world - Kuehne + Nagel
Transcription
world - Kuehne + Nagel
Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 1 world LOREM IPSUM 1 M A G A Z I N E NO . 2 / 0 9 Africa Well positioned to expand into new markets 2010 Soccer World Cup A continent awaits the starting whistle Kühne + Nagel World Nr. 2/2007 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 2 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 2 CONTENTS .............................. Contents 6 8 Attractive airfreight solutions for West Africa 12 Flowers from Mount Kenya 14 Kuehne + Nagel always finds a way Imprint 22 Print Wilhelm Zertani Druckerei und Verlag D-28001 Bremen 27 Shoes for a better chance in life 29 Round the World Heavy lift express in Vietnam 32 Print run 33,000 KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Markets & Products Managing size XXXL imports KN Login: Visibility as a success factor in logistics Frequency Twice a year Languages English and German Inside A control tower for Philips Healthcare’s global distribution 24 Editor Robert Cathomas Design and layout Kaufmann Kommunikationsdesign Final sprint to the 2010 Soccer World Cup 11 18 Published by Kuehne + Nagel International AG P.O. Box 67, CH-8834 Schindellegi Telephone +41 44 786 95 15 Fax +41 44 786 96 90 E-mail: [email protected] Focus Interview with Regional Manager Dave Swart People & News The success of logistics depends on people Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 3 EDITORIAL Dear readers “We want to show that Africa’s time has come,” were the words of South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki with regard to the 2010 Soccer World Cup. This great sporting event, which is feverishly awaited by millions of fans all over the world and has the entire continent in its thrall, is an enormously important prestige project for the country of South Africa. A few months before the starting whistle most of the extensive preparatory work, which includes many highly ambitious infrastructure projects, is close to completion. The logistics experts of Kuehne + Nagel have contributed to the punctual and successful conclusion of a number of these construction projects. However, Kuehne + Nagel’s interest in the African market is not just a recent development; we have been active for decades in a number of African countries and have continuously expanded our presence there. We are now represented in 32 countries, in some of which we have gained the position of market leaders. The close links between our African locations and our global network enable us to provide a growing number of customers with tailor-made, integrated services to, from and on this continent. The key to our success is the combination of comprehensive logistics experience with specialised industry know-how. Precisely in regions like Africa, whose transport infrastructure often leaves much to be desired, an additional factor is absolutely essential: a first-class knowledge of local conditions. The articles on the following pages show what Kuehne + Nagel’s experts, with their experience and creativity, are able to achieve. I wish you an entertaining read. Your Reinhard Lange CEO Kuehne + Nagel International AG KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 3 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 4 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 4 FOCUS .............................. Kuehne + Nagel in Africa With its own facilities in 44 locations in 13 countries, including warehouses with a total area of around 80,000 sqm, and partnerships with highly reputed agents in a further 19 countries, Kuehne + Nagel has an efficient transport and logistics network also on the African continent. In a sometimes decades-long process the company has established itself in a leading market position in KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 5 FOCUS various key countries and rapidly growing industry sectors. Some 1,100 employees contribute their logistics expertise and excellent knowledge of local conditions to an attractive service offering which is meeting with a growing demand from Kuehne + Nagel’s customers in Africa and the rest of the world. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 5 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 6 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 6 FOCUS .............................. Well positioned to expand into new markets Dave Swart, Regional Manager for sub-Saharan Africa, speaks about a continent that has a promising growth potential despite major political, economic and infrastructural challenges Mr. Swart, by generated turnover Africa is still the smallest region for Kuehne + Nagel. What is its strategic importance for the Group? Born and raised in South Africa, Dave Swart completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Cape Town; following this he graduated from the University of South Africa with a Certificate in Theory of Accountancy and completed his studies by qualifying as a Chartered Accountant of South Africa. In 1992 he began his logistics career at UTI, an international forwarding company, where he held general manager positions for Finance and Africa Exports. In 1997 he became managing director of his own company Airborne Express, which he It is the smallest region in terms of generated turnover, but Africa as a whole has experienced one of the largest average GDP growth rates over the last four years. This is due in a considerable part to the new interest shown by the economic powerhouses in this emerging market, especially China, which has invested massive amounts in Africa in order to secure rights to its natural resources. This offers Kuehne + Nagel good opportunities for opening up new markets and expanding existing ones. Today, however, it is necessary to have fully fledged operations in most of the large countries which work on the same platform globally and which offer the same levels of service as our customers experience worldwide. To ensure this is our most important challenge. see a major growth in the oil producing countries as well as major developments in the East African countries with a strong export trade, and the Maghreb becomes increasingly interesting as a production site. South Africa remains particularly attractive, not only because of its size and relative stability but also as an important trading partner for the rest of Africa. Which industries are important for Kuehne + Nagel in Africa? We are particularly active in a number of industries. One of them is the oil and gas industry in West Africa, where Kuehne + Nagel has offices in the three main oil producing countries and handles a large number of global customers. The export of perishable goods is another important sector. We are the market leader in flower exports from Kenya, and also provide many services in the import of perishables to South Africa. We are active for many customers there in the consumer market and naturally are involved with big projects especially with regard to the infrastructure development associated with the Soccer World Cup in 2010. Emergency and relief cargo is likely to remain an important market in the foreseeable future. Here Kuehne + Nagel is involved sold in 2002 to take the position of managing director for South Africa of the Nippon Express agency. In 2006 he joined Kuehne + Nagel as Regional Manager of sub-Saharan Africa, the position which he holds today. ..................................... AFRICA KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 What is your current coverage, and in which countries do you see further growth potential? We have our own offices in 13 countries and have well respected agents, some with Kuehne + Nagel implant teams, in a further 19 countries. In the remainder of the countries which are mostly in West Africa, we work with non-exclusive agents as needed. With over 50 years in Africa, we are very well positioned to be part of this continent’s emergence. We .................................... “With over 50 years in Africa, we are very well positioned to be part of this continent’s emergence.” .................................... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 7 Kuehne + Nagel’s regional head office in Johannesburg with all well-known organisations and coordinates deliveries through its competence centre in Copenhagen and special units in Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Mozambique. What are the impacts of the economic crisis? Do you start to see light at the end of the tunnel? In early 2008, as a result of uncertainty due to the power shortages experienced in South Africa, the political upheaval in Kenya and the general decline in business confidence, the Kuehne + Nagel Africa organisation embarked upon a policy of cost constraint and reduction and at the same time increased its sales activities. This resulted in us being very well prepared for the global economic crisis so that, at this stage, we are still performing well in comparison with 2008. Although we have definitely seen a reduction in freight volumes and a GDP growth for the whole of Africa of only one per cent is predicted for 2009 and 2010 as compared with six per cent in previous years, the South African economy is being buoyed by the infrastructure development and construction associated with the coming Soccer World Cup. The prices of the commodities produced in many African countries are predicted to rise, and we feel that mining activities will once again become lucrative, resulting in major investments that will generate substantial investments which, in turn, have an immediate effect on logistics operations. One of Africa’s main problems is its insufficient transport infrastructure. This is indeed the largest obstacle in Africa. Not only are there poor or nonexistent rail networks between many countries and a poor quality road system; another major problem are the severe delays that result from the number of border posts and different customs unions which you have to transit. At some border posts you can have up to 500 trucks waiting weeks in order to transit. In addition, many African seaports do not have the capabilities to handle large volumes of ships and containers, leading to congestion and delays of up to 60 days which further add to the logistics costs. As a result, we at Kuehne + Nagel are continually looking at alternative solutions to our customers’ logistics requirements. More often than not the most direct route is not necessarily the quickest solution nor the cheapest. .................................... “Our principal goal is to increase our market share in both sea and airfreight.” .................................... What are your further development plans? Are you planning any acquisitions? We will continue looking for opportunities to expand our network in Africa, but we do not want to merely have offices in each country; each country organisation must make a meaningful contribution to the global Kuehne + Nagel network. It is our intention to look at potential agents who fit the culture of Kuehne + Nagel for possible acquisitions to enlarge our network. We are also actively seeking logistics firms with experience in certain niche markets. It is our plan to increase our activities in the mining industry for instance, not only in South Africa but also within the rest of Africa. However, our principal goal is to increase our market share in both sea and airfreight. