Night Star Express GmbH Logistik

express
nightstar
Customer magazin
4/2014
EXPECTATIONS FULFILLED?
QUALITY YOU CAN FEEL
EDITORIAL COMPANY NEWS
ALL SET FOR 2015!
As 2014 draws to a close, I’m
A NEW EVENING WARDROBE
SHOWING OUR COLOURS
sure you’ve been casting a look
A company is seen in the way it
customer. What could make a
back at the past year and a look
presents itself, and company
bigger statement than what a
forward to the year to come.
uniforms are a factor that has a
person wears?
However, I’ve decided to do
significant impact on this. Night
From now on, we’ll be showing
things slightly differently in this
Star Express represents quality
our colours – a confident mid-
issue.
and reliability – thanks to a
night blue. In addition to a casual
Our times are defined by chang-
strong, dedicated team that
polo shirt for warm summer eve-
es, the results of which are hard
takes to the road for you every
nings, the new uniform also fea-
to judge in the present. One ma-
single day.
tures a jumper for the colder
jor driver of change is the incre-
We set ourselves high standards
months. The new outfit is com-
dible pace of digitalisation in al-
and are uncompromising in striv-
plemented by long trousers with
most every area of our lives. “In-
ing for the best – after all, you
reflective strips on the legs. And
dustry 4.0 / Logistics 4.0” offers
don’t get a second shot at a first
because safety is important for
a range of opportunities for our
impression. For this reason,
our
industry because the strength-
company uniforms also require
through the night, the polo shirt
ened networks between cus-
high-quality solutions.
and jumper also feature reflective
tomers and service providers
Our new customised driver outfit
logos on the front and back. Of
can result in much more produc-
also boosts identification with
course, these new items can be
tive processes. Night Star Ex-
the company. Brand awareness
combined with our Night Star
press
these
and a sense of solidarity among
Express
changes and plays an active role
employees is strengthened, as
which also complies with high
in shaping them.
well as our appearance to the
road safety standards.
acknowledges
colleagues
who
all-weather
work
jacket,
Despite all the changes that we
will have to adapt to in the near
future, one thing in particular is
very important to me: At Night
Star Express, we will continue to
focus on the very highest quality
in the development of our overnight express services. After all, quality is valued very highly and, as
such, it will continue to characterise our “first-class” overnight express brand in the future, too. Continuity and reliability are two other
values that define us, and these highly prized qualities are precisely
what Night Star Express stands for.
Our editorial team has put together plenty of interesting content from
the Night Star Express world for your reading pleasure.
We all wish you a peaceful festive season and a great start to 2015!
Best wishes,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AND LEGAL NOTICE
Issue 56 – no. 4/2014
Circulation: 4,600 copies
Published by:
Night Star Express GmbH Logistik, Unna
Matthias Hohmann
Editor-in-chief:
Christine Kuhlmann, central coordination office in Unna
([email protected])
Heinrich-Hertz-Straße 1, 59423 Unna, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)2303 98688-0
Fax: +49 (0)2303 98688-67
Editorial board:
Herbert Remensperger, Key Account Manager South
Marcel Tüscher, Night Star Express Schweiz AG
Josef Schöllhuber, G. Englmayer, Spedition GmbH,
Austria
Kirsten Willenborg, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
Carolin Heinrichs, Zufall logistics Group
Wim Mulder und Robert Overgoor, Night Star
Express Hellmann B.V.
I2I
All of the above can be contacted via:
Editor-in-chief
Editorial team: Tina Pfeiffer-Dresp, transparent
([email protected])
Marienstraße 4, 58642 Iserlohn-Letmathe, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)2374 50399-11
Fax: +49 (0)2374 503380
www.tptransparent.de
Design: Y-Design, Michael Franz
([email protected]), Burchardtstraße 5
63741 Aschaffenburg, Germany,
www.ydesign-online.de
Tel.: +49 (0)6021 929783
Fax: +49 (0)6021 929782
Copy deadline for issue no. 1/2015:
6 January 2015
Date of publication for issue no. 1/2015:
Week 12 – March 2015
Bylined articles do not necessarily reflect the editorial
team’s opinion. The editorial team reserves the right
to shorten any readers’ letters which are published
for space reasons. Please send articles, letters and
comments straight to Christine Kuhlmann, Night Star
Express GmbH Logistik in Unna (address above).
