Tank transport and theatre m e m b e r i n t h e p i c t u r e by Henk Hofman The Theatre Festival in the Hungarian town of Kazincbarcika provided me with a special opportunity to combine my participation in this festival with a visit to Silo- Tank Hungary s site, which is only 5 minutes away from where the festival was held. On the 4 th of July Friedrich Eisenkeck, Fredi Hugelshofer and I met Stefán Mihály, Managing Director of Silo- Tank Hungary, had lunch with him and visited the site. Mr. Mihály told us a lot about the company and the current situation in Hungary. We also spoke to a number of people from the planning and accounting departments. Our experience was that Silo-Tank Hungary is a well-managed company, with an up-to-date IT operating and management system and a modern, wellmaintained fleet of tank and silo trucks. This leads me to tell you a bit more about my theatre activities. As well as my work in the tank transportation, I have also been involved in theatre productions for many years. The theatre group of which I am one of the leaders, is called Kruimels ( Crumbs in English) and is based in Rotterdam. Our studio is based in an old school building that we regularly lend out to other theatre groups. Kruimels is a movement theatre company, dedicated to performances that incorporate a mix of mime, dance, music and the spoken word. Although the director, choreographer and dance trainer are all professionals, the status of the group is amateur. In addition to their theatrical activities, the actors all practice different professions. Among our number are teachers, consultants, musicians, editors and managers, and we even have a building contractor as make-up artist. The latter is also a specialist in giving make-up and body painting workshops. Essentially all of them have one thing in common: their passion for theatre, in which they invest a lot of time and energy. Our theatre productions are based on improvisation. We start with a theme, idea or story and work on it for 3 to 6 months, with the resulting performance lasting for about an hour. Although every production is an adventure, and success is never guaranteed, we have been quite successful and have even won several awards, as was the case recently in Hungary. Since our main discipline is movement theatre, we do not need to express ourselves in a particular language, and this allows us to perform abroad. This year, as I have already mentioned, we played in Hungary in July, and in October we performed in Hanau in Germany. Through international theatre festivals we meet a lot of very interesting people from all over the world, and for this reason we now have an international network of colleagues. In recent years we have played in Spain, Germany, Latvia and Switzerland, for example. The secret of the Kruimels theatre group is motivation, dedication, a professional attitude, and lots of fun!!! You might think it sounds odd, but in my view the same ingredients are required to manage a transport company successfully!!! Theater Kruimels scene photograph

10 10 GROENEVELD & GREENCAT ICT working on efficiency s p o n s o r s Groeneveld Group is an innovative, international manufacturer of efficiency projects for the transport, industry and off-road sectors. With more than 700 employees, branches in 17 countries and global representation via importers and dealers, Groeneveld is amongst the world s largest players in the field of transport efficiency and logistic ICT. The product range from Groeneveld Transport Efficiency consists of the product groups Automated Maintenance and Active Safety, while sister company GreenCat is responsible for ICT activities. Without exception, the products from Groeneveld contribute to the efficiency of business resources and logistic processes within transport organisations. Thanks to their innovative capacity, the excellent quality of their products and services and a worldwide service and support organisation, Groeneveld and GreenCat have become preferred suppliers for numerous leading companies in the automotive and off-road sector. Integrated solutions The transport sector is full of ambition but at the same time is faced with high costs and low margins. Clients are constantly on the lookout for more valueadded services at the lowest possible cost. Streamlining operations and reducing operating costs are therefore hot items for any operator in this sector. Groeneveld and GreenCat respond actively to this trend by developing products that contribute to a lower kilometre cost price and higher capacity utilisation. Groeneveld Stephensonweg 12, 4207 HB Gorinchem, The Netherlands Tel , info@groeneveld.nl In a large number of countries, Groeneveld is market leader in electrical and mechanical systems such as speed limiters, automatic greasers, oil level control and blind spot protection and rear obstacle detection. GreenCat, with a staff of 230 ICT specialists and more than 600 clients, is one of Europe s largest specialists in the field of logistic automation. The company is for example involved in the development of advanced transport management systems (TMS), graphic planning systems and on-board computers. Any transport operator, large or small, can be sure that GreenCat will provide seamlessly-integrated logistic packages for operation in road, rail and water-based transport. GreenCat stands for one-stop shopping: the client not only receives expert advice and up-to-date ICT products, but also complete implementation and after care. As a result there are no gaps that could present the client with unexpected costs. Future developments The contours of the logistic operator of the near future are becoming increasingly clear. Many companies have already practically completed the phase of optimising the individual components of their organisation and fleet equipment. The next step is the further integration of all these systems that should result in improved manageability of the total business. Any new product development processes within the Groeneveld Group are therefore clearly based around this model for the future. The worlds of conventional efficiency products and ICT applications are set to overlap with increasing regularity, in the near future, and the Groeneveld Group will be there to play a guiding role. GreenCat, Stephensonweg 12, 4207 HB Gorinchem, The Netherlands, Tel , info@greencat-it.com

