This week's round up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.
The introduction to HLPFI's Friday Flyer this week is a shameless advertisement for our new product - the Marketplace Directory - which will be launched in the March/April 2015 edition of the magazine.
The Marketplace aims to assist companies that supply equipment and support services to the heavy lift and project logistics business. It will act as a focal point for our readers to find the equipment they need to buy or rent, or the services they require to help undertake safe and economical project cargo movements.
If you would like to grab the attention of HLPFI's global readership of project cargo professionals, who use the magazine as a reference manual for contacts, news and information about project cargo transport and logistics, reserve an entry in our new Marketplace today.
If this sounds like something your company would be interested in, or you have any queries about the new part of the magazine, please contact evie@heavyliftpfi.com and she will be very happy to ensure that you receive the information you require.
As Evie says: "Doing business without advertising is like winking at someone in the dark: You know what you are doing, but no-one else does."
In business
K+N sees continuous improvements
Kuehne + Nagel posted a 1.9 percent increase in net turnover compared with 2013, while its gross profit rose by 0.5 percent to CHF6.28bn (USD6.43bn).
2014 'as expected' for Panalpina
Panalpina's net forwarding revenue in 2014 remained stable at CHF6.7bn (USD6.86bn), while gross profit increased by 2 percent year-on-year.
Profits down at Port of Rotterdam
While revenue at the Port of Rotterdam Authority grew by 3.1 percent year-on-year in 2014, profits fell by 49 percent due to higher interest charges and depreciation.
Manitowoc appoints Argentinian dealer
Manitowoc Cranes has signed a distribution and service contract with Buenos Aires based construction equipment dealer Covema SACIF.
Cargo Airship Caucus launched in the USA
A Cargo Airship Caucus has been created in the US House of Representatives to encourage the development of these aircraft for military and civilian use.
Capacity developments
Terex warns of counterfeit cranes
Terex Cranes has warned that counterfeit versions of its crawler crane models are being manufactured in South Korea.
Liebherr upgrades LR 1750 crawler
Liebherr has modified its LR 1750 crawler crane by strengthening the main boom and adjusting the derrick system, so that an upgraded 750-tonne capacity LR 1750/2 model is now available.
The Asian Hercules III, which was recently delivered to Asian Lift, has completed her first lifting job.
Cargolux has taken delivery of its 12th Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft, which becomes the 30th 747 freighter the airline has purchased from Boeing since 1979.
Shipment of the week
Ruslan International has transported a 70-tonne oil refinery stripping tower from Bakersfield, California to Erbil in Iraq.
Network and association developments
The Cargo Equipment Experts (CEE) network gained Ideal Movers as a new representative in India.
The Project Cargo Network (PCN) welcomed C Logistics Solutions as a new member in the Dominican Republic.
Arbour Shipping in the UK and Tera Projects & Shipping in Malaysia joined the CLC Projects network.
The XLProjects (XLP) network added four new members to its roster: Logistica Suardiaz in Spain; Topfor Logistics International in China; Taiwan's Air International Freight; and MS Global Freight Solution in Malaysia.
LSC Levant Forwarding Maritime joined the Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN) as a new Turkish representative.
The Project Partners network added PP Logistics to its membership list, representing both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Myanmar's Diamond Multimodal Express joined the Pacific Power Logistics (PPL) network.
All about Evie
Intrigued by the future use of drones in the freight industry, Evie was interested to read of the potential for cargo drones - or "flying donkeys" as one Kenyan farmer put it - to get around the need for infrastructural change on the African continent.
One executive believes that drones could account for 10 to 15 percent of Africa's transport sector in the next decade. Evie is not a cynic, but she won't be holding her breath.
Evie extends congratulations to Tuscor Lloyds this week, as its Spanish offices celebrated their tenth anniversary in the country.
A big lover of paella, Evie was also excited to find out that the Project Partners network will be holding its 8th annual conference in Barcelona, Spain from October 8-11, 2015.