NEWS SURVEY / AWARD
SHARE YOUR STORIES
FACT CHECK
It is hard to deny that, while employing a total
ners in the trade press directly. How is our
The key results
of 2.7 million people, Germany’s third-larg-
partnership coming along, and what could we
• Despite the Internet, Facebook and so on,
est, fast-developing industry, logistics, still
do to improve by mutual understanding and in
good-quality content is still important
has an image problem. We received confir-
a fast-changing media landscape? “Of course
• Images and graphics are increasing in
mation of this news via the publication of the
we were happy to receive all the positive re-
results of a survey conducted among eco-
plies saying things like ‘Everything’s just right’
• Fostering a closer personal contact
nomic and specialist journalists this year. So,
and ‘You’re in a great position – keep up the
between the company and media
what seems to be the problem? “The logis-
good work’”, says Christine Kuhlmann, PR
representatives
tics industry communicates or publishes too
manager at the Night Star Express central co-
little, and when it does, it fails in terms of stra-
ordination office. “But it was even more impor-
tegic communication. Logistics experts need
tant to take heed of the replies that showed us
We took these comments seriously and they
more imagination to create good stories and
where our corporate communication had
will be a factor in our corporate communica-
positive messages.”
room for improvement in terms of the fast
tion strategy wherever possible.
At Night Star Express, we wanted to know
changes brought about by the Internet and
more, so we asked our long-term media part-
social media.”
importance
• Exclusivity in user reports
AWARD FOR BEST BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
GREEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COURSE, 2014
For the fourth year running, Night Star Express awarded the Study
Award 2014 at the BiTS Bachelor Degree Ball on 14 November 2014
in Iserlohn. This year, Stefanie Franke was delighted to receive the
award as the “Best Bachelor of Science – Green Business Management”, given in acknowledgement of her exceptional results.
Managing director Matthias Hohmann (right) awarding the
2014 Study Award to prizewinner Stefanie Franke. Prof.
Thomas Meuser (left) is shown here at her side.
I3I
NEWS RETURNS TOOL
RETURNS
MADE EASY
IT TOOL SUPPORTS RETURNS
PROCESSING
I4I
NEWS RETURNS TOOL
Returns management is a major buzzword at the moment and is present everywhere – whether it’s in the media, from dispatchers or service providers – even
politicians are talking about returns management. Why? Driven by the immense
growth in online retail, the amount of returns handled by CEP service providers
has increased dramatically. Returns management has always been of major significance to Night Star Express, too.
prerequisite for using this service is a one-off
registration.”
This returns tool enables Night Star Express to offer all customers a central platform
on which the entire returns consignment can
be processed quickly and easily. Administrative processes are thus optimised and made
much more transparent. The information as
to which recipients have returns for collection
is also communicated to Night Star Express
immediately. This makes it easier for everyone involved to manage the returns process
more effectively.
After being in operation for around six
months now, customers and Night Star Express shops alike have formed their initial
impressions of the new returns tool. As a
possibilities
Another advantage of using our returns tool
result, it’s the perfect reason for Herbert Re-
opened up by modern technologies have
is that the customer can track the entire re-
mensperger, a member of the nightstar ex-
completely changed the requirements of fas-
turns process online on our tracking plat-
press editorial team, to ask what has
ter and more efficient returns processing.
form, so that he/she has complete control
changed in the Regenstauf office’s day-to-
over the consignment of returns. The only
day work.