11 11 Gröninger Cleaning Systems B.V. Schiedam, the Netherlands +31 (0) Engineering Installation Project management Service Cleaning solutions s p o n s o r s Tank(container)s Silos Railcars IBCs

12 12 Eurotank and ADR-Haanpää combine forces in European chemicals logistics, group adopts the Haanpaa name. c h e m i c a l d i v i s i o n On the 1 st of September 2008 Sweden s Eurotank AB and Finland s ADR-Haanpää amalgamated their chemical logistics services between mainland Europe and the Nordic countries. Eurotank AB s operations have been merged with those of the Estonian company (Haanpaa OÜ) and the Polish company (ZOO Haanpaa), which are both part of the Haanpaa Group. The company s name will be Eurotank AB - Haanpaa Group, and the current owner of Eurotank AB, Mr. Daniel Hauffe, has been appointed managing director. The headquarters of the Eurotank AB - Haanpaa Group will be in what is currently the Haanpaa Group s office in Helsingborg, Sweden. Each of the companies will continue to operate as before. Only the ownership of the companies will change, according to Vesa Itkonen, CEO of the Haanpaa Group. The company will concentrate transporting liquid chemicals between mainland Europe and the Nordic countries. The benefit of the combined entity for customers is that these two operators will together form a competitive and leading service provider for European liquid chemical logistics, with a fleet of nearly one hundred trailer units at its disposal. The link-up will not affect our personnel, since all Eurotank AB, Haanpaa OÜ and ZOO Haanpaa s employees will continue to work as before, only in the service of their new employers, says Vesa Itkonen. Since 2004 the Haanpaa Group has also been operating in Russia, with a branch office in St. Petersburg, followed in the early months of 2008 by another office in Moscow. In 2007 the turnover for the whole Haanpaa Group was around 115 million Euros. Haanpaa OÜ s turnover amounts to roughly 15 million Euros. In addition to tank truck and tank container transportation, the Haanpaa Group will also offer storage services together with the technologies and know-how necessary for satisfying all of its customers logistics needs. Eurotank AB is known as a reputable family company and was founded by Daniel Hauffe s father in In 2003 Mr. Hauffe senior left the company and handed over its leadership to his son. Eurotank s turnover in 2007 was around 4.5 million Euros. All of the Group s member companies will adopt the Haanpaa name in all countries. The reason for this change is to communicate externally the Group s renewal the company s target of strengthening its position in liquid chemical logistics and to provide a wider range of value-added services in the supply chain. Additional information: Vesa Itkonen, CEO, Haanpaa Group, tel.: Daniel Hauffe, Managing Director, Eurotank AB, tel.:

13 13 c h e m i c a l d i v i s i o n Haanpaa opens new office in Moscow by Tarmo Suomalainen Haanpaa s second branch office in Russia, ZAO Haanpaa, commenced operation in April The office is located in Moscow and the truck park just outside Moscow in Obukhovo. Currently we employ 17 people, including 8 drivers. By the end of 2008 we will have 8 trucks and 9 trailers. Our main business is in chemical transport and container haulage within Russia and from Belarus to Russia and vice versa. We carry both non-hazardous and ADRclassified chemicals. We are actively expanding our activities and by the end of 2009 expect to own 20 operational units. We are also looking for a suitable partner to start up a cleaning station in the Moscow area, which is badly needed. Unfortunately most of our members of staff speak only Russian, but English speakers can contact either Anastasia Generalova or me. Tel.: Tatyana Belyakova - office manager

