News tracker international

News tracker international
New York
Shanghai
Study Visit
Estron Group organized a study visit for a group of 30 first-year students, who follow the four-year
bachelor programme at the Rotterdam Mainport University of Applied
Sciences. This day characterized the numerous aspects of transport and logistics, and was
organized in cooperation with students’ union ‘ Sconfinato’ .
This days’ purpose was mainly career orientation; where will I start my career after graduating?
First the company Estron was introduced. In this presentation our guests learned a little about
Estron’s history, its market position then and now, its customers and the way Estron distinguishes
oneself business wise. An organizational chart was presented to them to illustrate the various
positions, jobs and responsibilities within the company.
After this presentation the students went on a guided tour through Estron’s offices and
warehouses, to show them all daily activities involved. Finally they paid a visit to the barge to see
how goods go on board, to be delivered alongside our customer’s vessels.
To complete this project Estron had organized a quiz, with a full goodie bag as a reward for the
winner!
Estron Group and the students look back on a valuable experience, and an interesting day.
Perhaps we will meet again one day, till then we wish all of them lots of success with their studies.
Estron Group support Eimskip with
shipping racing cars for the 24 race
in Dubai
With our dedicated warehouse Estron Group is supporting Eimskip to ship 80 racing cars to Dubai.
The occasion is the ninth edition of the 24h race in January 2014.
It is the second time in a row Eimskip is taking care of all logistics and transportation operations for
this prominent race event. In just over two months’ time 80 cars must be transported from Europe,
and other parts of the world to Dubai.
Without these cars there will be no race, and such a big responsibility requires a reliable transport
partner. Looking back at a successful year, Eimskip may say with pride that they have become
more and more specialized in this project.
International teams from France, Belgium, Germany, Holland and Hungary will bring their valuable
racing cars to Estron warehouse in Rotterdam. It takes two days to load and transport all cars in a
40ft HC container, with destination the port of Rotterdam.
Then all is ready for a voyage to Jebel Ali, leading port in the Middle East.
Teams from all over the world participate in this 24h race e.g Japan, New Zealand and the US.
On arrival in Jebel Ali, Eimskip’s partner in Dubai, Agility, will take care of all handling transactions
and transportation of the cars to the Dubai Autodrome.
Then gradually the Autodrome transforms into a huge village filled with cars and containers. These
containers will stay at the circuit until the race is finished. The team members and their crew will
use them as a place to sleep, to unwind and to store their equipment.
We would like take this opportunity to thank Eimskip for their loyalty and continued support.
Estron the Market
The past couple of years we have seen considerable changes in the logistics market; the one
change has been processed, and the other comes in sight.
Developments become more and more complex, we have to meet great demands at the same
time economic circumstances try to hinder our team’s performances.
Due to the economic crisis we forced ourselves to strengthen our logistic position by becoming a
Lean and Mean organization.
We are living in a digital world; our colleagues at Customer Service handle a huge
amount (over 500!) of emails daily.
We communicate with shipping owners and drivers through internet, and customers all over the
world send us their online requisitions. Because they all work with different software packages, it
requires continuous adjustments from Estron as their logistic service provider.
These are the facts whether we like it or not, whether we agree or not, if we want to be part of the
innovation too, then we must not lag behind.
Estron has no plans whatsoever of pulling out, and will always keep investing and believing in the
future.
Equipment
Estron has decided to purchase 100 new trailers. The order for this will be issued before the end
of the year.
These trailers come up to the highest expectations, and are partially a replacement, and partially
for expansion. In the next News tracker’s edition this will be discussed more detailed.
In 2014 we will also invest in new trucks, as Estron has its own fleet.
IT
In 2013 we provided GPS track systems in all our trailers. This way we are now able to follow our
equipment and cargo, when on the quayside as well as when on the ferries.
Estron would like to present Estron Cargo Office. A complete new web application which enables
customers to have a look into e.g their shipment status (track & trace), the CMR / AWB / BOL, and
the digital invoice.
The customer will receive a login code for the Estron website to select their option. Our IT
department is available for more explanation.
We communicate with our owner drivers through an onboard computer, but now we also keep in
touch efficiently with our regular charters through smartphone and new software.
