L4 Logistics | Transport Shipping and Logistics News

The launch of this new site will enable Geodis Iberia to substantially increase its coverage of the north-eastern region of the Iberian peninsula thanks to the expansion of its multi-business services: logistics, domestic groupage, chartering, cross-continental transportation, customs and services to the Canary Islands. It also offers European groupage services via its new offer called Eurofirst, which enables Geodis to guarantee its customers the same standard of service quality all over Europe as all operating processes are harmonised and all data centralised. Barcelona is one of the Eurofirst network's key European hubs.The new platform uses highly sophisticated information systems to check and monitor the flow of goods from their point of origin to their final destination. Barcelona is also equipped with the latest surveillance and security systems.Patrick Mathieu, Geodis Deputy CEO in charge of International Operations, commented: "We needed facilities to match our ambitions in Catalonia: in other words, a platform to manage all customer services as part of our international network and with a view to developing our end-to-end service offer."In addition to the new platform, Geodis Iberia runs six other sites in Catalonia: 3 groupage offices in Gerona, Tarragona and Lérida and 3 logistics sites in Lliça de Vall (13,400m²), Palau de Plegamans (7,000m²) and Hospitalet de Llobregat (2,300m²).Geodis has spent the last few months reinforcing its logistics infrastructure in Spain. In 2004, the Group opened a new site in Irún (Guipúzcoa) and extended another in Cabanillas del Campo (Guadalajara) by adding a second building of 8,500m²; in 2005, a third logistics centre was launched in the area (7,200m²) and the facilities at Palau de Plegamans were updated. Next year Geodis Iberia plans to open new facilities or extend existing ones in Zaragoza and Valencia. The Group's development objectives for Spain also include cementing its position as a specialised logistics provider to various sectors (automotive, hi-tech, retail and manufacturing), developing its end-to-end service offer, expanding its international activities and increasing service quality, staff training and investments in technology.Lastly, Geodis Iberia recently acquired international air and sea freight forwarding specialist Ibercóndor (28 September). This company, which employs around fifty staff, closed the 2004 financial year with net sales of €36 million; it was founded in 1982. Its acquisition is part of the Group's strategy to strengthen its shipping activities between Asia and Spain and to develop international freight forwarding in the scope of its end-to-end service offer.(Source: Press Release)