(ADVERTORIAL)
Euroveen to use innovative and sustainable 4FOLD foldable container
Countless lorry loads fan out across Europe from the Netherlands carrying cargo that could also be transported in containers. Container transport is a far greener option, but unfortunately, modal shift is often too expensive as there are little or no return loads. Transporters have to calculate these associated costs into the total price so that transport remains profitable. Using a steel 4FOLD foldable container reduces the costs of returning the empty container to such an extent that operating multimodal containers actually becomes cheaper than using trucks.
Pilot
With an innovative consortium of stakeholders - short sea shipping company MacAndrews, Rotterdam container lease firm CARU, the developers behind the 4FOLD foldable container -Holland Container Innovations -and the network orchestrator CAROZ, BVB is setting up a sustai- nable route. TU Delft will contribute its expertise to the pilot. A pilot project will be run for several months, starting with four foldable sea containers, and subsequently expanding to 32 containers. On the return journey, the empty containers are fol- ded and stacked and so occupy 75% less space than conventional containers. In unfolded state, the container complies with the same standards as regular containers, which is guaranteed through ISO certification. The huge advantage of the 4Fold foldable container is that the cur- rently used logistic system does not have to be adapted. As the container is fully ISO certified, and because a bundle of four containers has the equivalent dimensions as one standard 40ft HC container, no separate systems or services are required for the transport flow.
In this pilot project, a transport chain will run from the Venlo region to Valencia and Bilbao in Spain. Depending on the season, the imbalance in this transport flow to Spain varies between 37% and 63%. The substrates transported from Venlo are ideally suited for container shipment. The main reason why substrate is still currently transported by road is the cost factor, since the average costs of road transport are cheaper than the multimodal option. However, if the emp- ty containers can be transported as a bundle of four, considerable reductions can be achieved in CO2 emissions, time and cost. The greatest savings offered by a foldable container however, both in terms of economics and the environ- ment, can be found in the hinterland transport where trucks, trains, inland waterways and transshipment can all be used more efficiently. By being able to load empty containers faster - a bundle of four in one movement- a greater number of containers can be loaded, or more ships handled, in the same space of time. Repositioning empty containers is a far more efficient process if a bundle of four can all be
temporarily stored at a depot or moved at the same time. Loading the stacked containers onto a trailer, ship or train is also faster, so that a higher number of containers can be handled which increases a terminal’s productivity. The containers can be folded in the hinterland, at a non-critical moment of their journey. This means that a bundle of four folded containers can be presented at the terminal allowing barges or ships to be loaded or unloaded 15% faster, thereby reducing quay time. If one third of the transshipped containers are empty, this leads to a 15% saving. Once the cost of repositioning empty containers is lowered, multimodal trans- port will immediately become a more attractive proposition. Using foldable containers means that the full loads transported by road to Spain each week can now shift to using waterways. Compared with the present transport mode, 10- 20% can be saved on transport costs with a Co2 emission reduction of 30-40% depending on the actual route.
Exemplary role
The pilot project kicked off with four containers in January. In the coming months more contai- ners will be built and utilised. At the end of the project, the stakeholders will meet to evaluate its effectiveness. BVB Substrates will then have the opportunity of running a pilot on other routes (to Australia, Chili, Ireland), whereby the hinterland transport and handling especially will play an important role. Foldable containers will ultimately contribute to strengthening the com- petitive position of inland waterway transport, rail transport and ports over the world, generating a higher market share and reducing use of space and the burden on the environment. Through its participation and by stimulating this project, BVB Substrates is demonstrating its commitment to innovation and sustainability. As the transport is ultimately cheaper and with a minimal time loss, this alternative will be very attractive for retailers in general. BVB Substrates is therefore fulfilling an exemplary role for others.
Foldable containers have an immense roll-out potential. In the first instance, the full loads cur- rently being driven to Spain by Euroveen over the road network each week – many hundreds annually- can be transported by water. The unique collaboration of the consortium in this project will enable the foldable container to be tested at intermodal level, while the project will also serve as an example of a successful modal shift. This solution can be widely applied on other routes and by other companies, giving it massive potential. The project could in fact signal a breakthrough in achieving greater sus- tainability across the sector. . ◗
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