Financial
aspects
and
the
Night Star Express has been offering its
customers a Web-based IT tool to enable
straightforward, fast processing of returns
since early 2014. Klaus Klimmek, the project
Editorial department: Does the new
see when the original order went out.
manager responsible for the new returns tool
returns tool make for easier handling of
Then we just click on the “Returns”
at the Night Star Express central coordina-
returns within the Night Star Express
button and we already have to hand the
tion office, explains its benefits and how it
system?
correct details for the consignor and
works.
Havva Inan: Absolutely! Many of our
recipient. All that’s left is entering the
customers only occasionally have to
collection date and e-mail address – it’s
can actively influence the returns process,
return an item. Drawing on our service
as easy as that!
and can determine the time when the item to
mentality, we take charge of managing
Havva Inan: Yes, it takes
be returned is picked up. The customer re-
returns.
about two minutes. Two or
turning items registers the goods that need
Tanja Franz: In addition, the companies
three clicks and it’s sorted
to be picked up with the consignor. As the
picking up the items and receiving the
– it couldn’t be any
company delivering the original consign-
items also get automatic notification of
easier.
ment, the consignor then makes an online
the collection order, which means we’re
order for the items to be returned to be
always up to date.
“By using our new returns tool, customers
picked up. The recipient automatically receives an e-mail containing a link so that he/
Editorial department: How easy is it to
she can print the required returns label on
use the IT tool?
any standard printer. The only thing the re-
Tanja Franz: Really easy. If the
cipient has left to do is to provide the goods
customer notifies us that there is a
to be returned. The online order to come and
return, we only need to take a quick look
pick up the items to be returned is immedi-
at the consignment tracking status to
ately transmitted to Night Star Express.
I5I
COVER STORY QUALITY
A HIGHLY PRIZED
ATTRIBUTE
WHAT DOES QUALITY MEAN TO YOU?
The quality of a product can usually be determined fairly accurately using
port from our service team, or a replacement or spare part. While the
fixed criteria and with technical measuring methods. For services, this
quality of the products can be measured to a degree, customer ser-
process is a bit more difficult because the customer or client often has
vice and replacement parts are more dominated by perceived quality.
different criteria in terms of the quality or level of service of the service
If a customer phones us requesting a replacement part on a Friday
received, regardless of certification in line with the DIN ISO 9001 quality
afternoon in the height of the cereal sowing season in September and
norm. The overnight express service is no exception to this.
we manage to make the delivery on Saturday morning, we have ful-
As a “first-class” provider of overnight express delivery services,
we have set ourselves the maxim of providing our customers with
filled our aim to provide a service that the customer perceives as
being of high quality.
tailored logistics solutions of the very highest quality. But how satisfied are our customers? What do our customers associate with the
Editorial department: Why do you supply your clients using the
slogan “first-class” overnight express and what does quality or good
overnight express service, and what benefits do you experience as a
service mean from their point of view?
result of this express logistics service?
To answer these questions, our nightstar express editor Herbert
Alois Schneider: HORSCH seed drills are only used for about six to
Remensperger spoke to Alois Schneider, head of logistics at
eight weeks of the year. Since many of our customers have to farm
HORSCH Maschinen GmbH, 92421 Schwandorf.
over 3,000 ha of land with just one machine, they have to work
around the clock for seven days a week in peak season. A single day
Editorial department: Mr Schneider, you are responsible for logis-
of downtime as a result of a missing replacement part reduces the
tics at HORSCH. What does quality or exceptional service mean for
operating life of the machine and results in the fact that the seeds
you? Do you agree that there is such a thing as “perceived quality”,
cannot be sown at the ideal time. Thanks to the delivery of replace-
as many people claim? And if so, where does this start?
