Key Contact Name: Gustavo Gonzales Galdos The Coop’s team has just released the September Edition of the Coop Newsletter
All the information about The Coop’s 4th Annual Meeting can be found in it, as well as very interesting news and interviews from fellow members, cities needing coverage or the new cities that has been covered.
Check it out here!
Key Contact Name: Hazel Vargas 
Key Contact Name: Ruwan Premathilaka Neon Freight, a Coop member in Manchester, successfully handled the shipment of a life-sized model of T-Rex dinosaur from Germany to China. This model was first shipped from Germany to Everything Dinosaur in Marthall, Cheshire and was later transported to the Peking Natural Science Organisation (PNSO) in Beijing, China.
This was a Herculean task Neon Freight accomplished with aplomb, since the model was quite valuable and huge. They had to arrange for 40ft container for the sea freight to China.
Neon Freight is a 5 year old, privately owned logistics company in Cheshire. Ian Mallon who owns the company,has over 20 years of logistics and freight forwarding experiences . He has also been a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University on International Trade and Logistics.
Regarding the dinosaur model transport, he said, “It’s an honour to be trusted with this unique, bespoke life-sized model worth tens of thousands of dollars. It’s so enormous; we’ve had to arrange a 40ft container to sea freight the T-Rex to China.” He continues, “I first met Mike from Everything Dinosaur at the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, and things have developed from there. We pride ourselves on great relationships with our customers. We are a small but efficient team, and our expertise helps our clients manage a range of goods from potato cleaners to hazardous chemicals for water treatment all over the world and now we even transport dinosaurs!”
Mike Walley, the owner of Everything Dinosaur, is quite happy with the whole project and stated, “This is a fantastic opportunity on many levels. We are privileged to be trusted by the PNSO and hope to bring more dinosaurs to Cheshire from their range of models.” Speaking about Neon Freight, Mike added, “Working with Neon Freight has been a great experience. Ian and his team have delivered an exceptional job, and we know we are safe in their hands with our extremely valued T-Rex. We hope this is the beginning of a long-term business partnership”.;
We applaud Neon Freight for their great achievement!
For shipments from/to Manchester, do not hesitate to contact them. They are looking forward to any new challenges that lay ahead!
Ian Mallon
ian.mallon@neonfreight.co.uk
www.neonfreight.co.uk
Key Contact Name: Michele Bonicalzi 
Key Contact Name: Mr. Heberth Marques“The main challenge facing the freight forwarders industry is the transparency” Eduard Van Put, the Managing Director of Steinacher Logistics, a COOP member in Antwerp.
Steinacher Logistics is an AEO certified company which started its operations back in 1972. One of the most competent international forwarding agents of our time, Steinacher Logistics deals in all sorts of multimodal transport focussing on maritime transportation. Since 1992 they are acting as a financial representative in EU and September 2007 onwards they have been a member of the worldwide logistics network.
A.I started as a young lad in the industry, 45 years ago in 1972. After a few years, I caught the logistics bug. The numerous worldwide contacts, destinations and origins I came to know taught me that the world is more than the street I lived on. Becoming immersed in the world of logistics, I came to understand the long and complex journey a product travels on, from mold to sold – from manufacture to being gift wrapped.
Q. Can you tell us a little of the history of STEINACHER LOGISTICS?
A.The company was originally founded in 1884, however In 1979 it was taken over by an Antwerp family well known in the city’s port. In 2007 the company was relaunched as STEINACHER LOGISTICS to develop the logistics side of the company.
Q. What distinguishes STEINACHER LOGISTICS from other freight forwarders in your city?
A. We know all the cliché lines, but to quote our slogan, “a team that makes the difference”. Agents really do appreciate our special service. The team’s professionalism and efficiency is served with a friendly flavor, concern for customers needs and a positive attitude. It’s a team that I am very proud to be part of but, of course, I cannot reveal the secret formula of makes it all work!
Q. What are the main challenges facing freight forwarders in your country at the moment?
A. Transparency. An advantage on one hand, but also a disadvantage when misused. The ruthless competition of carriers and logistic providers, increasing traffic and related congestion, strikes and hijacking of not only the man on the street but also the economy, to obtain rights whilst forgetting duties. Rapidly changing laws and directives that urges us to keep pace with, and to inform, our customers before our competitors do. I realize these issues are not exclusive to our country.
Q. How is the freight forwarders industry dealing with these challenges?
A. Our professional association advises us in advance of any changes, new regulations, and challenges in near future.
Q. How is STEINACHER LOGISTICS dealing with these challenges daily?
A. Keeping our customers well-informed. Forging partnerships with carriers, and even competitors. Creating opportunities and offering intelligent solutions. Not merely acting as a supplier but as an accountable partner.
Q. How did you hear about The Cooperative Logistics Network?
A. At the end of 2014 I learnt from Thomas Manigk, CEO of Kopf & Lübben, that his company was joining The COOP. Knowing Thomas’ standards, I became curious. As the answers to my scrutinizing questions were answered satisfactorily, we then joined as a founding member, and here we are still, in 2017.
Q. What attracted you most about The Cooperative Logistics Network?
A. Clear cut information, no nonsense approach, user-friendly website, professionally organized Annual Meeting and follow up, crystal clear conditions, and an uncomplicated Payment Protection Programme
Q. What would be the most significant shipment your team has handled?
A.Over the last 38 years, we’ve handled O.O.G. and heavyweight machinery and projects, such as 60 M.T. of chocolate by air to Australia at short notice for Christmas, 124 T.E.U.’s to the United Arab Emirates just before New Year, as well as an airfreight shipment of an engine, a so-called A.O.G. However, one of the most challenging activities is the logistics we coordinate is for antiques and fine arts customers and exhibitions worldwide, which requires extra special care.
Q. What were the challenges with this shipment and how did your team overcome them?
A. The big challenge is usually meeting deadlines without delay. Complicated custom formalities, inspections, licenses on both sides of the ocean, delays of vessel or flights, and so on can be tricky. On one occasion, a big airfreight shipment booked ahead of time was held back by a carrier to give priority to a shipment of horses, as it generated a higher income. It goes without saying that our logistic partner needed to run faster than the horses to make it work! and in the end they did.
Q. Where do you see STEINACHER LOGISTICS N.V. in 10 years?
A. Branding and continuously upgrading our qualified service in a volatile and challenging world that is constantly evolving, and sharing a toast with all the stakeholders, of a cocktail made up of our core values.
We invite members with shipments from/to Antwerp to get in touch with the team.
Key Contact Name: Marilou Caballas This week, COOP Jeddah has launched its newly redesigned website
COOP Jeddah – Wasil Jabir Freight Forwarding’s new website is now up and running. The team have remodelled the site in order to offer a more interactive experience to both clients and partners, with daily updates and information.
As part of the site, Wasil Jabir Freight Forwarding has introduced new sections and a number of tools for both their partners and customers to use. One of its most notable additions is their FAQ’s page – where they post one new question every day, along with its answer. Additionally, visitors will be able to ask them any query that has not already been published on the site.
Eduard Van Put
Mohamad Fahad