Estron the Market
People
We welcome Mario Breevoort, a new colleague at customer service. Mario has more than 23
years experience within Logistics and ferry companies.
We are also very happy to announce that Marcel Bark, who has wide experience within the ferry
business and joining Estron per 1 January 2014. We are sure both new colleagues will make a
valuable contribution to our team.
Though we are living in a digital World, small issues will always occur. Estron’s experienced staff
will always solve and prevent these issues personally and individually.
The year 2013 has ended, and despite negative news that will always be, we at Estron still think
the glass is half full, not half empty.
We would like to thank our customers and suppliers for last year’s support, and also we want to
thank the people at Estron for their efforts and commitment.
We wish you all a very happy and healthy 2014
Estron Group Harbour Run
Our Estron Group runners successfully accomplished the Harbour Run 2013 edition. This obstacle
run sets in the harbour of Rotterdam.
At 10am the starting shot was sounded, and all sportsmen and sportswomen were off! A true
challenge as the runners had to face artificial fog, stormy weather, and obstacles such as
containers, trucks and barriers on a ten kilometre track.
Crossing the finish line, being cheared by the crowd, our runners immediately decided to join this
event’s next edition again in 2014!
We hereby would like to thank hosts and partners for a perfectly organized event.
Did you know..
That Estron Group owns a modern fleet with 250 trailers, each trailer driving an average 75,000
kilometres per year? This means a total amount of 18,750,000 kilometres per year for the whole
fleet, or driving 42,422 times from Rotterdam to Paris, 7,592 times from Rotterdam to Moscow,
1,438 times from Rotterdam to Bangkok, or 468 times around the world!
It will be no surprise that these distances demand a lot of our trucks, trailers and other equipment.
Estron Group attaches great importance to the safety of employees, and the quality of all material
and equipment.
That’s why Estron group has its own service station and car wash. Besides
thorough cleaning and repair, also MOT tests and prevention activities are carried out here. Safety
and quality of our services have top priority.
Estron Group invests in 100 new
trailers
The past year we have been looking for new trailers which perfectly fits the job at Estron.
Krone and Koegel were assigned to build two prototypes.
All experiences from drivers as well as customers were carefully surveyed, and at the end of 2013
we started negotiating prices with both suppliers.
Shortly before Christmas we decided to chose Krone for the production of the new trailers. The
construction of these trailers has been modified essentially regarding the previous trailers.
Our trailers often carry shipments of waste out of the UK, and inevitably dirt stays behind in the
grooves of the wood floors. To reduce this problem as much as possible the wood planks will be
replaced by aluminium plates.
Also we chose to install vertical aluminium planks in the curtain sides of the trailers, instead of the
usual wood planks.
This adjustment provides the following improvements; closing the trailer after loading or unloading
sideways will be less labour-intensive and less time-consuming for the driver.
Also aluminium planks last longer, and are considerably cheaper than wood, which means we will
be able to save money on daily maintenance in more than one way.
The first 50 trailers will be delivered from March till May, and the second 50 will be ready around
August. One part of the trailers is going to replace old equipment, the other part is an expansion of
the fleet.
We hope to have 275 trailers in our fleet again by the end of the year, this however depends on
the market development in general.
APMM Contract
The contract A.P. Möller-Maersk started in 2006 needed to be renewed in 2013. However this time
APMM decided to issue a tender first to explore the market, and to investigate Estron’s part in it.
However as Arie expressed so clearly in his end of year speech; Estron is simply the best!
After months of conferring, talking, calculating, again and again APMM finally realized that, as we
already knew Arie was right. All these efforts resulted in a new contract for another five years.
We are all delighted and proud to work for such a prestigious customer as APMM, and we are
convinced that extension of our concept is possible. This way we will be able to keep proving to be
APMM’s one and only business partner. With our knowledge, attitude, capacity and motivation to
invest Estron has all the necessary elements to raise the project Estron – APMM to a higher level.
Finally, we would like to make a big compliment to all our colleagues. Without your dedication,
motivation and offered services we would never have achieved this.
A team performance we can all be proud of!