Alois Schneider: Working for the logistics department at the
HORSCH Maschinen GmbH headquarters in Schwandorf, we see
ourselves as service providers for the upstream and downstream services our company provides. Customer service and the associated
replacement parts business are very important areas for HORSCH
and our customers. Of course, we strive to fulfil the highest quality
standards in the development and manufacture of our machines for
soil cultivation, sowing technology and crop protection. However,
sooner or later we encounter a case where customers require sup-
I6I
From left to right: Alois Schneider from HORSCH explains to
Herbert Remensperger that HORSCH not only sets great store by
exceptional quality when it comes to its machines, but also
when it comes to replacement parts
COVER STORY QUALITY
The word “quality” comes from the Latin “qualitas”, which roughly equates to
quality, characteristic or nature. In our everyday lives, we associate the word
quality with something to be prized. This not only applies to products, but also to
services. If a product or service is of good quality, this simply means that it fulfils
specific requirements or expectations.
ment parts via overnight express within Germany and neighbouring
other HORSCH replacement parts are delivered on time that night.
countries, we can keep the amount of downtime to a minimum.
The customer requires a flexible solution as fast as possible for the
fast delivery of the required parts so that no valuable time is lost.
Editorial department: Since the end of last year, you’ve been commissioning Night Star Express to provide your customers with sup-
Editorial department: Night Star Express sees itself as a “first-
plies via its overnight express service. What convinced you to work
class” overnight express service provider. What do you associate
with Night Star Express?
with this slogan?
Alois Schneider: At our Landau an der Isar office, we have been
Alois Schneider: In line with our slogan “Landwirtschaft aus Leiden-
working together with Night Star Express for several years now in
schaft” (A Passion for Agriculture), we offer our customers high-qual-
order to supply our crop protection technology customers with re-
ity products and excellent service in agricultural technology. As a re-
placement parts. In this time, we have come to appreciate the fact
sult, we expect the same complete service and passion for
that we have an expert, reliable partner right on our doorstep in the
exceptional performance from a “first-class” express service provider.
form of Kiessling-Spedition in Regenstauf. By moving our entire
HORSCH replacement part supplies business from Landau to the
Editorial department: Mr Schneider, thank you for speaking to us
central warehouse in Schwandorf, we’ve also taken the service pro-
today.
vider for overnight express deliveries with us. Even though we have
significantly increased the amount of consignments, our positive impressions in terms of performance and up-to-date information have
been reinforced.
Editorial department: What are the three most important quality
characteristics you have of us?
Alois Schneider: As I just mentioned, both performance and information, as well as a high degree of flexibility, are all major criteria that
we have of a logistics service provider. We of course assume that
Night Star Express delivers our consignments at the agreed time and
in perfect condition. We also know that there are many factors that
can make it hard to achieve this level of performance every time. In
such cases, we expect to be kept informed by the overnight express
service provider in order to work together with our customers to find
HORSCH Maschinen GmbH is the fastest-growing and most dynamic company in modern agricultural technology and in the regions where HORSCH is represented. As a
leading manufacturer of technologies for soil cultivation, sowing and crop protection,
we have made an excellent name for ourselves around the world. As such, the name
HORSCH not only represents technology, but also innovative, future-oriented agriculture. When we were thinking about the perfect slogan to reflect HORSCH, “Landwirtschaft aus Leidenschaft” (A Passion for Agriculture) came to us very quickly. After all,
passion is what’s behind each one of our products and it’s also what’s behind the actions of every single one of our 1,100 or so HORSCH employees. Agriculture and the
human food supply are the future, which is why the hard work is worth it – both for
farmers as well as for manufacturers of agricultural technology. Every time a farmer
looks in the rear-view mirror of his tractor and sees the colour red, he should know
that he has opted for the very best HORSCH quality standards.
a suitable solution. The maximum flexibility of the service provider is
required in order to implement this solution. It’s no use to the customer waiting impatiently for the urgent replacement part if all the
WWW.HORSCH.COM
I7I
NEWS SALES PORTRAIT
RETURNS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A HIT WITH CUSTOMERS
A GREAT FEELING!