14 14 Hinterberger purchases a container stacker by Herbert Hinterberger c h e m i c a l d i v i s i o n Hinterberger has added value and flexibility to its container activities by acquiring a brand new container stacker. In the photo the new equipment is being operated by Erich Hinterecker, who is well known to his Tankceu colleagues. The container stacker enables Hinterberger to move and store empty tank containers at its premises in Altötting. Hinterberger uses Haacon support jacks for changing over fully loaded containers. Conversion of Curt Richter GmbH into a joint-stock corporation with a change of form Curt Richter GmbH has changed the company s corporate form in accordance with the provisions of the shareholders meeting resolution dated and has now been registered as a joint-stock corporation at the Cologne County Court. The conversion is a formal interim step with the objective of further developing the company and eventually registering it as a European Company or Societas Europea (SE). The legal form of a joint-stock corporation and subsequently an SE has no disadvantage for suppliers. All contracts with them remain in force and are not affected by the change of legal form. Likewise, the ownership situation remains unchanged. The company remains in family possession and in future will continue to be managed by the same people that have been responsible for it up until now. For turnover tax purposes, all future invoices must be addressed to: Curt Richter AG Manforter Strasse Cologne

15 15 c h e m i c a l d i v i s i o n De Vries acquires Penske Coevorden As of the 1 st of September 2008 De Vries Transport Group (DVTG) has taken over the activities of Penske Logistics Coevorden. Services offered include road transport, storage and transhipment, plus container transports via the rail terminal in Coevorden. DVTG aims to give the Coevorden office new impetus. This acquisition fits perfectly with the company s strategy of becoming a European service provider with a strong base in the northern part of the Netherlands, and will strengthen all of DVTG s current activities. In addition, DVTG will also be able to make use of three rail terminals located in the northern Netherlands and Germany to serve the ports. Coevorden will also be used for transit traffic to the company s branches in Germany and the Czech Republic. DVTG s core business is total logistics services including warehousing, conventional truck transport (FTL / LTL), silo, liquid and container transport. The Rail Service Centrum Groningen (RSCG) multi-modal storage and transhipment terminal provides DVTG in Veendam with train, container and inland shipping terminal facilities. From Veendam, De Vries is also able to make use of the rail service for container traffic to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and destinations in the North of Germany and Scandinavia. For more details contact: De Vries Transport Group Mr. E. de Vries tel.:

16 16 Rodella Trasporti Srl, Medole (Mantova) As announced at the Tankceu meeting in Haarlem (NL), we are pleased to inform all Tankceu members that from the 1 st of July, Rodella Trasporti srl has moved to its new operating site in Medole. Apart from a few minor details, we have almost completed all of the work involved in the move; our website has also been updated. We are now able to offer the following services: 1 lane cleaning station (foodstuff products) parking area warehousing comfort facilities and services for drivers and vehicles Here are our updated contact details: Rodella Trasporti srl Medole (Mantova Italy) Tel: Fax: road traffic Fax: intermodal traffic Chairman and Managing Director Bruno Rodella Tel: brodella@rodellatrasporti.it Operations manager & TSN coordinator Davide Baroni Tel: dbaroni@rodellatrasporti.it f o o d d i v i s i o n Commercial Manager Cesare Romanò Tel: cromano@rodellatrasporti.it Intermodal Traffic Director Simone Romanini Tel: sromanini@rodellatrasporti.it During the last Tankceu Board meeting on 15 th -16 th Sept. in Desenzano del Garda (Italy) we had the opportunity to show our operating site to all the Board members and other representatives of member companies who were attending the meeting. Rodella Trasporti Srl

17 17 HTS (Holland Tank Service) by Krzysztof Sosinski f o o d d i v i s i o n Since early 2006 our company has operated fourteen storage tanks with a total capacity of 2,850 cbm. They are all heated and insulated, and are constructed from acid resistant stainless steel - ASI 316. The 14 tanks come in the following sizes: 4 x 70 cbm 2 x 85 cbm 2 x 150 cbm 6 x 350 cbm The products stored include vegetable oils, fatty acids, glucose, juice concentrates, liquid chocolate and animal fats. Depending on our customers requirements, in addition to simple storage, the products can also be heated, blended or re-packaged in IBCs or drums. In addition we operate a fleet of specialised road tankers. Companies that promote high standards of customer service and product quality have the greatest chance of success on the market. In 2006 HTS achieved ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 22000:2005 certification. We believe that we are strong on environmental protection, and in order to protect the balance of the natural environment we have adopted the following measures: - tank bases are 100% waterproof - substances used are drained to a special collector, - after cleaning, grease and other wastes are recycled by specialised companies. Maciej Jackowiak Board Member Krzysztof Sosinski Sales Manager tel.: +48 / Holland Tank Service Sp. z o.o. ul. Potworowskiego 3/ Poznan Tank Farm: HTS Pomarzanowice Pobiedzisk Tel.: +48 / information@h-t-s.pl

