Oldenburger|Fritom

CEO Foreword

Dear reader,

In early 2020 there were fears of a decline in demand for logistics real estate due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Last year, however, the take-up of logistics real estate in the Netherlands was more than 2.6 million square meters. This is the outcome of a study by Buck Consultants International among twenty logistics real estate developers and investors. They represent 80 to 90 percent of the Dutch logistics real estate market.

Especially companies active in e-commerce, food and pharma require more logistics space. This development has not gone unnoticed within Oldenburger|Fritom. Customers active in these sectors made greater use of our logistic services in the past year. Not only because of our available space, but also because of our focus on quality. Therefore, we decided to obtain the ISO 13485:2016 certificate (Medical Devices). You can read all about it in this newsletter.

Although you might expect a theme such as sustainable logistics to be considered less important now, reality proves otherwise. Not least in education. In this newsletter more about the online guest lecture on BREEAM that our colleague Frans Andeweg gave for NHL Stenden University.

This time our recurring feature “The world around us” is about recent developments in the Dutch transport market. Almost every subsector experienced a decrease in turnover last year. The sole exception was the postal and courier services subsector, due to the enormous growth in the number of online purchases. Expectations for the transport market for 2021 are moderately positive, although (great) restraint is exercised.

Optimal supply chain medical devices
Shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak Oldenburger|Fritom was approached for various logistic solutions in the field of medical devices. This demand remains high so far. At the same time, increasingly strict requirements are imposed on the way these products are distributed. That is why Oldenburger|Fritom has obtained the ISO 13485:2016 certificate. Our certificate shows that we ensure the safety and quality of medical devices throughout the supply chain.

Face masks and COVID-19 test kits
In spring 2020 the air freight sector was faced with major capacity shortages due to the cancellation of passenger flights. During that period a customer approached us for air freight shipments of face masks from China. As an IATA member with AEO status and a branch at Schiphol, Oldenburger|Fritom was hardly affected by the aforementioned capacity issues. As a result, we managed to deliver all face masks in time.

In addition to transportation, we were and are also frequently approached for our warehousing solutions for medical devices. A customer active in the field of analytical instruments asked us for the storage, handling and distribution of COVID-19 test kits. We were able to respond flexibly to this request thanks to our continuous focus on capacity.

Ensuring safety and quality
ISO 13485 has been established to ensure the safety and quality of medical devices in the supply chain. Regardless of whether it concerns manufacturers, suppliers or logistics service providers like us. Although it is not (yet) mandatory for us to be certified, ISO 13485 seamlessly fits into our QHSE management system.

In the case of ISO 13485 certification, the EU Medical Device Regulation requires the presence of a quality management system. The main thrust is continuous improvement and process control. This is also in line with Oldenburger|Fritom's business operations. In addition, we have an advanced IT system for optimal traceability of products entrusted to us.

Intensive audit period
The ISO 13485:2016 certificate is issued by an independent and expert certification body. As with our certifications in previous years, we also called on the expertise of Bureau Veritas this time. At the beginning of September one of their auditors conducted an assessment of our documents. This was followed by an intensive audit period.

The risk-based approach was a key element of this audit. We laid down control measures based on our process risk analyses and we were certified last December. Our ISO 13485:2016 certificate is valid for three years. After this period, we will be audited again to be able to renew the certificate.

Online guest lecture on BREEAM
Themes such as sustainable logistics and the circular economy have continued to be important despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This also goes for education. At NHL Stenden University, for example, sustainability of supply chains is intertwined in each period of the Logistics Management course. This university of applied sciences works together with various companies where their students are introduced to sustainable logistics in practice. In this way, our colleague Frans Andeweg gave an online guest lecture on BREEAM earlier this year.

Sustainable cooperation
Oldenburger|Fritom has been working with NHL Stenden for a long time. Among other things, we offer students the opportunity to do an internship in our company. This regularly results in an employment contract as soon as the student has completed the course. We also organize company visits and provide guest lectures. In addition, Oldenburger|Fritom is a member of the Economics & Logistics Advisory Board of NHL Stenden. This Advisory Board aims to optimize the quality of the educational offering by exchanging knowledge.