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 8 8 ....... Final sprint to the 2010 Soccer World Cup For South Africa the hosting of the Soccer World Cup 2010 is a prestige project of the highest importance. Kuehne + Nagel South Africa is involved in a number of the many projects for the creation of the necessary infrastructure There was a tremendous wave of euphoria when FIFA nominated South Africa as the host for the 2010 Soccer World Cup five years ago – not only in the country itself but all over the African continent. Since the start of the extensive preparations, doubts have been expressed in many quarters as to whether they can be successfully completed, and, above all, whether they will be finished on time. How do things look today, only a few months before the starting whistle? In terms of stadiums, it had been decided to upgrade five existing stadiums, namely Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg (to 95,000 and 62,000 capacity respectively), Loftus Versveld in Pretoria (50,000), Free State in Bloemfontein (48,000) and Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg (42,000). With the exception of Soccer City these have all been completed. This stadium, which will be the venue for the opening event on June 11, 2010 and for the final one month later, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The completion of five new stadiums is also scheduled for the end of 2009: in Durban (70,000), Cape Town (70,000), Port Elizabeth (48,000), Nelspruit (46,000) and in Polokwane (45,000). As a curtain raiser to this event, the Confederations Cup was successfully held in June of this year using four of the recently refurbished stadiums. This contest was regarded as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, and a number of experts have proclaimed it a resounding success. Franz Beckenbauer, Chairman of FC Bayern Munich and member of the FIFA Executive Committee, was quoted as saying: “The organisation was very, very good, there were no problems and everything went according to plan.” AFRICA KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 ...................... .................................................................................................................. World Cup 2010 in figures Investments in transport infrastructure: 740 million euro Investments in stadiums: 1 billion euro Contribution to GDP from 2006 to 2010: 4.5 billion euro Number of tickets on sale: 3 million Cumulative television audience: 27 billion Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 9 FOCUS ............................................................................ “We want, on behalf of our continent, to stage an event that will send ripples of confidence from the Cape to Cairo – an event that will create social and economic opportunities throughout Africa. We want to ensure that, one day, historians will reflect upon the 2010 World Cup as a moment when Africa stood tall and resolutely turned the tide on centuries of poverty and conflict. We want to show that Africa’s time has come.” THABO MBEKI – PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA ............................................................................ Many other infrastructure projects in South Africa are closely linked with the World Cup. All major airports in the country are being upgraded, in particular Johannesburg International, where the work is almost complete. There already exists a very efficient system of two to three lane roads around the major cities, which are now partly being further upgraded to four or five lane highways. Accommodation capacity is also being raised by building a number of hotels in addition to the first class hotels which already exist in all major centres. In view of the enormous numbers of visitors expected for the tournament, the authorities, in addition, are looking at the possibility of berthing large cruise vessels in the bays of major cities, not to mention the use of some neighbouring countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and even Mauritius. In the field of public transport, various upgrading projects are in progress in order to move the spectators quickly and safely to and from the stadiums. The recently established “Bus Rapid System” directly connects many newly built stations close to the stadiums with the city centres. A particularly ambitious project is the 80-kilometre rail link “Gautrain”, which connects Johannesburg International Airport with the important business centres of Sandton, Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria. Kuehne + Nagel is directly involved in a number of the above mentioned projects by handling the import and delivery of equipment such as road machines and concrete pumps for the countless construction sites. The logistics provider also transports machinery and equipment for the Gautrain project, delivering the items weighing up to 80 tons to the required place at exactly the right time. To avoid disturbing the time sensitive construction work, the machines are generally delivered at night and lifted directly onto the rails with special cranes under the watchful eye of Kuehne + Nagel South Africa’s project division. In this way Kuehne + Nagel is helping to ensure that the ambitious construction projects will be completed in time for the kick-off in June 2010 and that the World Cup tournament will be a great success, an impressive demonstration of South Africa’s capabilities and, it is hoped, an unforgettable sporting and cultural experience. A section of the Gautrain construction work near the Sandton suburb Marlboro, Gauteng province KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 9 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 10 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 10 FOCUS 30 years in Namibia Kuehne + Nagel gained its first foothold in Namibia with the acquisition of the United Shipping company already in 1975; since January 1979 the affiliate has operated in that country under the name of Kuehne + Nagel (Pty.) Ltd. The local company’s business, which was then handled by a staff of only four, initially concentrated mainly on air- and seafreight. Although these are still among its core activities, today a staff of 50 people provides an ever wider range of services such as customs clearance, cross-border road transport to and from Angola and Zambia, and warehousing and project operations. Kuehne + Nagel has offices at the international airport of Hosea Kutako, in Walvis Bay and in Oshikango / Santa Clara on the Namibian-Angolan border. Its headquarters are located in Windhoek and were recently moved to new premises to accommodate the need for greater space. To mark the 30th anniversary of its foundation, this January the company held a well-attended reception for numerous representatives of customers, suppliers and government authorities. On this occasion Managing Director Lars-Oliver Nees took an optimistic view of the future: “I am confident that Kuehne + Nagel, with its extensive range of services, will further expand its market position in Namibia. We see interesting potentials in the expansion of our existing business and in the field of integrated logistics solutions, for which there is an ever stronger demand.” ............................................................................................................................................................ .............................. ................................................................ AFRICA KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 School books for Congo’s children In a number of African countries Kuehne + Nagel provides logistics services in the transport and distribution of relief goods for international organisations. In Dar Es Salaam, a regional hub for this type of cargo, a specialised department has for many years dealt with transit shipments of the United Nations to the bordering countries Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In close coordination with the Kuehne + Nagel emergency and relief division in Copenhagen, the colleagues in Tanzania handle all in- and outgoing shipments controlled locally by the 14 UN entities that operate in Tanzania. The commodities include temperature-sensitive goods such as medicines and vaccines, but also personal effects of UN employees and vehicles such as cars and trucks. As a part of this cooperation, Kuehne + Nagel is also making a major contribution to the Unicef “Back to School” project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With this broad-based initiative the UN aid organisation helps children in countries in various parts of the world to obtain an education by initiating the construction and rebuilding of schools, the distribution of teaching materials and the training of teachers. The goods arriving at the container terminal in Dar Es Salaam are cleared with customs by Kuehne + Nagel and transported to the Unicef warehouses at Goma, Bukavu, Bunia and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From these warehouses the education materials are packed into kits and delivered to schools all over the eastern part of the country, where they are distributed to tens of thousands of children. ......................................................... www.unicef.org Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 11 11 ....... Attractive airfreight solutions for West Africa Kuehne + Nagel offers its international customers from the oil and gas industry tailormade transport solutions to and from West Africa with regular direct airfreight connections between Texas and Angola Angola has been an oil producer for over 40 years. Today, OPEC member Angola is the largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa. In the last few years, new oil concessions have been awarded to a number of global oil majors including Exxon, BP, Total and Chevron as well as the state-owned Angolan company Sonangol, resulting in large investments in a modern production infrastructure and a substantial inbound cargo volume. This traffic relates mainly to complex project business, dangerous goods transport, general sea- and airfreight shipments of consumables and the transport of operating and specialist personnel. In handling all these tasks Kuehne + Nagel pays close attention to the reliability of the supply chain and ontime delivery, for failures and shutdowns on the giant drilling rigs can quickly result in enormous costs. Nevertheless, unforeseeable ad-hoc and express shipments are an everyday part of oil and gas logistics. They may be necessary, for instance, in the event of unexpected technical problems on the drilling rigs or events affecting health and safety, a field where this industry now sets particularly high standards. Much of the cargo and specialised personnel originates from Houston, USA, one of the oil industry’s five main global hubs and the seat of many oil companies and their leading suppliers. Until 2002 there were no direct air connections between the USA and Angola, so that the Sonangol subsidiary Sonair began using its own chartered MD-11 for these supply flights. However, the Angolan oil company soon turned to Kuehne + Nagel for its expertise, entrusting the logistics provider with managing the aircraft’s entire 15-tonne cargo capacity. To support this activity, Kuehne + Nagel placed additional personnel in Houston and Luanda and began selling the space to other forwarders and direct customers. Today the “Houston Express” operates three times per week directly between Houston and Luanda, serving mainly oil and gas industry customers. It remains the only direct air service between the USA and Angola, and is considerably more attractive than the circuitous route via Europe. After its arrival in Luanda, however, the freight is still far from reaching its final destination. A large part of Angola’s major oil production facilities are located in the remote northern part of the country and are also offshore. Much of Angola’s road and rail infrastructure was destroyed in the civil war between 1975 and 2002 and still today remains largely unusable. Most production installations have access to port facilities, but on-shipment from the chronically congested port of Luanda is no option for urgent airfreight consignments. The oil bases can be reached by air, but only relatively small passenger aircraft that are poorly suited for the transport of cargo fly from Luanda. Therefore at the beginning of 2008, Kuehne + Nagel started the “Angola Air Express”, a regular freighter service between Luanda, Soyo and Cabinda and to neighbouring countries. To provide this service the company took on long-term charter of an Antonov 32, an aircraft ideally suited for the purpose which can land and take off at the short airstrips close to the oil bases. The combination of Houston Express and Angola Air Express has now developed into an unrivalled transport facility for the oil companies operating in Angola (and, increasingly, also for customers in other industries), and demand for its capacity is correspondingly strong – a further example of Kuehne + Nagel’s innovative and integrated approach to its industry solutions. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 12 12 ....... The production of cut and garden flowers is estimated to employ 50,000 to 60,000 people directly and 500,000 people indirectly through affiliated services to the industry. If each has four dependants, the total beneficiaries are roughly two million people or seven per cent of the population. The fact that these employment opportunities are in rural areas is very important, as they not only stem migration into the cities but are also an important factor in the fight against poverty. Flowers from Mount Kenya The EU consumes half of all the cut flowers sold in the world, and one in three of them comes from Kenya. As the biggest perishables logistics provider in East Africa, Kuehne + Nagel plays an important role in the time-critical transport of this export product which is extremely important for Kenya’s economy Agriculture accounts for nearly 25 per cent of Kenya’s GDP, and three quarters of this East African country’s population depend on the sector either directly or indirectly. The production and sale of fruit, vegetables and flowers is the fastest-growing part of the economy and ..................................... AFRICA KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 in the last few years has created a large number of jobs. As a foreign exchange earner, it is second only to remittances from Kenyans working abroad. Kenya supplies cut flowers mainly to the Netherlands and to the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Newer markets, some of them fast growing, are the USA, Japan, Russia and the Middle East. Despite the onset of the economic crisis, exports in 2008 showed a further small increase to a total of 93,000 tonnes. With a share of roughly one third, Kuehne + Nagel is the largest perishables logistics operator in East Africa. The flower farms are mainly situated around Lake Naivasha and Nakuru, in the Great Rift Valley, Nanyuki and Timau on the slopes of Mount Kenya, as well as Kericho in the highlands of Kenya, which is also a major tea growing area. There, most flowers are grown in special greenhouses before they are graded and packed in large packing houses with a temperature controlled environment. Flowers are held in cold stores awaiting transport to Jomo Kenyatta Airport for shipping. Many flower farms now cooperate with international organisations and initiatives that encour............. age, support and certify the observance of improved production and working conditions. “We were responding to a market demand,” said Richard Hechle, general manager of Panda Flowers, one of Kenya’s twelve internationally certified fair trade flower farms. “Customers want to know that their flowers are coming from a place with good environmental and social conditions.” Many of the 900 employees on the 45-hectare farm confirm that fair trade has had remarkable effects on their working conditions. “Fair trade has really improved the lives of workers and the community,” says Esther Kinuthia, a junior supervisor standing between beds of red roses in one of Panda’s greenhouses. Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 13 FOCUS Kuehne + Nagel’s logistics solutions in Kenya are based on daily direct flights from Nairobi to Amsterdam using specially chartered full freighter aircraft and belly-hold capacity on the regular passenger flights of various airlines. Flowers that are picked, graded and packed in the morning need to be delivered to the airport early enough for the evening flights the same day. Farmers used to bring their products to the airport by every conceivable means, but today Kuehne + Nagel collects the flowers all over the country according to a fixed timetable with five refrigerated trucks, all of them equipped with the latest RFID technology. In Kuehne + Nagel’s own cold store facility at the airport, the company’s employees unload the flowers from the trucks and consolidate the shipments on airfreight pallets for the various flights. The facility is also equipped with the only vacuum cooler in operation in Eastern Africa that can handle two aircraft main deck pallets at the same time. This is used mainly for shipments from farms without their own pre-coolers. Within 24 hours of the flowers being picked in the farms around Kenya, they have landed at their many destinations all over the world. In the last few years Kuehne + Nagel has continuously invested in the development of an uninterrupted cold chain for the transport of cut flowers. Cold chain management starts at the point of harvesting and continues through to the auctions and outlets around the world. It also includes advising the farms and their suppliers and instructing their personnel on matters of quality control. Many customers have ‘dovetailed’ with Kuehne + Nagel’s systems and combined them with their own cold chain and tracking and tracing systems. One such customer is FloraHolland, which has been active for many years as an auctioneer for horticultural products. With a total of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . six auction cen- tres in the Netherlands – the country where suppliers and buyers are offered the best sales/purchase opportunities – it can be regarded as the largest marketing organisation for horticultural products in the world. In 2008, roughly 75,000 tonnes of cut flowers from Kenya were sold at the auctions of FloraHolland. The organisation is constantly working on innovative ideas to improve the cold chain processes. Two new technologies are currently in the pilot phase: In one project, temperature loggers are placed on each shipment to allow a daily follow-up of the cool chain performance, and in the other, FloraHolland is working on its own tracking and tracing system in which flower boxes are scanned at the farm, upon delivery at the airport and upon unpacking in the Netherlands. All systems are implemented and executed with assistance of Kuehne + Nagel, who is a major factor for the success of these technologies. ........................................... www.fairtrade.org.uk www.floraholland.com 13 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 14 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 14 FOCUS .............................. Kuehne + Nagel always finds a way In the course of their work, project logistics experts are often faced with enormous challenges. As, for instance, in the transport of a reactor from Japan to South Africa which Kuehne + Nagel recently carried out for Sasol Technologies Sasol Technologies, South Africa’s second largest industrial undertaking, employs 28,000 people all over the world and is one of the market leaders in the field of coal gas liquefaction for the production of gasoline and components for the chemical industry. In 2007 Kuehne + Nagel was entrusted with carrying out a feasibility study for the transport of a liquefaction reactor from the works at Nagasu in Japan to the Sasol plant in Secunda, South Africa. On a visit to the Japanese producer, the African project division of Kuehne + Nagel inspected the two enormous reactor components under construction (a bottom section weighing 419 tonnes and measuring approximately 22 x 9 x 9 metres, and a 252-tonne upper section measuring 18 x 9 x 9 metres) and examined the shipping possibilities at different ports on Japan’s west coast. It soon became clear that due to shipping capacity restraints, it was necessary to ..................................... AFRICA KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 book a suitable ship as soon as possible although shipping was not scheduled to take place until mid-2009. Further research showed that suitable trailers for post-shipment transport were not available in Africa and would have to be imported from France. At the end of 2008 a task force team was put together with members representing the customer, the maritime carrier and the haulage company. It also included representatives of a company specialising in route analysis and road clearance for heavy load transport, and a consultant for the calculation of the required trailer configuration based on the maximum allowed road load of 27.5 kilonewtons. In February 2009 the preparations were held up by an unexpected event. Without prior announcement the Ministry of Roads and Works started to upgrade a part of the route from the port of Richards Bay to the site. Immediate talks with the road construction firm showed that an interruption of the work would involve excessive costs. Furthermore, there was no guarantee that the six-metre-wide trailers would be able to pass through the road construction sites. Since no alternative routes were available in South Africa, it was decided to transport the reactor through Swaziland where a route was found which could be suitable – if certain repairs and modifications were made. So Kuehne + Nagel appointed a contractor to effect the necessary alterations at the two border posts, to strengthen bridges and enlarge roundabouts, as well as raising a pedestrian footbridge. In June 2009, after loading had been completed under the supervision of Kuehne + Nagel specialists, the chartered heavy lift freighter sailed from the Japanese port of Shimonoseki with all the parts of the reactor (total weight 990 tonnes or 4,950 seafreight tons). The voyage to South Africa went very smoothly, as did the unloading operation in Richards Bay, where the two trailers and twenty-eight trucks were efficiently positioned alongside the ship. Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 At the border with Swaziland, where power and telephone cables had to be raised, the passage of the imposing convoy blocked the customs post for all other traffic for no less than six hours. Further challenges were presented by bad weather, which resulted in two days of delays, and a 13 per cent gradient for which five additional prime movers had to be hired. The second frontier crossing back into South Africa at Mahamba had already been found so “unsuitable” in the route analysis that the customs buildings had to be largely demolished after tough negotiations with the customs authorities of the two countries (and, of course, rebuilt afterwards). It was also necessary to redirect fibre optic cables, widen roads and move fences so that the loads could follow a tricky slalom route back into South Africa. 9:35 Uhr Seite 15 On the final stage to Secunda there was a further surprise for all concerned. On the last kilometres of the route, further unanticipated road works had begun. Thanks to the fast reaction of those in charge of the project, these works were stopped for the time the convoy took to pass. After four weeks of “highly eventful” overland transport, the reactor parts reached their destination safely and on schedule – to the complete satisfaction of the customer and to the great relief of the Kuehne + Nagel South Africa project division team. ........................................... www.kuehne-nagel.com/projects www.sasol.com Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 16 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 16 FOCUS Number one in South Africa Kuehne + Nagel has been voted the “Best Freight Forwarder in South Africa for the year 2008” by the Professional Management Review PMR. This well-known business magazine annually publishes a highly regarded corporate ranking list based on a survey carried out among 30,000 African managers from all fields of industry and commerce, public authorities and associations. This year, for the fourth time in six years, it chose the Kuehne + Nagel national company as the best logistics organisation operating in the country. In 2008, for the first time all four of the top award recipients were international forwarders, one reason why Andre van Rensburg, the Managing Director of Kuehne + Nagel South Africa, was particularly delighted that his company has again won first place: “This award is a testimony to the sustained success of our efforts to gain a leading position as a logistics provider in the South African market. Our good performance compared with our strongest competitors is largely due to our ability to develop innovative integrated logistics solutions for our customers.” ................................................................................................................................... .............................. ..................................... AFRICA KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Partnership with CIDA Empowerment Since 2003 the South African government has made efforts to promote a greater representation and participation of the black and coloured population majority in the public administration and the private sector of the economy. In support of this initiative, in December 2008 Kuehne + Nagel transferred a 17 per cent holding in its subsidiary KN Tsepisa Logistics (Pty.) Ltd. to the South African investor CIDA Empowerment. This is a public benefit organisation which uses the dividend revenue from its various corporate holdings to fund the tertiary education of financially disadvantaged young people. The most important of these projects is the CIDA City Campus in Johannesburg, a private, non-profit education institute that provides students, mainly from rural areas, with free tuition for higher educational qualifications. For Kuehne + Nagel South Africa the partnership between KN Tsepisa and CIDA is an example of the successful implementation of the broadbased Black Economic Empowerment transformation process that brings long-term benefits to all participants. By its commitment, Kuehne + Nagel actively helps to achieve authentic and sustainable empowerment by providing South Africa’s youth with the opportunity to transcend poverty through education – a goal that will enable the logistics provider to recruit local graduates with a sound professional training as members of its staff. ......................................................................................... www.cida.co.za Students at the CIDA City Campus in Johannesburg Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 17 FOCUS From Tunisia to the counters around the world Ingenico relies on Kuehne + Nagel’s multi-modal transportation services all over the world. From their Tunisian production site, the logistics company ships more than one million card terminals per year With over 15 million terminals deployed across 125 countries, Ingenico is the world’s market leader in the industry for secure electronic payment systems and as such an important partner of retailers, banks and payment service providers around the globe. Since 2007, Kuehne + Nagel is Ingenico’s strategic global logistics partner, being the unique interface to all the payment terminal vendor’s suppliers and subsidiaries for their international transport-related processes. The seamless solution provided by Kuehne + Nagel combines all modes of air, sea and road transport for the door-to-door shipments from the suppliers to all of Ingenico’s subsidiaries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. Ben Arous in Tunisia is key to Ingenico’s supply chain organisation. The production centre of Sagem, a company Ingenico acquired in 2008, manufactures more than one million card terminals annually, which is approximately one quarter of Ingenico’s total needs. Every month Kuehne + Nagel handles 80 tonnes of air, sea and roll-on-roll-off shipments to European grouping centres in Madrid, Lyon, Glasgow and Helsinki as well as to final consignees located in the rest of the world. In order to match the high performance targets in regards to on-time delivery, a dedicated customer service is monitoring the shipments and specific daily operational reports are created. Depending on the level of urgency, Kuehne + Nagel is offering different transport modes, allowing Ingenico to benefit from the best option at the moment of the shipment. With the tried and tested solution Kuehne + Nagel strategically supports this key customer in its rapid growth while Ingenico can focus on their core competence services, expanding their sales and the sales of their customers, be it in the USA, in Japan, China, Mexico or India. ........................................... www.ingenico.com .................................................................................................................. Further growth potential in the Maghreb Kuehne + Nagel has for many years been one of the leading logistics providers in North Africa, particularly on the transport routes between the Maghreb and Germany. In 2008 the company strengthened its presence by concluding cooperation agreements with well-known agents in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In collaboration with these partners, Kuehne + Nagel can now offer its customers integrated air, sea and land transport services to and from the North African countries. One reason for the attractiveness of the Maghreb is its geographical proximity to southern Europe; many major firms have already relocated production facilities there. In the medium term, Kuehne + Nagel therefore sees an attractive potential for growth in North Africa which it intends to exploit by targeting the development of new business with key customers and with small and medium-sized firms. One good example is the Legrand group, which has entrusted Kuehne + Nagel with the management of shipments from its French distribution centre to its customers in Algeria. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 17 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 18 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 18 INSIDE .............................. A control tower for global distribution For Philips Healthcare, one of the world’s leading producers of medical diagnostics systems, Kuehne + Nagel is developing a state-of-the-art integrated outbound logistics system. The planning and implementation of this large and challenging project are in the hands of the logistics specialists of the Lead Logistics Solutions business field In 2006, after a thorough internal review, Philips Healthcare made the decision to outsource the global management and coordination of its Imaging Systems’ physical distribution activities to an external logistics provider. The aim was to allow Philips Healthcare to focus on its core competencies and enable it to meet its stated supply chain goals of delivering operational excel- lence from supplier to end customer, increasing customer satisfaction, improving cost control, enhancing management reporting and establishing end-toend visibility. Medical imaging systems are one of Philips’ most important product groups and generate roughly a third of the eight billion euros which the healthcare sector contributes to the group’s total turnover. With large high-tech computed tomography, magnetic resonance, nuclear medicine and X-ray products to deliver and install in medical practices and hospitals, Philips Healthcare manages a challenging network coordinating 6,000 service technicians in over 60 countries with complex last mile delivery and installation requirements. It was this complexity, matched with their drive for “sense and simplicity”, that led to Philips’ outsourcing decision. In May 2007, after an extensive tender process that included many of the world’s leading logistics providers, Philips Healthcare chose Kuehne + Nagel to implement and manage this challenging plan. Over the next ten months the Lead Logistics Solutions (LLS) business field and the customer worked together in a proof-of-concept phase to create the foundation for a successful Global Control Tower (GCT) deployment by creating harmonised processes, configuring IT systems and managing “live” customer-facing improvement projects. With the proof-of-concept phase successfully completed and after the calculation of the costs and benefits of the envisaged collaboration, Kuehne + Nagel and Philips Healthcare signed a five-year agreement in April 2008 for Kuehne + Nagel to manage the GCT for the Imaging Systems group. With the preparatory work largely completed, the two companies set about the implementation of the complex solution. This included a transfer of 19 Imaging Systems employees from Philips Healthcare to Kuehne + Nagel. These employees, who provide Kuehne + Nagel with broad institutional and Philips-specific experience, are located in Best (Netherlands), Cleveland (Ohio, USA) and in Hamburg (Germany). Peter Haver, the KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 19 INSIDE The control tower concept is based on the complete integration of the systems of Kuehne + Nagel and Philips Healthcare in the field of outbound logistics. This gives Philips Healthcare a “single source” for carrier messaging, tracking and communication, while providing Kuehne + Nagel with instantaneous sales and purchase order details as soon as they become available. Armed with the Imaging Systems’ order details, Kuehne + Nagel can focus on efficient planning, shipment optimisation, mode selection and cost reduction. In addition, having one, integrated system allows seamless coordination of the different Kuehne + Nagel GCT services of logistics procurement, transport execution, customer service, freight bill audit and payment, KPI / metric reporting and document management. René Botter, Director of Physical Distribution for Philips Healthcare Imaging Systems, sees this integrated operating environment as a key component of the GCT: “Kuehne + Nagel is an expert in this type of outsourcing activity. With the integrated environment we can harmonise the processes, drive efficiencies and create end-to-end shipment visibility. This transparency will provide us with the management intelligence to continuously improve, in conjunction with Kuehne + Nagel, our operations.” In addition to the implementation of the integrated GCT solution, Kuehne + Nagel is managing a series of value adding projects that have provided considerable cost savings for Philips Healthcare. With the challenge of a long and complex implementation, Peter Haver recognises the importance of these improvement initiatives: “Managing these value-adding projects allows Kuehne + Nagel to make a near immediate positive financial impact while we are deploying our integrated solution. In addition to creating a more attractive business case, these projects also help us learn the intricacies of the Philips Healthcare business environment prior to the integrated solution being fully deployed.” In August of this year the GCT concept went live at the first sites, and a full rollout is planned for to be completed in August 2010. Despite the challenges of this complex outbound logistics concept, Kuehne + Nagel is also exploring the possibilities of integrated inbound and warehouse solutions for additional improvement opportunities. Reinhard Schullerus, Senior Vice President Lead Logistics Solutions of Kuehne + Nagel, looks forward to a productive future with such a prestigious customer: “We are delighted to be working together with Philips Healthcare on this important programme. I am confident that it will bring many benefits to both organisations and further add value to Philips’ operations in the years to come. The Philips Healthcare GCT engagement represents a flagship account for LLS: a complex, global engagement with a blue-chip, industry-leading customer.” ........................................... www.kuehne-nagel.com/lls www.medical.philips.com .................................................................................. Kuehne + Nagel Global Business Manager with responsibility for Philips Healthcare, commented: “Obtaining these employees was a key factor for us. While we have broad supply chain outsourcing and management experience, we lacked the product-specific knowledge and the last mile delivery experience of this very specialised industry. The employees that transferred provide us with many years of experience and a great deal of subject matter expertise.” This group of transfers was augmented with a flexible labour force supplied from the Lead Logistics Control Centres, the centralised and shared operations hubs that support LLS business activity in Asia, Europe and North America. Lead Logistics Solutions (LLS) Lead Logistics Solutions is the business field of Kuehne + Nagel that offers integrated logistics solutions. With the end-to-end control of customer supply chains, regardless of what transport and service modes are involved, LLS provides a one-stop-shop solution with centralised accountability and responsibility for cost, quality and performance. LLS offers its services either as an umbrella covering the operational services of various other business fields of Kuehne + Nagel