F E A T U R E ULDs & COLD CHAINREVIEW New partnerships propel OnAsset forward L
ess than a month after OnAsset and Envirotainer inked a deal to integrate OnAsset’s FlightSafe data services into Envirotainer’s RKN e1 and RAP e2 temperature-controlled airfreight
containers, leaders from both organisations are speaking out about the partnership. In an exclusive interview with ACW, Envirotainer COO Gabriel Andersson and OnAsset CEO Adam Crossno laud the agreement as a major advance- ment in the cool-chain logistics sector. Andersson, for one, calls the amalgamation of his company’s ULD platform with OnAsset’s machine-to-machine technology a “cutting-edge development in ULDs”. He projects that the data capabilities of ULDs will become even more critical in future to protect product integrity and secure trade lanes. “As the new type of ULD [comes to] market,” Andersson says, “massive amounts of data, such as temperature, shock, and
humidity, will be gathered, increasing the situa- tional awareness of the shipper and improving both tactical and strategic decision-making.” He believes such advancements will particularly benefit Envirotainer’s core phar- maceutical segment. “Counterfeit and theft are an increasing area of concern for all shippers of high-yield cargo, including phar- maceuticals, and [through] our joint venture with OnAsset, we have secured expertise and technology to address this particular area on a global scale,” Andersson says. Envirotainer isn’t the only company OnAsset is collaborating with, however. Crossno reveals that on 26 February, OnAsset launched a service with AT&T to help carriers and their customers track high-value freight. The new service, which merges OnAsset’s cloud-based Vision platform with AT&T’s nearly 200-nation-strong network, is a significant boon to asset-tracking solutions
Chep plans for ambitious growth
FOLLOWING a between
merger Unitpool,
Auckland’s JMI Aerospace and Dreissan Services in Seattle, Chep Aerospace started operating last year. In just a short amount of time, the ULD provider has managed to sign contracts with some major industry players. These include Air Canada, Qatar Airways, separate renewals with United and Continental, and an MRO contract with American Airlines.
BERTSCH
“It’s interesting because we’re not big but we’re truly global with 27 locations around the world,” says Ludwig Bertsch, president of Chep Aerospace. “The integration of our IT system – a well-developed and advanced system – and harmonisation of finances took some time, as did training, rebranding and such. There was a lot of administrative work, but now it’s all done.” Over the first six months of 2013, the company’s focus will be directed towards absorbing growth and full integration. “We’ve opened four stations in the US
and moved into bigger stations there. We need to get the operations stabilised — that will be our motto there,” he says.
We are not big but we are truly global
for them.
“This kind of growth is always a challenge for the administration and corporate culture, but we have all the basics in place: IT, HR, communications, and training,” he continues.
In addition to its usual business, Chep has launched a business of short-term leasing for periods including Christmas or for a particular charter flight. “We are looking to
add additional
equipment to this business, as well as specialist equipment e.g. horse boxes. It’s not a huge market but it’s still very interesting,” concludes Bertsch.
Its growth ambitions are substantial with Bertsch claiming the company is looking to increase by about 50 to 60 percent per year over the course of the next four years. Taking on Air Canada, as it did just before Christmas, and therefore, just before the passenger and cargo peaks, proved far from easy. However, Chep currently has three major tenders in place and Bertsch and the team are working on the ability to manage the next customer, and build in the preparation
that cross borders, Crossno says. ULDs certainly fit into this category, he main-
tains. “What’s unique about air cargo — and very different from ground-based, fleet man- agement solutions — is that there are more than 500 worldwide destinations where a ULD can land,” Crossno says. After all, he points out, it’s impossible to select wireless carriers’ services by region and enable customers to ship prod- ucts anywhere. The network must be available as soon as the plane lands. “That’s the value that AT&T provides customers shipping airfreight — worry-free connectivity across the globe,” Crossno says. “Because of the breadth of AT&T’s network, our customers can focus on their core business, rather than connecting to it.” Minimising kinks in the supply chain and
leveraging technologies are key benefits of OnAsset’s relationships with both Enviro- tainer and AT&T, Crossno tells ACW “What’s
important to take away from our partnership with Envirotainer’s industry-leading ULD containers and AT&T’s global network is that the mobile-first mindset not only improves efficiencies in air cargo, it’s also in-demand,” Crossno concludes.
CROSSNO
Teft are an increasing concern
ACW 18 MARCH 2013
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