38 TANKS & LOGISTICS
ONE FOR THE TEAM WAREHOUSING • HOYER’S SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES DIVISION IS HELPING EVONIK IMPROVE ITS SUPPLY CHAIN AND REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT THROUGH A NEW FACILITY IN ESSEN THE HOYER GROUP has handed over a newly commissioned logistics site in Essen, Germany to its client Evonik. The two companies worked closely together in the concept design of the facility, which meets Evonik’s high demands for safety, customer orientation, quality and efficiency in the handling of liquid chemicals and finished products. Hoyer used a dedicated team of experts from its Supply Chain Solutions unit to play its part in the project. This division of the group, one of the leading specialists in the transport and handling of liquid dangerous goods, provides customers in the chemical and gas industries with committed expertise in on-site and warehouse logistics. The new logistics centre, which is located adjacent to Evonik’s production facility and is being operated by Hoyer, features state-ofthe-art equipment so that the receipt, storage and picking of products are semi- or fully automated as far as possible. The flow of goods through the facility is monitored
HCB MONTHLY | JULY-AUGUST 2022
digitally by the seamless tracking of SSCC18 pallet numbers. This increases efficiency in processing and personnel deployment, thus simplifying and speeding up the complex value-added chain of the chemical industry: a critical success factor in this sector. It is also the first time that Hoyer has used driverless transport systems in a warehouse. In addition, there are semi-automatic storage and retrieval devices, with the option of driving forward full automation of the warehouse. FACE THE CHALLENGE “We understand the challenges our customers face – and support them with customised solutions to meet these successfully,” says Björn Schniederkötter, Hoyer CEO. “Safety and efficiency set the parameters in this respect. We welcome the fact that Evonik shares our concepts of value. In addition to a dedicated protection and prevention concept, the new location inspires confidence through efficient work lines,
state-of-the-art equipment, intelligent software and energy-efficient plant.” The new logistics centre is Evonik’s largest international finished product warehouse for palletised goods; its location, approach routes and processes were worked out in detail by Evonik and Hoyer so that Evonik can easily transfer finished products from its manufacturing complex, its largest in Europe, across the boundary to the logistics centre. This precise planning will contribute towards Evonik’s targets in terms of emissions reduction, saving some 3m tonne-km of road transport per year (equivalent to around 3,000 truck journeys) and reducing CO2 emissions by 210 tonnes per year. In-plant vehicles are fully electric, while the use of LED lighting also contributes to emissions reduction. The ramp-up in volume terms to the target filling level will be achieved in the second half of this year, Hoyer promises. The warehouse offers 27,000 pallet spaces on 19,000 m2 of floor space for 18,000 tonnes of products. Hoyer’s Supply Chain Services division offers a range of services to the chemical supply chain, including on-site logistics, filling and blending, contract warehousing, tank container storage, project development and integrated logistics solutions. In addition, it operates its own logistics sites in Europe and the Middle East. www.hoyer-group.com
