Transport logistic China 2008-Green logistics is an export success

More and more companies are discovering the environment. A ‘green’ image is seen as a competitive advantage and a contribution to society, but efficient use of resources also helps save costs. The ongoing climate debate is boosting exports of environmental technology. At transport logistic China 2008 the international logistics and transportation sector is presenting its modern logistics solutions on the Chinese market.

From 17 to 19 June 2008 sector experts from all over the world will be meeting up in Shanghai at transport logistic China, the third International Exhibition for Logistics, Telematics and Transportation. Here, the theme of environmental protection is playing an ever more important role: “Environmentally compatible logistics is becoming a factor in international competition and a driver for collaboration in networks. This is an important argument in a globalized economy,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Raimund Klinkner, Board Chairman of Bundesvereinigung Logistik, Germany´s largest logistics organization.

As such the logistics sector is falling in line with a trend that has now become established in recent years in Germany, including among smaller and medium-sized companies. In a country-wide survey conducted by consultants Weissmann among 500 SMEs, almost 90 percent of the companies surveyed said that environmental protection is a firm goal in their companies, and enjoyed high priority. A good two-thirds of the surveyed entrepreneurs believe that environmentally friendly products and processes will help them towards greater market success in future.

Driven by the increasing cost pressure due to rising energy prices, many logistics and transportation businesses today are turning instead to greater efficiency in their use of energy and resources. Many haulage companies, for example, are switching to vehicles with engines that use less fuel, training their drivers in more fuel-efficient styles of driving and avoiding any empty runs. Experts expect that as soon as hybrid technology or lighter vehicles become market-ready, these technological innovations, too, will be quickly adopted.

Already companies are using software to support them in planning intelligent logistics chains. This enables more efficient utilization of available capacity in transport and the setting up of central hubs. Many politicians are striving to create an integrated transport system which links the individual carriers better with each other. By using modern telematics technology further capacity could be opened up in the railways.

For German-Chinese cooperation environmental protection is one of the core themes. In 2006 German Environmental Minister Sigmar Gabriel and the Chinese Minister of the state environmental protection agency Zhou Shengxian agreed a ‘strategic environmental dialogue’. And in 2007 German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and the Chinese Minister of Research Dr Wan Gang signed two agreements on cooperation in transport and construction. The Federal Republic of Germany is supporting China in its efforts to develop a more efficient and environmentally friendly transport system. The focus is primarily on performance in rail transport.

A prerequisite for the use of modern transport systems and innovative technology is properly trained employees. For a number of years there have been cooperations between universities in Germany and China. For example, two years ago the Institut für Technologie und Management at the Technical University of Berlin, under the leadership of the Logistics Division, started to get involved in training Chinese managers. Under this project, Chinese specialists and managers from government organizations are now being trained. The course content includes both logistics expertise and above all an understanding of the overall context in international value-added chains.