For André Klein, 7 October 2014 is a very special day. The travel
Together with his colleague Jörg Witteborn, project manager at the
chaos in Hanover brought about by the rail strike barely dampens the
central coordination office in Unna and a supervisor of various ongo-
35-year-old sales rep’s mood. “We’ve been working on the develop-
ing IT projects, André Klein is responsible for the roll-out of the new
ment of a Night Star Express returns management tool for our cus-
returns management system in the Hanover region.
tomers for months. Today marks the roll-out – it’s a great feeling!”
Klein worked on the development of the system right from the
start, and it looks set to gain favour with customers especially due to
its information flow and transparency. “It all started with an Excel table in order to achieve higher transparency for our returns. Now
we’ve developed a system that can meet our customers’ expectations in terms of ease of use, efficiency and customisation options.”
The roll-out went ahead without any problems for the customers. In
total, Klein and Witteborn only need about ten minutes to set up the
Web-based system. The tool’s user-friendliness is proven with the
first “live returns” from customers. The customers get to grips with
the system right away and can see an immediate increase in efficiency. “The new system allows me to save around four to six minutes
per return because I no longer have to enter the information myself,”
says Nadine Hahne from Volkswagen Automobile, Hanover region.
And this is just the first step for André Klein and Jörg Witteborn. In
future, the new system will also be able to integrate consignment information into the flow of communication. “We’ve got our work cut
out, but the roll-out was an important step in the right direction!”
I8I
NEWS BUSINESS PORTRAIT
Anyone calling themselves part of the German Mittelstand, referring
to the country’s traditional medium-sized companies, sees themselves as having an obligation. The Mittelstand has its own rules,
upheld by strong, confident businesspeople. The nightstar express
editorial team asked Kay A. Espey, managing director of CretschmarCargo and Night Star Express system partner in Düsseldorf, where
the Mittelstand gets its strength and how it maintains its momentum.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be a forester,” says Kay A. Espey with a smile. The 55-year-old, married with four children, has
been at the helm of CretschmarCargo since the end of the 1980s and
is the third generation to lead the international forwarding and logistics group with its broad range of services. He got his first taste of
logistics when he was still a baby. His grandfather, Arthur Espey,
bought L.W. Cretschmar in 1931 and both his son, Artur E.H. Espey
and his grandson, have followed in his footsteps with his love of logistics over the decades. It was his father who gave him the passion and
careful touch required for the management tasks involved in running
an innovative, international company. “It took ten years for his ‘shop’
to get established,” says Kay A. Espey.
Kay A. Espey
WITH PASSION AND
RESPONSIBILITY
THE MITTELSTAND AS A DRIVER –
UNIQUE, COURAGEOUS, DEDICATEDT
CRETSCHMARCARGO – A FAMILY-RUN COMPANY
when times get tough. It’s very important that all our employees know
With over 750 employees and over a dozen offices in Germany and
the direction in which we’re headed. In my opinion, that’s what char-
Spain, CretschmarCargo is well positioned to provide countless for-
acterises family-run businesses in the German Mittelstand – the suc-
warding and logistics services, including general cargo in Germany
cessful combination of risk and liability, as well as the far-sightedness
and Europe, overnight express services, contract logistics, trade fair
that is typical for this type of company. In addition, people also say I
logistics, air cargo, sea cargo and transhipment in ports. But suc-
am able to inspire enthusiasm in others. I’m particularly happy about
cess isn’t a given. As an entrepreneur, Kay A. Espey has to assume
this because it’s not something that everyone can do and yet it is
various roles: He is the trustee of the family business, a networker
such an important part of being able to lead a company into the fu-
with other markets, and a motivator for his employees. “As a trustee,
ture. I want to be able to continue to do this in the years ahead – un-
I have to make sure that the company entrusted to me remains on
til the fourth generation of the Espey family can hopefully take the
course for success. The Cretschmar family lives by the company
reins at Cretschmar.”