Showcase of BREEAM distribution centers
BREEAM is known as the world's leading sustainability assessment method for buildings. This also applies to logistics buildings. That is why, in 2018, Oldenburger|Fritom has built a distribution center according to the highest BREEAM rating, Outstanding. Furthermore, we have also renovated our existing distribution center according to BREEAM Excellent.

For NHL Stenden our BREEAM distribution centers are showcases of the construction of sustainable logistics buildings. Oldenburger|Fritom offers students insight into how the processes of sustainable new construction and renovation work. They also learn what circular construction entails.

Coronavirus-proof quest lecture
Both NHL Stenden and Oldenburger|Fritom attach great value to the mutual cooperation. That is why, after the coronavirus outbreak, alternative methods of cooperation were sought. With regard to giving guest lectures a solution was found in Microsoft Teams. Via this communication tool our colleague Frans Andeweg gave a guest lecture to 32 students and teachers on 7 January 2021. During this coronavirus-proof guest lecture he explained why sustainable construction is so important within the logistics sector. Now and in the future.

The world around us
Dutch transport market 2020/2021

Almost every subsector of the Dutch transport market experienced a decrease in turnover in 2020. This is indicated by the figures of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The carriage of passengers and freight by air were particularly hard hit by the coronavirus crisis. The postal and courier services subsector, on the other hand, realized a turnover growth. This is due to the enormous increase in online shopping.

The contraction in the road transport subsector was limited last year. According to the Dutch bank ING, this subsector showed a volume decline of 3 percent. The predication of ING for 2021 is a moderate growth of approximately 1.5 percent. Although it is expected that all subsectors will recover slowly this year, most economists exercise (great) restraint.

Peter Hein van Mulligen, chief economist at CBS, even expects that the coronavirus crisis will have a major negative impact on the transport market. He said this in an interview at the end of last year. According to Van Mulligen, the world economy will suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic in the near future. As the transport sector is particularly sensitive to economic fluctuations, he expects the consequences to be noticeable.

Important trading partner
Dutch exports to the UK declined last year due to the prospect of the Brexit trade deal and COVID-19. Goods from European countries became more expensive for customers in the UK due to the low value of the British pound. Nevertheless, the Netherlands has remained the second largest supplier of goods to the UK in the EU. Germany is the largest exporter.

From January to September 2020 the Dutch exports to the UK amounted to more than 28 billion euros (source: Statistics Netherlands (CBS)). In 2015, before the Brexit referendum, this figure was almost 10 percent higher in the same period. Last year, however, the Dutch export contraction was smaller than the EU average of 17 percent. German exports to the UK fell by more than 25 percent to 42 billion euros.

Gateway to Europe and vice versa
Re-exports and goods in transit are also part of the Dutch export figure above, in addition to domestically produced goods. The Netherlands is known as the gateway to the rest of Europe in this regard. The Netherlands also fulfills this role vice versa for the UK now that the rules of the new EU-UK partnership apply. For example, Oldenburger|Fritom has been consolidating the goods of various European suppliers for an English customer since the beginning of this year. We subsequently transport these goods together with goods from our own stock in one truck to the UK. This reduces the chance of delays and this also reduces transport costs.

Our support in customs documentations
Since the rules of the new EU-UK partnership came into effect, we mainly offer our customers support in the field of customs documentation. For this Oldenburger|Fritom makes use of, among other things, Portbase. Through this system we also manage the documentation for the air freight and sea freight we handle. Furthermore, we have frequently advised customers about the requirements in relation to exports from the EU to the UK. An additional text on the invoices of most shipments was sufficient so far.

Active central coordination
Oldenburger|Fritom also offers support where import duties are concerned. These may apply to goods from outside the EU. We are allowed to draw up the Certificate of Origin (CO). Next to that, our customers expressed their appreciation for the active central coordination that we undertake. We maintain communication with all the parties in the supply chain. This allows us to be very flexible and to switch quickly in case of irregularities.

Growing demand for logistics space