18 18 Our experiences with chip tuning by Jan Duel f o o d d i v i s i o n If you ask a random passer-by what the aim of chip tuning is, they will usually answer that a vehicle is tuned up to increase its speed. Here at the Dekker Group we see it differently, as for us, tuning has a different goal entirely, namely to optimise torque and power in order to keep the motor running at its optimum performance level. In other words, Dekker does not intend simply to increase the power of its trucks from 420 to 500 horsepower. What we have actually done is to have our motor management software programmes adapted. A truck that pulls well and maintains power while climbing is also an economical vehicle. From our experience and figures, 90% of the vehicles we have had optimised are now consuming between 1 and 3 litres less fuel per 100 km, producing a considerable annual saving. How does it work? 1. The tractor is placed on the dynamometer and an initial power test is conducted. The results show whether or not the vehicle is ok technically. If the results are well below the factory indications, the shortcomings, e.g. defective fuel vaporisation (injector) or turbo pressure sensor, leakage in the intercooler etc. must first be detected and corrected. 2. If the truck is technically sound, the vehicle computer s basic software is read out (this can usually be done using the diagnosis plug), otherwise the computer must be opened, and the memory chip removed and read. The basic software programme is downloaded to a programmable computer after which the original software may be changed. 3. After this adjustment has been carried out, a power test is run to verify the results. This action is repeated several times (sometimes as often as 15 times), until the torque and power curves show the desired results. 4. The definitive version is downloaded to the vehicle s computer, and a final power test is conducted. 5. The results of the initial and final tests are printed, so that the torque and power improvements that have been made can be clearly seen throughout bthe rev range. 6. If necessary (usually this takes place during optimisation), driving style is also discussed with the driver and advice is given about adopting more economical driving habits.

19 19 Albert Keijzer wins Damage Prevention Star 2008 source - summary of an article in Nú Magazine (Nov 2008) f o o d d i v i s i o n November 4 th : Kees Harland, director of damage and insurance science at Nationale Nederlanden, a major insurance company, presented the STAR Damage Prevention prize to Co Keijzer of the Albert Keijzer company at a recent ceremony. How did Albert Keijzer win this award? Two damage prevention advisors from Nationale Nederlanden evaluated the level of premium paid by haulage companies and the average amount of damage over the last three years. In addition, the company s co-operation with and implementation of prevention measures, the image it presents to the outside world, and the involvement of and co-operation with the insurance advisor were also taken into consideration. Albert Keijzer scored very well on practically all of the issues. The average national damage percentage is around 64%. Albert Keijzer achieved a much lower level by implementing a range of measures, including the use of a damage prevention counsellor from Nationale Nederlanden who participated in drivers meetings to raise awareness of things that they could do themselves to prevent damage. On these occasions the drivers own interest in avoiding accidents while driving is highlighted - the less damage they cause, the bigger the bonus they receive at the end of the year. Aspects such as these are regular items on the drivers meeting agenda, as well as discussion of new regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous and food grade products, and hygiene. In addition, in the near future a special facility will be introduced in the depot where cab mirrors can be adjusted. Nationale Nederlanden regularly discusses the fleet s damage statistics with Albert Keijzer to keep them aware and alert and to avoid unpleasant surprises. Accident and damage prevention is a critical part of Albert Keijzer s operation. The company has therefore registered to participate in two trial schemes organised by the Transport Ministry. One of the schemes relates to drivers staying in their own lane while on the road, and the other one to maintaining a safe distance to the vehicle in front. According to the damage prevention counsellor, accident prevention is simply in Albert Keijzer s genes! We would like to take this opportunity to offer our congratulations to Albert Keijzer!

