DACHSER builds network in Eastern Europe as trade grows with Asia

As DACHSER opens a new state-of-the art dangerous goods warehouse in Romania, the company is well placed to build its business as trade grows between Asia and the emerging markets of Eastern Europe

Kempten/Ploiesti, January 16, 2012. DACHSER has opened a dangerous goods warehouse near Bucharest with an area of approximately 6,500 square metres and 11,500 pallet spaces. The facility is the only warehouse in Romania with an investment volume in excess of ten million Euros, which is also compliant with all European Union safety regulations.

The investment follows on from the opening of the new logistics hub, in June 2011, for central and Eastern Europe in Bratislava, Slovakia. The 64,000-square-metre site is a cornerstone for DACHSER’s overland network for the emerging European economies.

“We are seeing significant year-on-year growth in trade between our customers in China and across Asia with Eastern Europe. DACHSER’s logistics network and land transportation fleet in the emerging markets of central and eastern Europe means that we can deliver directly from Asia to markets in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine,” said Edoardo Podestá, Managing Director, DACHSER, Greater China.

The new logistics centre in Romania accommodates a 3,565-square-metre cross dock for industrial goods which allows for simultaneous loading and unloading of 31 trucks. An office building with 1,800 square metres of usable floor space has also been built. In a second building phase, a warehouse with 13,500 pallet spaces will be added.

“The facility in Ploiesti is a flagship project in the expansion of our European logistics network,” comments Michael Schilling, managing director European Network Management & Logistics Systems at DACHSER. “With this commitment, DACHSER is setting standards for the entire growth region.”

DACHSER Romania has constructed the warehouse with the support of Liegl & DACHSER. The Hungarian joint venture has operated a dangerous goods warehouse in compliance with the strict Seveso II Directive in Pilisvörösvár near Budapest since 2006.
Engelbert Liegl, managing director of Liegl & DACHSER Hungary, explains: “In combination with the excellent connection to the DACHSER Eurohub in Bratislava, we are able to offer international customers from the chemical industry efficient and safe contract logistics for the entire region”.

State-of-the-art technology Dangerous goods in the VCI dangerous goods classes 2, 3, 4.1, 6.1, 8, 10–13 can be stored safely in Ploiesti. The facility is divided into six fire protection zones separated by fire protection walls and doors. Sprinklers with foam mixing system are installed at each storage level. The dangerous goods warehouse is also equipped with fire alarm systems and sensors for combustible and toxic volatile substances. The warehouse floor is waterproof and repels oil and chemicals.

DACHSER stores twice as much extinguishing water in Ploiesti as is legally required. Tanks and lines to the warehouse can be heated when temperatures fall below zero. Two special 2,000-cubic-metre concrete retaining basins beneath the facility ensure that not a single drop of contaminated extinguishing water or liquids escaping as a result of accidents or damage can seep into the ground. The high shelves can withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale. Additional stability is guaranteed by supplementary metal clips and twice the amount of steel as is usually used. These measures are unique in any racking system in Europe.

“The new warehouse underscores our dangerous goods competence. The safety measures are in line with the latest technological standards,” explains Steve Heidner, Central Dangerous Goods Management at DACHSER.

About DACHSER:
DACHSER (www.DACHSER.com) has been present with its own country organization at four locations in Romania since 2009: Bucharest, Arad, Brasov and now in Ploiesti. In 2010, the internationally operating logistics provider generated total revenue of EUR 3.8 billion worldwide. 19,250 staff working in 310 profit centres worldwide handled 46.2 million consignments weighing a total of 35.5 million tonnes.

For more information about DACHSER’s dededicated services for the chemical industry visit http://www.chem-logistics.com
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