Sun Chemical Europe signs lead logistics agreement with Kuehne + Nagel

Kuehne + Nagel has been awarded
a five-year contract to integrate and manage the transport network for
Sun Chemical Europe. Under the agreement, flow and carrier
management for over 50 Sun Chemical sites and shipping points in 18
countries will be centralised at Kuehne + Nagel’s Lead Logistics
Control Centre in Luxembourg.

Part of the Sun Chemical Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of
printing inks and pigments for the inks, plastics, cosmetics and coatings
industries, Sun Chemical Europe operates a complex transport network
encompassing domestic distribution to end-users, as well as continent-wide
traffic from mother plants to local processing factories.
Matthias Dollak, Sun Chemical Europe’s supply chain director, said:
“Kuehne + Nagel’s re-engineering, systems and transport know-how will
significantly streamline and standardise our European transport management process. It will provide high visibility of our logistic operations,
allowing us to increase our ability to react to fluctuations from production
through to delivery, improve lead times and further enhance our customer
service levels.”
John Gowlett, Sun Chemical Europe, vice-president, operations, added:
“We were looking for possibilities to leverage logistics across our network.
Our entire industry is going through a transformation, and Sun Chemical
took this important step to develop increasingly efficient non-core activities through outsourcing with a carefully selected partner.”
After a diligent assessment and planning phase, Kuehne + Nagel’s lead logistics team is currently integrating Sun Chemical’s approximately 150
subcontracted carriers across Europe into its Luxembourg-based transport
and workflow management system. In addition to centralised transport
planning and execution through selection and management of best-in-class local carriers, Kuehne + Nagel is also introducing agreed key performance
indicators in order to standardise reporting, monitor supplier performance
and facilitate the continuous improvement of Sun Chemical’s network
processes.
Axel Brunnée, Senior Vice President Lead Logistics Solutions at Kuehne + Nagel, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded such a significant contract from Sun Chemical Europe, which yet again sees a major industry player recognising the advantages of our lead logistics concept, benefiting from operational excellence and a high degree of network flexibility.”