philosophy every day: a friendly approach, passion for what we do,
generating business with long-term efficiency, and sticking together
WWW.CRETSCHMARCARGO.DE
I9I
INTERNAL EMPLOYEE WEEKEND EVENT
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE
NIGHTSTAR TEAM
THE “TOUR DE RUHR”
I 10 I
Bright sunshine and warm weather greeted
of fans. There was much excitement among
at that, with the musical STARLIGHT EX-
us on 27 September 2014 in Dortmund. It
the nightstar team when the “First-Class
PRESS! A tasteful and exciting programme
was an excellent start to this year’s employee
Night Star Express” steam train pulled into
was organised in close contact with the art-
weekend event, attended by nearly 100 par-
the station. The participants chose the best
ists from the musical.
ticipants from all over Germany and neigh-
seats and got themselves settled in the com-
“It was a dream come true for me!” says
bouring countries, who met at the Hotel Ra-
partments as the 1918 steam train with
Sascha Ullrich, Night Star Express Honold,
disson Blu for the “Tour de Ruhr” in Dortmund
around 1,180 hp slowly moved off with a jolt
Augsburg. “Starlight Express is simply fan-
on a Saturday in autumn.
and a loud whistle.
tastic. Fast-paced, exciting and with excep-
In order to showcase the lively, diverse
After a journey of around one-and-a-half
tional performances from all the artists in-
Ruhr region for the out-of-towners, the or-
hours, reaching speeds of 100 kph, the
volved. It’s a perfect fit for us,” he says,
ganisation team really got their thinking caps
nightstar team came to the railway museum
grinning.
on and came up with a historical steam train
in Bochum. History buffs had the chance to
After the musical, the buses took the
ride in the “First-Class Night Star Express”
find out more about the history of the steam
nightstar team back to the hotel, where they
along the Ruhr Valley. The tour started at the
trains and see other vintage trains that have
saw out the evening with a few drinks at the
Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, for-
been lovingly restored by volunteers working
hotel bar. So how long did the celebrations
merly known as the Dortmunder Westfalen-
for the railway museum.
continue? No one’s really sure. But it doesn’t
stadion. This stop is very important when
The nightstar team’s journey continued
Borussia Dortmund are playing at home and
with an exciting evening event. The theme
is therefore built to accommodate long trains
here was also trains, and high-powered ones
matter – the main thing is, everyone had a
great time once again!
EUROPE NETHERLANDS
FROM THE MEUSE
TO THE NORTH SEA
NIGHT STAR EXPRESS HELLMANN
EXPANDS IN MAASMECHELEN
After taking over the overnight express busi-
the border between Belgium and the Nether-
also be accommodated since the current
ness in the Netherlands and Belgium in
lands there. In total, over 50 consignments
space can be expanded to a total area of
2012, Night Star Express partner Hellmann
are dispatched from here every night.
6,000 m2 if required. This provides the pre-
Worldwide Logistics has recently seen the
The positive growth in the number of con-
requisites for being able to continue offering
reorganisation of its local operations. Almost
signments in the Benelux region has made it
top-quality overnight express services in the
all overnight express business in both coun-
necessary to open another office here after
Netherlands and Belgium despite the in-
tries has been consolidated in the Maas-
just two years. While the team under ware-
creasing numbers of consignments.
mechelen office in Belgium. Maasmechelen
house manager Alexander Heil previously
Both countries will be served by the Maas-
is located in the Belgian province of Limburg
had a handling area of 2,500 m2, it now has
mechelen office in two waves of deliveries.
on the left bank of the Meuse, which forms
3,500 m2 at its disposal. Further growth can
The first wave of deliveries will see four HGVs
and 32 vans setting off at 1 a.m., with another 17 vans setting off for the second wave
from 2.30 a.m. The second wave of deliveries will ensure that consignments from Germany, Switzerland and Austria can also be
delivered punctually by 8 a.m. the next morning.
