APL Logistics Ltd. announced in August the setup of APL Logistics Oman, a new joint venture company with Arab Global Logistics LLC in Oman. The new entity will spearhead efforts to develop Oman as a regional logistics hub to serve local and international customers in the Middle East and East Africa.

Customers of the new Muscat-based joint venture can look forward to a comprehensive offering of high-tech, flexible logistics services that solve complex everyday issues across inbound and production logistics, finished vehicle logistics, multi-modal transportation, consolidation, order management, customs brokerage and packaging.

“We are excited about the compelling growth prospects in Oman and the Middle East, with rising consumption and rapid diversification of economic activities,” said Joerg Granzow, APL Logistics regional leader for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We chose Oman for its strategic location within the region, well-established infrastructure and highly capable workforce.”

SEKO LOGISTICS INVESTS IN HONG KONG

SEKO Logistics added 100,000 square feet of warehousing and fulfilment capacity in Hong Kong this August, as it continues to build an “ecommerce gateway” for retail and high-tech customers targeting China’s online consumer market, which is forecast to see spending exceed US$1 trillion in 2017.

The new location is close to Shenzhen and has 10 dock doors to manage a seamless flow of collections and deliveries. The facility incorporates a clean room for high-end fashion products and a pick-and-pack area. Made out of converted sea containers, the building is currently serving 20 SEKO customers, both global brands and leading businesses in the Asia Pacific region. SEKO also has the opportunity to double the size of its facility as volumes increase.

“Our investment in Hong Kong is being driven by significant ecommerce growth,” says James Gagne, SEKO’s chief operating officer, Asia-Pacific. “We are in a strategically important location close to the main port and airport and, most importantly, within easy access of the mainland.”

LINEAGE LOGISTICS ACQUIRES CONSOLIDATED DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION

Lineage Logistics, a warehousing and logistics company backed by Bay Grove, announced in August that it has acquired Consolidated Distribution Corporation (CDC), a third-party logistics and re-distribution company headquartered in Lombard, Illinois. With the acquisition of CDC, Lineage becomes the largest customized re-distribution network in the country. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1990, CDC is a food service supply chain logistics company and the largest independent multi-concept re-distribution provider in the nation. Its robust re-distribution operation serves the retail and manufacturing industries, as well as the food-service franchisors and purchasing cooperatives of the nation’s most recognizable restaurant brands. With access to multi-temperature warehouses in Illinois, Georgia and Texas, CDC also adds to Lineage’s facility network of more than 600 million cubic feet across 113 facilities in 22 states, which represents the second largest refrigerated warehouse network globally based on data from the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses.

C.H. ROBINSON EXPANDS GLOBAL NETWORK, ACQUIRES APC LOGISTICS

C.H. Robinson announced in August plans to acquire APC Logistics, a leading provider of freight forwarding and customs brokerage services in Australia and New Zealand. The two companies have had a long-standing exclusive agent relationship for business in Australia and New Zealand. The agreement is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

“This acquisition allows us to add great talent to our Global Forwarding team and advances the strategy to expand our global network,” says John Wiehoff, chairman and CEO of C.H. Robinson. “We will work hard to successfully integrate the valued employees, customers and suppliers of APC.”

APC Logistics is a privately held international freight forwarder, providing ocean, air, customs brokerage and consultancy services, currently serving more than 3,000 customers and suppliers. Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, APC Logistics employs about 300 people and has seven offices in Australia and two offices in New Zealand.

DB SCHENKER COMPLETES WAREHOUSE MODERNIZATION

DB Schenker announced in September that it completed the fit out of its 80,000-square-foot facility in Kearny, New Jersey, near the high-end fashion district of New York City. The high-security facility provides a full range of logistics services, including garment-on-hanger racking and storage for up to 300,000 items, unit level pick-and-pack inventory management, cross-dock capabilities, Customs and free trade zone services, as well as a state of the art warehouse management system for many of the most recognizable brands in the luxury fashion industry.

“This dedicated New Jersey fashion facility enables our global clients to continue to benefit from our integrated fashion logistics approach, linking worldwide origins, hubs and in-transit Value Added Services centers with this state-of-the-art gateway into the North American market,” says Torben Kock, vice president, global head of Vertical Markets, Consumer and Retail at DB Schenker. “We enable our clients to serve all of their global markets most effectively; namely Asia Pacific, Europe and now even more effectively in North America.”

TROY CONTAINER LINE ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECT HAMBURG TO CHICAGO SERVICE

Troy Container Line, one of the world’s largest American-owned non-vessel operator common carriers (NVOCCs), recently announced a new direct import service which provides accelerated transits between Hamburg and Chicago. Building upon a strong foundation in the Midwest marketplace, this new service gives customers a fast, reliable, direct route to Chicagoland in addition to destinations throughout the Lower 48 from Germany.

“Our knowledge and expertise of the importing process, paired with our competitive rates and fast transits, offers customers unrivaled service in this trade lane as well as a strategic advantage when moving cargo to the Midwest,” says Chris Hellow, COO of Imports at Troy Container Line.

The company’s expanded service offerings from Hamburg further supports Troy’s mission of offering the industry’s best available pricing and transits to an international customer base. 

Troy boasts of creating an accessible and cost-effective gateway to the Midwest for all clients through its ability to offer door rates and pick-ups coupled with an extensive nationwide CFS (container freights station) destination network, which connects cargo throughout the U.S.