Estron Group now a certified training
company
Estron Group feels very strongly about the importance of high quality personnel in the industry,
and therefore we officially applied to become a training company. In order to become a certified
training company, a number of formal conditions must be met.
Estron is proud to announce two certificates were obtained.
•
ECABO. This the Centre of Expertise on Professional Education/Training and the Labour
Market for people working in the economic-administrative, ICT and security industry .
Approximately two million people in the Netherlands are employed in one of the above mentioned
lines of business, and ten percent of all young people are being educated and trained.
ECABO is one of the 17 centers serving that purpose in our country. Together they connect professional education with the labour market with only one goal; a steady labour market for everyone.
•
GOC. A Dutch organization whose targets are; optimizing staff development in creative
industries and the organizations people work for, by helping them develop better knowledge and
more detailed skills, and by contributing to the development of the branch in general.
This way Estron has become involved with the branch, and our young people’s future.
Estron Group renews contract
with Vittese Vorkheftrucks
Estron Group and Vitesse Vorkheftrucks have cooperated since 1992, and only a few weeks ago
Estron Group has renewed the contract with Vitesse for another six years.
Vitesse provided Estron Group with a complete new fleet of fork-lift trucks, with all innovations
according to the development of modern technology, and the most recent developments regarding
CSR, short for corporate social responsibility.
Estron Group now has 15 new fork-lifts with lifting capacities that vary from 1.8 ton to 2.5 ton
weight. They are used for loading and unloading trailers and containers. Estron Group also has
eight new reaching trucks with lifting capacities that vary from 1.4 to 1.6 ton weight, and a reaching
capacity of 11 metres high.
They are used to store away pallets in the warehouse. For heavy and exceptional shipments
Estron Groups uses the new fork-lift with a lifting capacity of 16 ton weight. This fork-lift is required
when e.g. anchors, anchor chains, generators and specific motor spare parts need to be shipped.
Estron Group is really very pleased to announce this renewed cooperation with Vitesse!
Tribute Wim Snijders 1949-2013
We met Wim Snijders as the managing director of Vitesse Heftrucks B.V. He was a very dedicated
and professional businessman. He was loyal to his customers and always looking for solutions.
He was also a very socially aware man, and closely interested in everyone.
Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time of loss.
Estron Group and AVR import was
for continuous energy supply
AVR is the starting point of many sustainable initiatives and Estron Group is proud and glad to be
part of those important initiatives. The city heating pipeline by Warmtebedrijf Rotterdam, Eneco’s
North Pipeline and Stedin’s Steam Network are projects that all start at AVR. Thanks to these
initiatives, the heat that comes from waste processing at AVR is used to heat homes and companies instead of them having to generate their own.
By doing so, we have established a drop in CO2 emissions in the Rijnmond area. AVR, being the
supplier of energy and heat for all these projects, has a huge responsibility. People are counting
on us for their heating and hot water. That’s why we bring foreign waste from for example the UK
to Rozenburg; to guarantee a continuous supply of heat and energy. Transporting this waste is
where Estron Group has proved to be a reliable partner.
Can’t these countries take care of their own waste?
Holland is leading the way in terms of sustainable waste management. Not all countries are as
green as we are, by turning garbage into energy. The UK for instance, is heading in the right direction, but still uses landfills. By processing part of their rubbish, we make sure that waste is not
being wasted. It is used in the most efficient way.
What does AVR do with it?
First, we support recycling. What cannot be recycled is incinerated or,in other words: converted
into energy. In the past waste was seen as a residual. We see it as a fuel. We turn rubbish into
steam, heat and electricity. One garbage bag yields enough energy for no less than seven
showers.
But aren’t you importing pollutants along with all that garbage?
We believe: waste doesn’t stop at borders. It is an international topic, not a national one. By looking at it from that perspective, it is a logical choice to process waste in the most efficient way. And
AVR does just that by turning it into energy.
What makes AVR’s solution so efficient?
The AVR site in Rozenburg is the largest waste and power plant in Europe. Its strategic location in
the port of Rotterdam is ideal for the supply of waste, both domestic and from abroad. And most
importantly, we are closely located to many thousands of households and businesses.
Connecting these homes and companies to our heat, steam and energy network, makes for an
incredibly efficient and sustainable wast solution.