New MAN-TGX semitrailer towing vehicles in the fleet
LTG will expand its own fleet of vehicles by September 2008 to include ten new MAN semitrailer towing vehicles from the new TGX series, which were voted "Truck of the Year 2008" at the 2007 European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam. TGX is setting new standards with its state-of-the-art technology. The vehicles comply with the Euro 5 standards, yet are more powerful and boast enhanced fuel economy. The electronic stability program (ESP), adaptive cruise control (ACC), anti-blocking system (ABS), power braking and continuous damping control (CDC) guarantees more safety and protect both the driver and his load.
First freight train with mineral water from VOLVIC: Logistics switched to rail
Danone Waters Germany GmbH and LTG in Hockenheim recently passed an important milestone - quite literally - and at the same time got investments in the environment off to a rolling start. On June 25, 2008, the executives of the two companies jointly welcomed the first freight train carrying bottled mineral water to Germany from the French town of Volvic. "Together with LTG we have taken an important step," said Carsten Stelter, Head of Logistics at Danone Waters Deutschland GmbH, during a small celebration. By delivering mineral water straight from the source, Volvic is now the second product whose logistics have been switched from road to rail after Evian did the same two years ago.
"Growing environmental awareness showed us how important it is for us to invest in the environment and Hockenheim," said Stelter, adding that the Frankfurt-based company is the first industrial enterprise to be supported with funds from the European Union's "Marco Polo" subsidy program, a project that backs businesses that switch their logistics from road to rail. This important aspect was also emphasized by Heinrich Doll, Managing Director of LTG: "Economic and environmental factors are making it a wise move to take the goods off the road and counter the skyrocketing costs." Because the town opted to maintain its railway network in Talhaus, it was possible to do this centrally at the Hockenheim location. Mayor Werner Zimmermann, who welcomed the first train from Volvic together with economic sponsor Donald Pape and municipal architect Wilhelm Stulken, was also delighted with this new chapter in Hockenheim's development.
New service agreement concluded with John Deere Werke
On February 1, 2008, a contract was concluded between John Deere Werke Mannheim and LTG covering the packaging of spare parts. Under the agreement, LTG is responsible for approx. 4,000 material numbers at its Hockenheim location and for the entire incoming goods processing, making entries in the client's systems, providing the material at the packing station, picking and provision for loading, processing of all outgoing goods activities as well as the inventory stock administration and empties management. All internal transactions are managed via a new database (programmed by LTG IT), which also supports the packing machines.
State capital celebrates its birthday: LTG congratulates Munich on its 850th anniversary
LTG congratulates the city of Munich on the 850th anniversary of its founding and pays special homage to the city: From February to September 2008, 30 trucks will be driving nationwide sporting the slogan "850 Jahre München - Brücken bauen" ("Munich turns 850 - Building Bridges") on the rear tarpaulin of their semitrailers, informing one and all about the anniversary of the state capital. At a photocall on Theresienwiese in Munich, LTG Managing Director Heinrich Doll presented the tail advertising on the 40-tonners, which forge their own links throughout Germany from their base in Munich, to Reinhard Wieczorek, who heads up the Labor and Economic Development section and is responsible for the festivities marking the city's anniversary (photo above).
Munich celebrates its 850th anniversary with what must be Europe's finest festival season, which will include 380 events from May to September. Unique and spectacular highlights will be staged in the open.
The cultural metropolis of Munich will be presenting itself with top-notch exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances. Everyone will participate actively in the city's birthday. The motto of the festivities is "Building Bridges".
GE Aviation opens research facility at LTG-NL Regensburg
GE Aviation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft engines will open a research facility in Germany to develop cutting-edge manufacturing processes for turbine blades. This discipline, newly established at the LTG office in Regensburg, is expected to commence work in the course of the year. The first employees will be launching a pilot program there that will aim to demonstrate the efficiency of innovative manufacturing processes for reduced-weight turbine blades as early as spring 2009. Provided that the pilot project ends successfully, GE plans to establish a permanent production facility on the site. At a press conference, Bavaria's Minister for Economic Affairs Emilia Müller stressed the importance of the investment for Bavaria as a high-tech location: "We are proud that the global group GE has chosen Bavaria for such an important project. The investment shows that the state is able to compete in the Champions League thanks to its outstanding research infrastructure and its highly qualified specialists. GE's decision to locate here is both acknowledgement and an enrichment for Bavaria's aerospace industry."
LTG is opening a new gas station
The new gas station has been in operation at LTG Garching since 04.07.2007. In future our filling customers will also be able to purchase AdBlue from the gas station.
(AdBlue is a synthetically produced carbamide solution which is sequentially injected into the exhaust gas flow and the nitrogen oxide is converted into nitrogen and steam in the catalytic converter through a chemical reaction).
New switching locomotive for HOC II
With the constantly increasing numbers of carriages and the need to be able to transfer full and empty cargo independently and flexibly, the purchase of an efficient switching locomotive had become necessary.
The locomotive was entrusted to Infraserv in Wiesbaden - an experienced repair factory for locomotives - for technical and optical processing. During the three-month work, the locomotive was completely rebuilt and given a new coat of paint.
The locomotive could be put into operation at our company at the beginning of May 2007.
Seven employees of LTG were trained as locomotive drivers by a specialist company and can now ensure round-the-clock switching operations.
LTG manages logistics for Danone Waters Deutschland (DWD)
The operation in Hockenheim has been running successfully since March 2006. The official inauguration and opening ceremony for our new major project DWD was held on 11 May, with prominent guests from business and politics.
A 'special train' with DWD employees, business partners and guests of honor pulled into our covered track installation. They all became acquainted with the almost 55,000 m² company premises with its warehouses, in-house gas stations and truck washing facility during numerous guided tours (carried out by our beverage logistics staff). Afterwards, there was a party with a warm buffet next to the core of our investment, the crate washing facility, and a toast was made to the new major project.
The official launch clearance was granted by our managing director Heinrich Doll and Wojtek Kardasciewicz, Managing Director of Danone Waters Deutschland, with the symbolic cutting of two ribbons to the accompaniment of a large round of applause by those present.
In order to establish a new logistics center on the German market for our customer Danone Waters Division, which distributes the well-known mineral water brands Evian and Volvic amongst others, we have invested around € 3 million at the Hockenheim 2 site. The extension of the track installations and the roofing over of open spaces had become necessary to ensure that we are able to cope with the volume of almost 10,000 truck loads of mineral water annually.
The newly installed, fully automated washing facility in our hall helps to optimally deal with the flow of empties. Before the deposit crates start the return journey to the Evian and Volvic source sites for refilling by train they are emptied and cleaned. The PET bottles themselves are compressed on site via the PET cycling and used as source material for new bottles.
The Evian and Volvic mineral water products are transported to Hockenheim by rail from the French Evian. From there our drinks logistics department controls their further distribution throughout Germany in a tried and trusted manner.
Factors which played a crucial role in the choice of our customer DWD were both the central location in terms of optimum goods supply and main markets as well as a good motorway and rail connection and, of course, the know-how of an experienced logistics company.
New technology in the LTG truck wash
LTG has invested 100,000 euros in new technology for the truck wash at its Hockenheim site. A new state-of-the-art brush system with a spray arch, new equipment in the area of the steam jet technology and a new lighting system go to ensure that all environmental regulations are met. Thanks to our new technology, we are now capable of cleaning your vehicle better and faster!