20 20 The foundation of Hugelshofer Logistik AG by Fredi Hugelshofer Martin Lörtscher f o o d d i v i s i o n In mid July 2008 HUGELSHOFER LOGISTIK AG was established; the new company is a 100% subsidiary of Hugelshofer Holding AG. Over the last couple of years Hugelshofer Transport AG s service package has been constantly extended and adapted to meet the needs and wishes of its customers and the market. A number of different logistics services have been added to the company s core activity, which is road haulage from A to B. In 2000 food grade transports were successfully integrated in to Transfood AG, and now Hugelshofer Transport AG and Hugelshofer Logistik AG aim to focus more closely on the company s two other activities, namely transport and logistics, and waste disposal and recycling. This separation of the three operational core activities allows for a clearer, more goal-oriented and modern market approach, and at the same time each company will be able to concentrate on its own specific strategy. Investment by Martin Lörtscher For almost ten years, Martin Lörtscher has played an active role in our company. Three years ago he took over the chairmanship of the Board and since then has managed the Hugelshofer Transport AG and Transfood AG businesses with a great deal of success, skill and insight. On the 1 st of September 2008 he acquired a minority interest in Hugelshofer Holding AG. Personally I am proud to have him as a business associate and thus to preserve the Hugelshofer Group s character as a family business. This reorganisation will have no noticeable effect for our customers and staff.

21 21 Getting back to his professional roots by Jürgen Lenz Carsten Rössig c h a n g e o f s t a f f Since July 2008 Carsten Rössig has once again been working as planner in our chemical road tanker department. Carsten started his career at Laabs on a 2-year traineeship in 1997 and subsequently worked as planner in both the chemical road tank and intermodal transport departments. In 2001 he left the company to set up his own IT business. After 7 years of being selfemployed, he decided that On the 1 st of April this year, 24-year-old Michael Semrau joined our planning department. After completing his training as a forwarding administrator and commercial assistant in Nuremberg, and a period of military service, he was previously employed as a planner by Spedition Heinloth in Heideck. Michael speaks German and English; he can be contacted by tel. on (our main number) or michael.semrau@buchner-spedition.de being a planner at Laabs was more his cup of tea. In view of the increased work load in our planning department, we are pleased to welcome Carsten - who has a great deal of experience in this field - back to our team. Change of staff - Georg Buchner by Armin Buchner Michael Semrau

22 22 Wauters Tanktransport - change of staff Jean-Pierre Pernet Jean-Pierre Pernet recently joined the Wauters Tanktransport team as operational manager for the road and intermodal department. He gained his previous experience in the transport sector working for Hoyer for 16 years. Languages: Dutch, German and English Direct tel. no.: jp.pernet@wauterstt.be Joris Meul Joris Meul recently began working for Wauters Tanktransport as a road traffic planner. Previously he worked for Hoyer for 9 years and spent almost 2 years at Gilbert Declercq. Languages: Dutch, German, English and French Direct tel. no.: joris.meul@wauterstt.be Jean-Pierre Pernet Joris Meul c h a n g e o f s t a f f Transfood - change of staff We are delighted to have found an internal replacement from within the company for Mr. Keller who was responsible for invoicing - Nina Stähli, who has worked here since Over the last few years Nina has assembled a wealth of planning experience, which she now can use to seamlessly and accurately continue in her new role. Bruno Hubmann will take over the domestic planning role that Nina previously filled. He has been carrying out this new function since the 1 st of July. In future Nina will be found in the planning department again from time to time as holiday cover. We are pleased to have been able to strengthen our team with Bruno s sector expertise. Nina Stähli Bruno Hubmann As before, the international planning will be taken care of by Michi Kessler, and Martin Fehr will manage planning, quality and the training of staff and trainees.

