SWISS forwarding giant Kuehne + Nagel has been selected by Paris-based Valeo Service, the aftermarket branch of the global automotive group, to manage inbound road logistics shipments from a mulitiplicity of European suppliers to the Valeo Service distribution centres in France, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain and Turkey.

The collection involves 43 milk runs for components from the suppliers and a multi-stop consolidation before dispatch to the Valeo Service centres, said the K+N statement.

The new service will link over 105 internal and external suppliers of Valeo Service located in France, Italy and Spain as well as in seven other West European countries, the statement said, adding that the network represents 283 point-to-point relations.

"The solution is centrally monitored from a Kuehne + Nagel control tower based in orleans, France, and incorporates a proactive follow-up of the suppliers' shipments and a continuous optimisation of the milk run network," said the statement.

"It is underpinned by Logistar Transport IT system and an e-booking web application allowing all suppliers to directly enter transport orders into the system. Delivering a customised, robust and flexible logistics solution was the key challenge Kuehne + Nagel has successfully met," it said.

"The implementation of this complex solution to optimise Valeo's inbound transport flows demonstrates the efficiency of the Kuehne + Nagel approach," said south west Europe K+N road and rail logistics chief Eric Peigne.

Kuehne + Nagel employs 55,000 at 900 in 100 countries. In France, the company operates from 120 locations and has 1.3 million square metres of warehouse space under management and a workforce of 9,000.

Valeo is an independent industrial group focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. Valeo group has 121 plants, 61 R&D centres, 10 distribution platforms and employs 50,100 people in 27 countries worldwide.

Sources?Shipping Online