Solvay awards Panalpina with additional air freight business

Panalpina, one of the world’s leading providers of transport and logistics services, has been awarded significant further business from its customer Solvay Chemicals. The new air freight services will be in addition to the 13 000 TEU ocean freight per year that Panalpina already transports for Solvay. Solvay operates in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics and has 400 units in over 50 countries.

The newly signed contract will cover Solvay’s air freight shipments from Europe to various destinations including the USA, Asia and CIS countries. The total freight that Panalpina will move by air for Solvay is expected to be 2 000 tons over the next two years, after which it may be increased to 2 500 tons annually. The freight Panalpina will handle for Solvay by air will primarily be high-value pharmaceutical and healthcare products, including product samples and chemicals.

Panalpina and Solvay have been working together for over ten years. This partnership was further strengthened in late 2006, when Panalpina was appointed preferred partner for the ocean freight and logistics requirements of Solvay’s Chemicals Division.

Alain Baeyens, Lead Buyer Global Procurement at Solvay International, states, "The positive and proactive way that Panalpina approaches business was a major deciding factor in granting the award for this air freight traffic. We appreciate Panalpina’s customer- and solution-minded approach in all service aspects."

Peter Claessens, Panalpina’s Head of Healthcare Industry Vertical, says, “This new contract will forge new relationships with other Solvay divisions and reconfirm the existing and sustainable partnership between Solvay and Panalpina. This strengthened partnership will allow Solvay to rationalize its air freight to reduce costs, have a secure service and simplify as well as optimize their information flows.”

The Panalpina Group
The Panalpina Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments and associated supply chain management solutions. Thanks to its in-depth industry know-how and state-of-the-art IT systems, Panalpina provides globally integrated door-to-door forwarding solutions tailored to its customers’ individual needs. The Panalpina Group operates a close-knit network with some 500 branches in 90 countries. In a further 60 countries, it cooperates closely with selected partner companies. Panalpina employs more than 14,000 people worldwide.

The Solvay Group
Solvay is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs some 29 000 people in 50 countries. In 2006, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.4 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels. www.solvaychemicals.com