23 23 c e n t r a l a n d e a s t e r n e u r o p e Tankceu members in Central and Eastern Europe Although traffic to and from the countries of central and eastern Europe is not a hot topic for every member of Tankceu on a daily basis, these countries are - some faster than others - continuing to increase their economic activity and therefore influencing the road and intermodal transport activities of the companies who have branch offices there. For this reason, and to increase the knowledge within the group of our colleagues facilities, in this issue we are briefly placing the spotlight on our members eastern European offices: Czech Republic De Vries CZ s.r.o. Europe Logistics Centre Bor (on D5/E50 between Plzen and the German border) in Bor o warehousing (10,000m 2 ) computer and television parts o contact: Freddy Reugebrink; freugebrink@devriestransportgroup.com o contact: Pavel Roub; proub@devriestransportgroup.com Estonia Haanpaa Oü in Tallinn o liquid chemical road transport: Scandinavian countries to the continent and v.v. Russia, Baltic countries and former CIS countries to Scandinavia and the continent and v.v. 100 trucks and trailers o contact: Tiit Parik: tiit.parik@haanpaa.com Hungary FoodTankers Transport Kft. in Székesfehérvar o food trucking activities (controlled by FoodTankers planning in Sweden): central and western Europe 15 trucks and tank trailers o contact: Zoltan Gaal: zoltan.gaal@foodtankers.com Silo-Tank Kft. in Kazinkbarcika o chemical transport: Hungary to Belgium, northern France, Ruhr area, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland & Slovakia 15 jumbo semi-trailers o contact: Anita Déakné Balazs: anita-deakne@silo-tank.eu

24 24 c e n t r a l a n d e a s t e r n e u r o p e Poland Dekker - Holland Tank Service Sp z.o.o. in Poznan o storage (14 tanks 2,850 cbm) vegetable oils, fatty acids, glucose, juice concentrates, liquid chocolate & animal fats o heating and mixing o re-packaging to IBC s or drums o specialised road tank transport: 6 7 tank truck combinations throughout Europe (planning controlled from the Netherlands) o contact: Krzysztof Sosinski: information@h-t-s.pl FoodTankers Polska Sp z.o.o. in Lodz o food trucking activities (controlled by FoodTankers planning in Sweden): central and western Europe 30 tank trucks and trailers o contact: Agnieska Konwerska: agnieska.konwerska@foodtankers.com IAT Polska Sp z.o.o. in Oswiecim o domestic and international bulk liquid transport: PL, A, D, NL, B, CZ, SK, I and E 10 trucks / 10 road tankers, all ADR equipped o contact Piotr Tyrlik; iatpolska@iatpolska.pl Samat Polska Sp. z.o.o. in Krakow o road transport: petroleum, chemicals, LPG and cryogenics: current: no bulk chemical movements at present, but open to cooperation if opportunities are there 140 tractor units 20 rigids (LPG and fuel) 130 trailers: 30 fuel 65 LPG 20 car transport 6 cryogenics 2 bitumen 7 other o contact: Marek Zemlak: marek.zemlak@groupesamat.com

25 25 c e n t r a l a n d e a s t e r n e u r o p e Russia OOO Haanpaa in Saint Petersburg o liquid chemical transport and container haulage: Finland to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and v.v. 15 trucks and trailers o contact: Jari Silander: jari.silander@haanpaa.com ZAO Haanpaa in Moscow o liquid chemical transport and container haulage: domestic transport within Russia Belarus to Russia and v.v. 6 trucks and trailers o contact: Tarmo Suomalainen: tarmo.suomalainen@haanpaa.com Serbia Agencija Stefan-Buchner in Kragujevac o contacts with customers and o with customs clearance offices in Serbia and on the Serbian border for deliveries using our trucks o contact: Josip Stefan, tel.: Slovakia G. Buchner Slovakia S.R.O. in Vel ky Meder o international chemical transport: main destinations in south eastern Europe 10 tank trucks (single and multi compartment) controlled by planning in the Fürth head office o contact: Alexander Kosar: g.buchner@stonline.sk Slovenia Georg Buchner Mednarodni Prevozni in Trgovina d.o.o. in Ilirska Bistrica o trucking from Ljubljana terminal o transports from D-B-NL to south eastern Europe (chemical and food grade) o wine transports from Macedonia / Bulgaria to Germany does not have its own fleet (only Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian and Macedonian subcontractors) o contact: Josip Gregec: georg.buchner@siol.net

26 26 c o l o p h o n Colophon Editorial team General Editor: Henk Hofman, Tel.: , hofman@tankceu.com Editorial Secretary: Petra Jongejan, Tel.: , tankceu@tankceu.com With thanks to GreenCat/Gröninger Production Buro Solo Rotterdam (NL)