NIGHT STAR EXPRESS
HELLMANN N.V.
SLAKWEIDESTRAAT 33A
3630 MAASMECHELEN, BELGIUM
TEL.: +32 (0)87 599 999
FAX: +32 (0)87 599 990
From left to right: The Maasmechelen team under warehouse manager
Alexander Heil, alongside supervisors Dimitri Bovens and Maurice
Persoon, is delighted with the new space available
I 11 I
EUROPE CZECH REPUBLIC
CZECH REPUBLIC
IN 15 HOURS!
HOW DO THEY DO IT?
Friedberg
Würzburg
I give Thomas Siefert a call. He’s
Friedberg, 6.30 p.m.
house and coordinates the load-
the head of our hub in Hünfeld
ing and dispatch. Goods headed
and played a major role in setting
for the Czech Republic are also
up this route. “So Thomas, the
dispatched
consignments for the Czech Re-
which are then compiled with all
real range here tonight. All the
public from all over Germany
the other consignments on the
consignments headed for the
only get to you after 10 p.m. It’s
HGV, which then drives to the
Czech Republic are sorted care-
over 500 kilometres from where
Night Star Express hub in Hün-
fully and passed through a sepa-
you are to Prague. It’s hard to
feld. I drive behind the lorry.
rate gate for loading and dis-
from
Nuremberg
Friedberg,
believe that every consignment,
patch.
Hünfeld hub, 8.30 p.m.
regardless of size, can be delivered to the Prague area by the
Hünfeld hub, 11 p.m.
following day.” Thomas Siefert
We set off for the Czech Repu-
laughs. “You know, Herbert, the
blic, with me driving behind the
route is fixed and you can rely on
lorry. We pass Fulda and Nurem-
it 100%. Why don’t you come
berg, heading for the Czech bor-
along and see for yourself?” I ac-
der.
cept with pleasure and decide to
begin my journey at a customer
Waidhaus, 2 a.m.
stop in order to track the whole
We cross the border into the
process from beginning to end.
Czech Republic. There’s no borI meet Dirk Schönberner in Fried-
The lorry has arrived and the
der controls these days, which
berg, to the north of Frankfurt.
goods are being sorted. I con-
makes our job much easier.
This
Subaru
centrate on the consignments
central
for the Czech Republic – and
Service station, 4 a.m.
warehouse. The company works
there are quite a few of them to-
We take a break in order to
together with Night Star Express.
day. Small parcels containing fil-
comply with regulations on
Dirk Schönberner is responsible
ters, all the way up to large parts
driving time and rests and have
for the Night Star Express ware-
such as car bonnets – there’s a
a cup of coffee together.
is
Deutschland
I 12 I
where
has
its
EUROPE CZECH REPUBLIC
Night Star Express set up a direct route to Prague in March 2014, offering a service in under 24 hours. How do you manage that? I know from my own experience
that the traffic around Prague can be pretty bad. The motorway bypass around the
city isn’t finished yet. The city is divided by the Vltava river and the individual parts
of the city can only be reached via a few bridges, which become bottlenecks at
different times of day. It’s no easy task for logistics companies.
A report by Herbert Remensperger
Prague
Waidhaus
Plzeň
from Germany, a comprehensive
always happy to react flexibly to
now forward the replacement
overnight express service.
specific customer requirements.
parts on to the dealerships on
the same day.
Prague, 7.30 a.m.
With a friendly handshake, I say
The delivery driver sets off. I’m
goodbye and leave Prague. The
going to follow him as far as the
sun is shining, the customer ser-
Prague, 6 a.m.
Subaru delivery but I lose him in
vice is good – and it took less
We reach the outskirts of Prague
the city traffic and my satnav di-
than 15 hours. Tired, but happy,
in the early morning. The Night
rects me through the city centre.
