Partnership with transport and logistics Groep H. Essers results in 25 new jobs
Brussels-Genk, 8 December 2009 - Ansell Healthcare a global leader in barrier protective solutions for industrial, medical and consumer applications, will be opening a new European distribution centre for the Professional Healthcare division (surgical and examination gloves for healthcare workers) at Groep H.Essers in Genk (Belgium). Exactly one year after the opening of their European distribution centre for the Occupational Healthcare division (industrial gloves) in Aalst, Ansell Healthcare confirms its choice for Belgium as European hub for all its logistics activities. The new logistics centre in Genk is the result of a close cooperation between Ansell Healthcare and Group H. Essers. On the 1st of January 2010, the centre will be fully operational and create 25 new jobs.
Centralisation of logistics activities
By centralising its logistics activities in Genk, Ansell's Professional Healthcare division is able to increase its ability to compete and optimise and streamline its logistics activities. Centralising warehousing and fulfilment activities in the new EDC also goes hand in hand with the optimisation of transport. The number of carriers employed by the Professional Healthcare division in the EMEA-region is reduced from 17 to 5. One of these is Groep H.Essers, which will be handling transport in France and Germany. Other transport partners are Ziegler, UPS, Transuniverse Cargo and Trans-o-Flex.
Cooperation between Ansell and Essers creates 25 new jobs
"The company increased its turnover in volume by 64% between 2003 and 2009. This growth is partly due to the launch of various innovative solutions such as the highly successful Gammex® and Encore® surgical gloves and the Micro-Touch® examination glove range which are recognised as the absolute market reference", said Werner Heintz, Senior Vice President and Regional Director of Ansell EMEA. By investing in a new distribution centre (with a total surface area of 10,800 m²), Ansell has not only increased its storage capacity for these successful products, but the company has also assured the continued efficiency of the service it provides to its customers.
The European Distribution centre comprises a close cooperation between Ansell Healthcare and Groep H. Essers, a leading company and Belgian market leader in the area of multimodal transport and logistics. "After research and evaluation of various alternatives in Europe, we decided to go into business with Groep H.Essers", said Werner Heintz, Senior Vice President and Regional Director of Ansell EMEA.
"The customer-oriented and problem-solving approach, the technical and technological expertise and the will to invest in a long-term collaborative effort make the Essers Group by far the best candidate. Moreover, it immediately clicked between the professionals of the Ansell and Essers teams." The location in the centre of the European "logistics banana" and the fact that the Genk region boasts well-educated and motivated workers were additional arguments for choosing Genk as logistics hub for the EMEA-activities of Ansell Professional Healthcare.
In addition to classic warehouse-activities, such as unloading, 'order picking' and loading trucks, the H. Essers Group also presents added value in the form of activities such as the repackaging or packaging of products. Groep H.Essers will also be responsible for the distribution to France and Germany via road transport. "We are extremely pleased with the collaboration with Ansell Professional Healthcare. Groep H.Essers will recruit 25 new employees and invest € 3 million in new infrastructure (warehouses, fork-lifts, order pickers, warehouse management system, ...)", says Ivo Marechal, CEO of Group H. Essers.
About Ansell
Ansell Limited is a global leader in barrier protective products. With operations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, Ansell employs more than 11,000 people worldwide and holds leading positions in the natural latex and synthetic polymer glove and condom markets. Ansell operates in three main business segments: Occupational Healthcare, supplying hand protection to the industrial market; Professional Healthcare, supplying surgical and examination gloves to healthcare professionals; and Consumer Healthcare, supplying condoms and consumer hand protection. Information on Ansell and its products can be found at http://www.ansell.eu.
About Groep H.Essers
The family owned Groep H.Essers, established in 1928 in Belgium, provides customers with personalized and integrated transport and logistics solutions through Europe, as well by road as by rail. A full range of both inbound and outbound activities are offered, based on self developed IT systems. The great strength of the company is to be found in its flexibility, the use of own means and the development of advanced systems and concepts. The family character of the company ensures short decision processes and a proactive approach to the varying market situations and the evolving needs of the customer. An in-house IT/engineering department develops, implements and manages custom-made IT-systems, which include all aspects of the supply chain, from production to invoicing. The key is the fact that existing systems and concepts of the customer can easily be integrated. With more than 700.000m² warehouses, 1.050 trucks and 2500 employees, spread over 26 branches in 13 European countries, Groep H.Essers has grown into a leading enterprise in the logistical sector.
For more information, please contact:
Wouter Piepers,
Director Communications, Ansell Healthcare,
Tel: + 32(0)2 528 75 68, Mob. +32 (0) 478 33 56 32
e-mail: wpiepers@eu.ansell.com
Olivier Trop
Press relations, Duval Guillaume I PR
Mob. +32 (0) 486 510 419
e-mail: olivier.trop@duvalguillaume.com
Ivo Marechal
CEO, Groep H.Essers
Tel: +32 (0)89 32 32 01, Mob.: +32 (0)495 346 495
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