Schenker Australia and Siemens have extended their partnership, which will see Schenker taking on all Siemens Australia and New Zealand import and export activities.
Schenker has been providing logistical services for Siemens medical products and for large projects since the last 90s, and under the new contract its role will now encompass Siemens’ freight forwarding operations for import and export activities across Australia and New Zealand, including transport and distribution services throughout both countries.
Siemens chief financial officer Jeff Connolly said of the tenders received, Schenker was best placed to deliver a consolidated, time- and cost-effective international and domestic service.
“DB Schenker provides the optimal solution for Siemens freight services, with the ability to deliver some very challenging cargo, from an extremely large power-generation turbine, to delicate medical devices within very tight timeframes and cost effectively,” Mr Connolly said.
“Priority medical products have always been deliverable from Europe within just two days, but now this exceptional turnaround rate can be provided to customers for all priority products across Siemens three sectors – industry, energy and healthcare.”
He added DB Schenker also provided its customers with complete visibility throughout freight operations, with ready access to the online track-and-trace system and streamlined order and invoicing processes.
Schenker Australia CEO Ron Koehler said the new contract was the result of significant improvements in its supply chain over the last two years and a responsive approach to reducing the environmental impact if its freight services.
“We are proud to have been awarded the Siemens contract for import and export services across Australia and New Zealand, and will transfer solutions originally developed to meet the demands in the healthcare business, to strengthen and develop Siemens’ supply chain in other sectors,” Mr Koehler said.
He said in a bid to cut carbon emissions stemming from freight services, the company optimised the combination of transport modes and cut the use of paper in freight documentation and invoicing.
The two companies are developing an electronic interface, which will enable timely receipt and issuing of invoicing, with all related documents to be processed electronically.