or as a neutral solution, where LLS takes over key components of customers’ logistics management. The service portfolio of LLS covers the entire supply chain as well as key IT solutions for customers who are keeping the management function in house: • Supplier and Inventory Management • Distribution and Network Management • After Market Management and • Supply Chain Technology Solutions (KN DSIA) KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 19 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 20 20 ....... A visit to CMA CGM in Marseille In June, the Chairman of the Board of Directors Klaus-Michael Kuehne and Otto Schacht, Vice President Global Seafreight of Kuehne + Nagel, (left) paid a visit to the CMA CGM shipping company in Marseille. They were received by the Board Chairman Jacques R. Saadé and his son Rodolphe Saadé, the Group Chief Executive Vice President Farid T. Salem, the Senior Vice President for Europe-Asia Services Nicolas Sartini, Marketing & Sales Global Accounts Manager Claude Lebel (right) and other rep- resentatives of the top management. Following a presentation of the shipping company, the guests inspected its new headquarters building which is now under construction, the imposing, 147metre-high CMA CGM Tower designed by the British-Iraqi star architect Zaha Hadid. The world’s third largest shipping company is one of Kuehne + Nagel’s preferred carriers and last year transported nearly 9 million TEU with a total of 370 containerships. ................................................................................................................... Germany’s best logistics trainees Stefanie Kettelhodt, a trainee forwarding and logistics manager with Kuehne + Nagel in Bremen, beat all her fellow contestants in Germany’s biggest test of knowledge for logistics trainees and won the coveted distinction of “Best Trainee 2008”. The contest, in which more than 1,500 trainees take part, is held each year by the industry magazine Verkehrs- rundschau. The third place also went to a Kuehne + Nagel trainee, Matthias Wienke of the Mannheim office – a further clear testimony to the Company’s strong commitment to staff development. In the meantime both winners have passed their final exams (naturally with excellent results). Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 21 21 ....... Qualified, motivated staff with a large potential Mr. Harings, you have now belonged to the Kuehne + Nagel organisation for just over three months. What are your first impressions? Kuehne + Nagel has a very individual, firmly anchored corporate culture and a qualified and motivated staff with a large potential. What has struck me above all is the entrepreneurial thinking, target-orientation and high commitment of the personnel at all levels. For the future too, I consider the international outlook of the employees and their strong identification with the Company to be significant factors for the success of Kuehne + Nagel. I know that I have taken the right decision in joining Kuehne + Nagel and look forward to making a major contribution to our future success. What priorities have you set for the work of the Human Resources department? .................................... “In the future too, I consider the international outlook of the employees and their strong identification with the Company to be significant factors for success.” .................................... First and foremost I want the human resources department to support the implementation of the business strategy in as diverse and proactive a way as possible. In addition to strengthening our global talent management, this includes providing our staff with the opportunity to work in all parts of the world, active work in the personnel field to facilitate the integration of newly acquired firms and, of course, the provision of first-class day-to-day support in the field of HR services. I shall continue to focus the organisation and operation of the human resources department upon the needs of our “internal customers”. Is the economic crisis changing your priorities? Like many other companies, Kuehne + Nagel has also had to reduce its personnel costs. ....................................................... The new Chief Human Resources Officer Lothar A. Harings has been responsible for managing global human resources of the Kuehne + Nagel Group since May 1, 2009. In this position he succeeds Klaus-Dieter Pietsch, who retired at the end of May Before joining Kuehne + Nagel, Lothar A. Harings (48) held a number of management positions with international companies. In his last position, which he held for nearly seven years, he was a member of the management board and Chief Human Resources Officer with the T-Mobile International Group. Klaus-Michael Kuehne commented as follows on the appointment of Lothar A. Harings: “In the service sector the employees occupy a particularly important position, which makes highly professional personnel services all the more necessary. We are therefore very pleased to have obtained, with Mr. Harings, a Chief Human Resources Officer with extensive international experience.” Every part of the Company must contribute to the reduction of costs. Particularly in support and administration, one of the management’s clear targets was to cut costs by at least ten per cent, a greater amount than in the operational areas and in sales. We shall achieve this objective this year. additional sales staff and are already seeing the first results in the form of increased business. At the same time we are analysing the existing sales staff all over the world in order to determine their individual training and improvement needs and to take appropriate measures. On the other hand Kuehne + Nagel intends to substantially strengthen its sales organisation. How is recruitment progressing? In your opinion, does a “war for talents” exist in the logistics sector? Our dual strategy in response to the crisis – to reduce costs and at the same time to gain market share by stepping up our sales activities – is the right approach. We have so far engaged 200 In our recruitment policy we are demanding high standards with regard to personality and qualification. In view of Kuehne + Nagel’s excellent reputation in the market, I am confident that we can win the really good applicants for our Company. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 22 22 ....... Managing size XXXL imports The transport and customs clearance of the enormous floating platforms that are used for offshore oil and gas production is a project logistics activity par excellence. In Brazil Kuehne + Nagel has provided this integrated service since the year 2000 and established itself in an excellent position in the market The production of oil and gas in Brazil takes place mainly offshore and is dominated by the semi state-owned Petrobras, a global player among the oil companies with an annual turnover of roughly 130 billion dollars. The enterprise is one of the technological leaders in the field of offshore production, and one of the world’s largest in terms of its number of production facilities. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 One of the service packages successfully offered by Kuehne + Nagel in the oil and gas sector is the logistics management of the import and start-up preparations of the giant offshore production and storage platforms. These so-called FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) units are leased to Petrobras for a number of years by their mainly foreign builders and operators. An FPSO is in most cases a former super tanker which has been converted and equipped with installations to receive crude oil from several sub-sea pipelines, to process it and to be used as floating depots until it is loaded into oil tankers for export or local consumption onshore. The temporary importation of an FPSO into Brazilian territorial waters for the duration of the contract is a challenging project assignment which involves many individual logistics and organisational elements. The agencies that must be contacted at an early stage include such diverse state organisations as the port and customs authorities, the civil aviation office and navy, the federal police, the Brazilian central bank and health authorities. These highly complex projects must be handled with a maximum of efficiency – for the leasing costs of a single FPSO run into hundreds of thousands of dollars per day. Kuehne + Nagel’s assignment normally begins with an inspection of the FPSO’s components at the fabrication yards prior to its departure for Brazil, to ensure Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 23 MARKETS & PRODUCTS that the installations comply with Brazilian import regulations. The pre-inspection, among other things, covers the helicopter deck which is essential for the transfer of the crew and supplies. Licensed Kuehne + Nagel experts also inspect prescribed safety installations such as lifeboats, fire-fighting systems and emergency plans – and check the completeness of the ship’s documents and manuals and the travel documents and work permits of the crew. At the end of the pre-inspection the consultants issue a “punch list” of all items that need to be corrected before arrival in Brazil. Finally, Kuehne + Nagel prepares the inventory of the vessel, which can consist of up to 17,000 items and is required for customs clearance and import licensing. All items need to be classified in accordance with the Brazilian Customs Tariff Code and the inventory must, of course, be translated into Portuguese. Before the arrival of an FPSO, the anchor system needs to be in place at its operating site. Its components are often imported into Brazil by Kuehne + Nagel or brought to their site from onshore locations and installed in the oilfield with the aid of special supply and installation vessels. They consist of heavy items such as polyester ropes, steel cables, anchor shackles and anchor chains. An anchor chain may weigh up to 2,000 tonnes and a suction pipe can be 25 metres long, 5 metres in diameter and weigh up to 100 tonnes. The actual customs inspection in Brazil, which Kuehne + Nagel handles on behalf of its customers, may take up to two weeks and includes, among other things, the daily transport of personnel and officials to and from the FPSO and the temporary housing of the crew on land. Once all formalities have been completed, the operator receives the necessary import and operating licenses valid for the duration of the contract with Petrobras. Only then can the FPSO sail to the oilfield location where it will be anchored. The Kuehne + Nagel project team has so far handled the import procedures for a total of 15 FPSOs and thus made an important contribution to the excellent reputation the logistics company now enjoys among international suppliers for the oil and gas industry and the world’s leading platform operators and oil companies. ........................................... www.kuehne-nagel.com/oilandgas www.petrobras.com ............................................................................ Kuehne + Nagel strengthens its oil and gas capabilities Effective April 1 of this year Kuehne + Nagel acquired J. Martens Holding AS, a company headquartered in Bergen, Norway. By taking over this leading logistics provider for the oil and gas sector, the Group has significantly strengthened its capabilities in this important industry segment. Besides providing transport and logistics services for the past 125 years in Norway, J. Martens has set up operations in other key markets such as Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. With its 260 employees, the company achieved a turnover of approximately CHF 250 million in 2008. year contract on logistics services to the USA, Europe and Asia with Vizada VSAT, a leading producer of satellite communications systems. This represents an extension of the services which J. Martens previously supplied to Vizada’s subsidiary Marlink. Kuehne + Nagel will additionally be responsible for the management of a number of Vizada’s consolidation centres and warehouses in the Netherlands, California and Dubai, the air and sea transport of the products and their delivery to the end customers. In many cases these are ships which are located in port and awaiting new satellite communications instruments. “The acquisition of J. Martens significantly strengthens our capabilities and position not only in Norway but also in the international oil and gas logistics market,” comments Peter Ulber, Executive Vice President Sea & Air Logistics of Kuehne + Nagel International AG. “It ideally fits our strategy to globally expand our specialised services for individual target groups who – like the oil and gas industry – demand a high level of industry-specific know-how and experience.” The first fruits of the acquisition were not long awaited. In July Kuehne + Nagel Norway already concluded a two- KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 23 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 24 Visibility as a success factor in logistics With the latest version of its Internet-based information management system KN Login, Kuehne + Nagel is again setting the benchmark for the industry. The high-performance website provides clear access to all important data relating to a freight shipment, automated process monitoring and powerful tools for data integration, statistics and reporting. The modules of the system can be combined, allowing it to be easily adapted to the individual needs of a specific customer or industry Trade and industry expect logistics services to meet ever higher standards of efficiency, flexibility and reliability. Increasingly complex and more finely branched supply chains and ever more frequent changes in procurement loca- KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 tion, production and distribution make the management of global supply chains an increasingly challenging task. The economic crisis has led to increased cost pressure. As a result, companies attach an even higher priority to the reduction of inventory by shortening lead times in order to reduce tied-up capital costs. This development is accompanied by a growing need for maximum supply chain visibility on the part of industrial and trading companies. Without a seamless overview of the process, they cannot be certain whether production supplies have arrived on time or their shipments have been punctually delivered. End-to-end visibility, real-time control of order books and stocks, shipping documents and delivery status are now a critical requirement. Kuehne + Nagel is one of the pioneers of Internet-based tracking and tracing and order management solutions. As one of the first logistics providers to Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 25 MARKETS & PRODUCTS offer its customers appropriate tools, Kuehne + Nagel has received a number of awards for its achievements. Since introducing the first version of KN Login at the end of the 1990s, the Company has consistently and successfully exploited the potential of Internet technology. With the worldwide introduction of the latest version, completed at the end of 2008, Kuehne + Nagel again set the benchmark for the industry in terms of efficiency, speed, user-friendliness and adaptability of the software. Round the clock, KN Login offers its customers and business partners all over the world a uniform and detailed overview of all information relating to the location and status of their goods in the supply chain. Data from the Kuehne + Nagel operational system for sea, air, land transport and the contract logistics field is linked via interfaces to KN Login, allowing continuous monitoring of the shipments, orders and articles via the Internet. The documents belonging to each shipment can be viewed electronically and easily shared if required. All participants in the supply chain or procurement process can be linked via KN Login, which greatly simplifies collaboration in the logistics process. As a result of the clear visibility and interaction with the customer’s supply chain in KN Login, the system is simple to handle for all users. For instance, customers can access all important order and shipment data according to various criteria, using their own references such as order, product, and invoice numbers or shipment references. Individual users can be given access rights based on their area of responsibility. If required, data interchange with the customer’s operational system can easily be set up. Many customers also take advantage of the possibility of using KN Login to automatically monitor their supply and logistics processes. When important process steps are reached, or in the event of potential or actual service disruptions, the appropriate persons are automatically informed by e-mail, which eliminates the need to continuously monitor the progress of individual shipments or products. This shortens the response time of the customers, facilitates decision making in the event of disruptions, and prevents complaints and costs related to the delayed receipt of information and products. KN Login also includes powerful and easy-to-use functions for the creation of statistics and analyses. These reporting tools offer a wide range of possible applications for monitoring, performance measurement and continuous optimisation of complex logistics solutions. KN Login provides customers with a quick overview of their consignments, shipments and orders in the various processes including upcoming shipment departures and arrivals. The modules of the information management system can be combined and are activated according to the needs of the individual customer or user. This makes KN Login into a precisely-tailored solution that can be extended at any time and provides customers with a wide range of possibilities for optimising their supply chains. In addition to the basic KN Login modules for order and shipment monitoring, Kuehne + Nagel also offers special solutions to cover the requirements of specific branches of trade and industry. For instance, a growing number of customers entrust Kuehne + Nagel with monitoring their suppliers with regard to production and order fulfilment status. This order management process, which often takes place many months before the actual shipment, has an enormous influence on the reliability of the supply chain. Configured to customerspecific requirements, KN Login supports these monitoring activities with a high degree of efficiency. ........................................... www.kuehne-nagel.com/knlogin KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 25 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 26 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 26 MARKETS & PRODUCTS Virgin Megastore streamlines its logistics With 36 sales outlets and a workforce of 1,200 Virgin Megastore is one of France’s leading ...................... chains of entertainment and lifestyle stores. Under a comprehensive plan to centralise and increase the efficiency of its order and inventory management and logistics processes, in June the company concluded a five-year contract with Kuehne + Nagel for the management of its central warehouse and distribution to the megastores all over the country. In total, Virgin Megastore will invest some 30 million euros in this plan to optimise its supply chain and centralise over 60 per cent of its product flows. As the exclusive logistics partner of Virgin Megastore, on approximately 8,000 sqm of its distribution centre in Bondoufle to the south of Paris, Kuehne + Nagel will manage warehousing and handling of 30,000 stockkeeping units from goods categories such as gift packages, DVDs, video games, consoles, electronics and merchandising products. Books and music are the only product ranges that will continue to be replenished by the stores. Virgin Megastore expects the partnership with Kuehne + Nagel to bring marked efficiency improvements in warehousing and distribution, synergies in data capture, and better tracking and tracing capabilities – in other words process improvements that will benefit its own stores, its commercial offering and ultimately also the customers. ............................................................ www.virginmegastore.fr ............................................................................................................................................................ .............................. Award-winning Stock’n’Roll The international logistics team of the world-famous restaurant and hotel chain Hard Rock International honoured the Kuehne + Nagel distribution centre in ................... Louisville (Kentucky, USA) in July with its inaugural Rockin’ & Stockin’ Award. The quarterly award – an electric guitar emblazoned with the Hard Rock and Kuehne + Nagel logos – will be presented to the distribution centre with the highest overall performance and will now travel between the five Kuehne + Nagel distribution centres, depending on which staff wins for the quarter. Tony Paladino, Hard Rock’s Director of Logistics and Distribution, said, “The Louisville team has set the bar for dedication and excellence. Its vendor compliance program success is off the scale and the staff continuously looks for ways to improve operating procedures.” The group, which was founded in 1970, now operates 152 establishments in 52 countries, including 126 of the famous Hard Rock Cafes and a number of hotels and casinos. With 70,000 items, the company has the world’s biggest collection of musical memorabilia (such as instruments, stage costumes, gold records and historical original photos of musicians and show stars), which hang in its bars, cafes and restaurants. In 2004 Hard Rock International outsourced distribution of music-related products, collectibles and fashion merchandise to Kuehne + Nagel. The logistics provider now handles more than 200,000 individual items and 36,000 packages daily in its distribution centres for Hard Rock. ...................................................................... www.hardrock.com Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 27 MARKETS & PRODUCTS Shoes for a better chance in life According to a simple “one for one” principle, for every pair of shoes sold, the Californian TOMS Shoes company gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need somewhere around the world. Kuehne + Nagel ensures that the footwear gets to its various destinations Food, clean water, shelter, medical care and education are only a few of the needs that . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . basic come to mind when one thinks about a child living in a developing country. Good shoes are hardly at the top of the list, because one easily forgets that children in many of these countries often have to walk long distances to meet the challenges of everyday life. Barefoot, this is even more difficult and in some places even impossible. Shoes make the children’s way easier and protect them from injuries, infections and parasites, the main cause of disease in many parts of the world. In addition, many children cannot attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. Many people may take shoes for granted, but more than half the world’s population lives in conditions where they are only a luxury item. When Blake Mycoskie, an American, was travelling in Argentina three years ago, he came across a group of schoolchildren without shoes and resolved to change this situation. In Santa Monica, California, he established the firm of TOMS Shoes, which distributes shoes according to a clear philanthropic con- cept: with every pair purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need – one for one. Based on a sustainable, self-supporting business plan, TOMS is able to achieve this aim without relying on charity. For the worldwide transport of its products, both in actual sales and in the distribution of the donated shoes, TOMS Shoes relies on Kuehne + Nagel. “With its global network which also works well in developing countries, Kuehne + Nagel helps us to handle our growing transportation volume in an efficient manner,” says Jonathan Jung, TOMS Shoes Vice President Operations. “The logistics provider develops new transportation channels, whereas other providers offer a limited and expensive solution.” KN Login, Kuehne + Nagel’s Internetbased information and management system (see article on page 24), is a great help in enabling TOMS Shoes to realise their full potential. “Kuehne + Nagel’s online portal has helped map out schedules for products arriving in an easy way with high visibility into each step of the process for freight and customs,” Jung continued. “Their handling of the new U.S. Import ISF requirements has also been very helpful and easy to use.” Since the start in 2006, TOMS Shoes has already given over 150,000 pairs of new shoes to children in countries such as Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia and even the United States. With the projected number of 300,000 additional pairs in 2009, Kuehne + Nagel will become a vital part of their “one for one” philosophy. “As a Kuehne + Nagel representative, being a part of TOMS Shoes gives me a sense of significance, knowing our service can help children in underdeveloped areas improve their chances for a better life,” says Dennis Wong, Account Executive for TOMS Shoes at Kuehne + Nagel in Los Angeles. ............................................ www.tomsshoes.com KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 27 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 28 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 28 ROUND THE WORLD New logistics centre for Audi Volkswagen Korea Audi Volkswagen recently entered into a strategic partnership with Kuehne + Nagel for its warehouse management and parts distribution in Korea. In April, the two companies laid the foundation stone for a new warehouse close to the port of Incheon. The modern, purpose-built facility, which already went into operation in September 2009, is located north-west of Seoul and 40 kilometres south of Incheon International Airport. The location was chosen because of its ease of access and excellent infrastructure. The logistics centre provides 4,500 sqm of dedicated warehouse space for 20,000 stock-keeping units of Audi Volkswagen and has expansion possibilities for a further 2,000 sqm. Under a three-year service contract, Kuehne + Nagel will be handling Audi Volkswagen spare parts for the Korean after-sales market, performing a range of activities including receiving, picking and packing, handling of dangerous goods and distribution to Audi Volkswagen dealers throughout the country. A key factor for the award of the contract to Kuehne + Nagel was its commitment to constructing a brand-new state-of-the-art logistics centre in Korea. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 ............................................................................................................................................................ .............................. “Best project logistics provider in Asia” At this year’s presentation of the Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards in Hong Kong, Kuehne + Nagel was distinguished with the prize for the “Best Logistics Provider Project Cargo 2009”. The awards conferred by the influential industry publication Cargonews Asia are among the most coveted in the Far Eastern logistics sector. Its readers selected Kuehne + Nagel for having repeatedly demonstrated its innovation and flexibility in project management – as, for instance, it recently did in Vietnam. Kuehne + Nagel’s well established network of branches with project specialists all over the Asia-Pacific region and in the rest of the world analyses risk and liability questions for its customers and advises them on matters relating to legal requirements, local rules and issues relating to customs and insurance. On the basis of its many years of project experience, the logistics provider offers successful market solutions that combine efficiency, quality and reliability. Another factor for success is the standardised IT platform which provides Kuehne + Nagel and its customers with a web-based worldwide communication system in real time. ............................................................... www.cargonewsasia.com/afsca Joerg Bull, Managing Director Hong Kong, receives the prestigious award Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 29 29 ....... Heavy lift express in Vietnam Last November, Kuehne + Nagel’s project transport team in Vietnam had the task of delivering an urgent consignment in the heavy category. The Vietnamese subsidiary of Air Liquide, the world’s leaders in industrial and medical gases and related services, chose the company to transport an oversized gas tank weighing 105 tonnes from Tianjin in China to Ho Chi Minh City as quickly as possible. Whereas shipment from the port of Tianjin to Vietnam presented no major problems for the world’s number one in seafreight forwarding, the tricky part lay in the on-carriage of the tank from the docks in Ho Chi Minh City to the final project site at Saigon Hi-Tech Park. As a first obstacle, the gas tank was too heavy for the shore crane at Tianjin Port to load, so that a 700tonne floating crane had to be hired and transported to the loading site. A careful survey of the infrastructure at the destination showed that with its dimensions of 35 x 4.5 x 4.5 meters the cargo was simply too large to be carried through the busy, narrow streets of Vietnam’s biggest city. Thanks to this outstanding logistics performance by all concerned, the gas tank was delivered to the Saigon Hi-Tech Park five days before the deadline. The customer was delighted with this outcome. ............................................ www.kuehne-nagel.com/projects Faced with this situation, the inventive Kuehne + Nagel project team decided to transport the tank to its final destination via the Saigon River. After clearing customs in a record time of only one day, the tank was loaded onto two turntables fixed on a multi-axle hydraulic trailer on a barge which then carried it up the river. A temporary jetty was quickly constructed, fences which stood in the way were removed and the cargo was brought to land. Finally, the tank was transported to the job site under police escort, so as to avoid any interference from other traffic on the road. www.airliquide.com Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 30 ROUND THE WORLD .............................. Logistics solutions for Graco in Australia… Graco Inc., one of the world’s leaders in fluid handling systems and components, has awarded Kuehne + Nagel a new five-year contract for integrated logistics services for its Australian operations. Kuehne + Nagel is responsible for providing comprehensive services to support Graco’s entire product portfolio of around 2,600 items to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide range of fluids and viscous materials used in lubrication, commercial, and industrial and construction. These services include international transport by sea and air, import customs clearance, storage, inventory management and distribution to Graco’s customers throughout Australia. In addition, Kuehne + Nagel is rendering a series of valueadded services including labelling, reverse logistics and repacking. All warehouse processes are supported by Kuehne + Nagel’s state-of-the-art information and warehouse management systems such as KN Login (see article on page 24) to guarantee complete visibility along Graco’s supply chain on a real-time basis. .................................................................. www.graco.com ................................................................................................................... … and for Benetton in Russia In September the Italian fashion company Benetton chose Kuehne + Nagel to provide integrated logistics services for its expanding domestic retail operations in Russia. The comprehensive service offered by Kuehne + Nagel to one of the world’s premier manufacturers of casual clothing, footwear and accessories ranges from forwarding of merchandise to Russia by road and air, import customs clearance, storage and order deliveries to the Italian brand’s more than 150 shops throughout the country. In addition Kuehne + Nagel is responsible for the provision of a series of value-added services. “As one of the leading fashion retailers, we require a capable logistics provider with industry know-how and experience in Russia,” said Valter De Santis, Global Head of Logistics for the Benetton group. “Kuehne + Nagel has proved itself to be our trusted partner for ongoing growth in this important country.” ............................................ www.benetton.com Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 31 Car spares logistics for Stuttgart area As part of a new distribution strategy of the car maker BMW, since May 2009 Kuehne + Nagel has operated a modern distribution centre in Gaertringen for the company’s dealer network in the Stuttgart area. The BMW dealers in this city region were formerly supplied with parts and accessories by a simple overnight service from the distribution centres in Strasbourg and Dingolfingen. In addition, the new Dealer Metropolitan Distribution Centre now enables up to four additional deliveries per day to be made in the Stuttgart area and one daily delivery to more distant locations. The DMDC concept allows BMW to further increase the efficiency of its supply service and supports dealers to expand their trade in spare parts with independent repair shops. Kuehne + Nagel’s multi-user facility in Gaertringen is an ideal base for these operations. Under the six-year logistics contract, Kuehne + Nagel manages a logistics warehouse for BMW with an area of 3,200 sqm and capacity for roughly 15,000 stock-keeping units. There is scope for an expansion of the facility to 6,000 sqm. In addition to inventory management using BMW’s own stock control system, the services provided under the contract include the control of the goods receipt process, the handling of cross-dock orders, and the order picking, packing and supply of BMW parts and accessories. ............................................................ www.bmw.de ......................................................................................................................................................... ROUND THE WORLD Packing artists do the impossible The packing experts of Cargopack, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuehne + Nagel, succeeded in doing the impossible on an urgent “special mission” in Costa Rica at the beginning of the year. One of the world’s leading suppliers to the automobile industry had entrusted Kuehne + Nagel with the task of transporting a large production plant with a total volume of 250 sea crates back to Germany from the Central American country. A special challenge was the packing of the plant, which had to be completed within six weeks to the highest quality standards – and this with only ten days’ prior notice in a country with no packing industry or corresponding infrastructure of its own. Cargopack, a specialist in packing for the worldwide transport of complete plants, was the only provider from North America and Europe who was prepared to take on this Herculean job. So in mid-January eight of its experts from Germany set off for Costa Rica equipped with all the packing material and equipment they needed – such as wooden crate parts, transport floors, anti-corrosion products, screws, tools, an electric generator and a compressor. On site they had to work to a tight time schedule and under clean-room conditions, conforming to the customer’s specific packaging requirements and closely monitoring external influences such as moisture, unwanted light exposure and temperature variations. By their outstanding efforts, the Cargopack experts completed the job within the narrow time window and safely handed over the sensitive plant to their colleagues from Kuehne + Nagel, who then handled its shipment to Hamburg and its overland transport through Germany. It arrived punctually and in perfect condition at its destination in Nuremberg and the customer was fully satisfied with the complete service that had been provided. ...................................................................... www.cargopack.de KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 31 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 32 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 32 PEOPLE & NEWS .............................. The success of logistics depends on people Since 2008 the Kuehne Foundation has financed the Chair of Logistics Management at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH). Its head, Prof. Dr. Stephan M. Wagner, believes that modern logistics professionals must permanently deepen and renew their knowledge in order to master the growing challenges of this dynamic industry When I present the ETH Zurich, I like to mention the pioneering scientist who held a professorship of theoretical physics there from 1912 to 1914. The relativity theory is concerned with the structure of space and time. In logistics too, space and time are important factors for the achievement of customer satisfaction. But in addition to the global Prof. Dr. Stephan M. Wagner Before taking over the Chair of Logistics Management at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), Stephan M. Wagner (39) was on the staff of the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. Prior to that, he worked for ten years in private industry as head of supply chain management in a Swiss technology company and as senior manager for a leading international business consultancy. He has an MBA from Washington State University, a doctorate and a habilitation degree from the University of St. Gallen, and is author of ten books and countless articles on subjects such as supply chain management, procurement and supplier management, innovation in the supply chain and the management of logistics providers. His latest book Managing Risk and Security – The Safeguard of Long-Term Success for Logistics Service Providers – has just been published. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 .................................. Professor Wagner, you are the head of an institute at the university where Albert Einstein once taught. Is modern logistics as complicated as the theory of relativity? geographical coverage and reliable delivery which customers expect, the range of services and costs also play a decisive role. If we look at modern logistics networks and logistics services, these are undoubtedly very complex. Their organisation and optimisation require scientific methods and practical experience in equal measure. Are the leading universities now sufficiently active in the provision of logistics training? How important are private sponsorships such as that of the Kuehne Foundation? The success of logistics ultimately depends on the people who design and implement it. In this connection the staff in logistics companies must constantly deepen and renew their professional knowledge. A number of universities now provide a good basic training in logistics and related subjects. But when it comes to the training of managers, the field is much narrower. Here, privately-operated and supported further training schemes can make a valuable contribution. When the economy is going through a difficult period, many companies show a greater interest in outsourcing their supply chain. What are the crucial factors for the success of such strategies? We now see companies resorting to both outsourcing and insourcing. The aim of outsourcing is to reduce costs, while insourcing is intended to make greater use of free capacity within the organisation and thus avoid staff cuts. As is so often the case, the success of such strategies depends on a well thoughtout plan and its consistent implementation. Who sets the trends in today’s logistics: shippers, logistics providers or politics? Before the crisis I would have said the shippers set both tone and tempo. They adopted a bolder approach to the outsourcing of logistics services and were willing to adopt new pathways. However, new and innovative solutions have always developed at the interface between the service provider and shipper. The political sphere undoubtedly wields a great deal of power, creates new operational conditions and intervenes in a regulatory manner. Here we need think only of the reduction of vehicle CO2 emissions. What are the most important developments that will affect the transport and logistics industry in the next five years? As in the past, in the next five years we shall see both big and small changes. Telematics, for instance, still has an enormous potential for achieving cost reductions, lowering pollutant emis- 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 33 sions and securing supply chains. Companies will take a more critical view of the globalisation of their distribution and value creation activities, and will no longer pursue globalisation “at any price”. And the crisis – however long it continues – will change the competitive landscape. Some companies will emerge stronger from it and will be able to take advantage of new market opportunities, while others will disappear from the scene. How will the global logistics market look after the end of the present economic crisis? I think there will be a shakeout. Particularly in contract logistics, the survival of a logistics provider will be decided by its financial strength. When the waves of the crisis have subsided, everyone will probably be setting their sights somewhat lower. .......................................... www.scm.ethz.ch www.kuehne-stiftung.org ............................................................................................................................................................ Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 Magic Flute from down under The numerous shareholders who travelled to Schindellegi to attend this year’s Annual General Meeting of Kuehne + Nagel International AG were able to enjoy a very special agenda item after the conclusion of the meeting. This was a performance of Mozart’s Magic Flute staged by the Co-Opera Company from Australia, for which the audience showed its appreciation with generous applause. Since 1990 this group of 24 actors and singers has travelled all over the Australian continent to bring operatic art to remote places that are far from city opera houses and concert halls. This notable artistic engagement has received substantial support from the Kuehne Foundation. On its first European tour, with its easily transportable orchestra reduced to a piano, a string quartet and a wind quintet together with a collapsible stage set, the troupe performed for a total of two days as guests in the “Swiss outback”. KUEHNE + NAGEL . . . . . . . WORLD NO. 2/2009 Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 34 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 34 PEOPLE & NEWS .............................. Kuehne Foundation supports interdisciplinary centre for allergy research In the presence of prominent guests from the fields of medicine, research, education and politics, the Christine KuehneCentre for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE) has been ceremonially opened in Davos, Switzerland. The aim of the project, which will receive support totalling 20 million Swiss francs from the Kuehne Foundation over the next five years, is to bring about a substantial improvement in research, treatment and prevention in the field of allergy The project is named after its initiator, Christine Kuehne, member of the foundation’s board of trustees and wife of its donor Prof. Dr. h.c. Klaus-Michael Kuehne, who comments as follows on the engagement: “Now that allergies affect one child in four and generate costs to the economy in excess of 100 billion euros, allergic diseases must no longer be trivialised. By our sponsorship of the research network, we should like to bring a cure for these diseases a large step nearer.” On the initiative of Christine Kuehne, with the support of the foundation an advisory unit for neurodermatitis patients was already established in 2004 at the Children’s Hospital of the Zurich University Clinics. In the space of four years this has already gained a good reputation as a centre for allergy research. CK-CARE, the further development of this project, is the second largest scheme ever to be sponsored by the Kuehne Foundation after the Kuehne School in Hamburg, and so far the most important in Switzerland. It can rightly claim to be the world’s largest privately-sponsored institute for allergy research. In the research network supported by CKCARE, over the next five years professors from the fields of allergology, immunology, dermatology, paediatrics and basic medical research will be active in four locations: in the High Altitude Clinic and the Swiss Institute for Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) in Davos, the Zurich Children’s Hospital and the Technical University Munich. According to Prof. Heidrun Behrendt, spokeswoman of CK-CARE, the support Joining forces for allergy research (from the left): PD Dr. med. Roger Lauener, Prof. Dr. med. Cezmi Akdis, Karl Gernandt (member of the CK-CARE board of directors), Christine und Klaus-Michael Kuehne, Prof. Dr. med. Heidrun Behrendt, Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Johannes Ring and Dr. Joerg Draeger (chairman of the CK-CARE board of directors) Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 35 PEOPLE & NEWS given by the Kuehne Foundation “enables a dream to come true. For the first time, prominent scientists from various fields of allergy research will combine their capacities, strengths and results and place them at the disposal of other scientists and affected persons. Only such a union provides a sound basis for excellent research and can initiate the urgently needed optimisation of training and further training in the field of allergy at medical schools.” Education and further training is the second core activity of CK-CARE, with the aim of making the latest knowledge about allergies and their prevention available to a broader public and helping to bridge the gap, which is still too wide, between theoretical progress and practical possibilities. New research findings will immediately be made available to doctors treating the relevant conditions as well as to students and affected persons. The organisation will not only propagate facts, scientific method and a culture of thinking, but above all will also promote understanding for the needs of allergy sufferers and other affected persons. ............................................ www.ck-care.ch ................................................................................................................... Opening of Harbour Front Literature Festival For both logistics and literature, creativity and variety are essential factors. It is this common feature that motivated the KlausMichael Kuehne Foundation, together with the cultural authority of the city of Hamburg, to create the Harbour Front Literature Festival. The aim of the project is to hold a major international book festival annually in the Hanseatic city. From September 9 to 19, some 90 German and international authors presented themselves to an interested audience in various locations against the background of the port. One of the venues was the German head office of Kuehne + Nagel in the HafenCity, where Klaus-Michael Kuehne was able to welcome his former schoolmate, the well-known German poet and singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann, at a reading of his work. Three other events on the festival programme took place at the same location: a lecture by Dr. Sabine Schulz on the subject “Disaster relief logistics – 8 years after 9/11” and a discussion with the documentary author Dr. Birte Graefing entitled “The change of labour in the ports – from the billhook to the container” moderated by the journalist Dr. Reimer Eilers, who also presented extracts from his own book Das neue Tor zur Welt – 40 Jahre Container (“The new gateway to the world – 40 years of the container”). Finally, a press discussion on the subject “What is the common future of China and Germany?” brought the authors and China experts Lars Amenda, Petra Haering, Yu Chien Kuan and Juergen Bertram as well as the moderator Hans-Hermann Klare together at the discussion table. Former schoolmates meet at the festival opening: main supporter Klaus-Michael Kuehne and singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann The Klaus-Michael Kuehne Foundation was established in Hamburg in 2008 as a complement to the Swiss Kuehne Foundation. It focuses its support on the fields of art, culture and the preservation of monuments and historical buildings, science, research and vocational training in Germany. The Harbour Front Literature Festival is the first major project it has sponsored. 35 ....... Journal_KN_World 2_2009 3009 uk:Layout 1 www.kuehne-nagel.com 30.09.2009 9:35 Uhr Seite 36