I head for home.
Star Express depot in Prague is
Subaru, 8.45 a.m.
in the east of the city. The traffic
I arrive at Subaru, where the driv-
is getting heavier.
Managing director Michal Had-
er arrived a few minutes before
Prague, 6.30 a.m.
bavný welcomes me warmly and
me. The people there are friendly
We get to the Night Star Express
offers me a cup of coffee. The
and nice. Since Night Star Ex-
depot, which is run by our busi-
Prague office is staffed by four
press has had its direct route to
ness partner Englmayer. From
people in the office and four in
Prague, we have been able to
here, we offer the Czech Repub-
the warehouse. They are highly
offer very early deliveries to our
lic, as well as our customers
accommodating and the team is
customer Subaru. Subaru can
Postcode area
Delivery
10–19
By 10 a.m.
250 and 251
By 10 a.m.
20–24
By 4 p.m.
252–29
By 4 p.m.
Other postcode
areas
Day C by 4 p.m.
Alternatively,
overnight express
(depot required)
day C by 8 a.m.
I 13 I
EUROPE SWITZERLAND
FIVE-STAR
ACCOMMODATION
FOR TYRES AND
WHEELS
A NEW SERVICE FROM
EMIL FREY BETRIEBS AG
I 14 I
EUROPE SWITZERLAND
A new logistics centre especially for tyres and wheels is due to “go online” this
year for Emil Frey Betriebs AG in Härkingen in Switzerland. This new services will
enable the warehousing specialist to centralise its tyre logistics and relieve the
pressure on its own garages.
According to the Institut für Automobilwirtschaft (Institute for the Automotive Industry, IFA), the external storage of tyres and wheels by a
specialist creates added value and generates more turnover for car
dealerships. During the peak season in spring and autumn, the employees and lifts in the garages are often at full capacity when it
comes to changing wheels. As a consequence, lucrative work such
as vehicle checks, consultations and the sale of additional services is
sometimes neglected. “There are certain tasks within car dealerships
that it makes more sense to outsource to external specialists for financial reasons,” says the head of the institute, Prof. Stefan Reindl.
With the new luxury accommodation for wheels and tyres for the
Emil Frey Group in Härkingen, the company aims to benefit from precisely these advantages, in addition to providing storage for various
importers and wheel mounting. “Every tyre and every wheel will be
press Schweiz AG: Most dealerships and garages who have their
inspected and checked carefully before being stored,” explains
tyres stored in the Härkingen logistics centre receive deliveries during
Hans-Peter Anderes, managing director of Emil Frey Betriebs AG.
the night. This means that the labelled tyres and wheels are picked up
This can result in additional turnover during the storage process, in-
during the night and consolidated at the three Night Star Express
cluding wheel balancing, replacement tyres, tyre maintenance, wheel
Schweiz AG depots. Lashed onto special pallets, the wheels and
inspections and wheel washes. In addition, the dealerships and ga-
tyres then reach their five-star accommodation that same night. This
rages are also liberated from the increasingly strict structural require-
means that the tyres that are ready and waiting in the early morning
ments and fire safety regulations. The new logistics centre features
can be washed, checked in and packed off to rest for the season.
some impressive dimensions:
Everything that is discovered during the storage process is shared
• Floor space and volume: 18,000 m2/160,000 m3
with the garage in question so that the customer can be asked
• of which fully automated tyre warehouse: 48,000 m3
whether old tyres should be replaced, rims repaired or individual tyres
should be disposed of. “This creates added value for our customers
In order to keep things running smoothly, transport logistics play a
and boosts turnover for the supply chain, justifying this major invest-
major role – some of these services are provided by Night Star Ex-
ment,” Anderes concludes.
The Emil Frey Group’s Härkingen
luxury accommodation for wheels
and tyres, which is currently still
under construction, is due to
“go online” this year
I 15 I
www.night-star-express.de