The Hazchem Network Ltd, a British Logistics start-up company based in Rugby has been announced winner of the 2005 European Supply Chain Project of the Year Award at Logichem [The Chemical Logistics Conference], held in Antwerp [27th 28th April].
Logichems Supply Chain Award was presented by the panel of judges [Supply Chain experts selected from leaders of the European Chemical Logistics Industry] for The Hazchem Networks achievement in following areas of European Chemical Logistics: cost savings, improved customer service, supply chain value creation and improvements to health and safety procedures and management.
The Hazchem Network were nominated for the award by Nottinghamshire based Timesace Ltd who are a specialist fire extinguisher filling and testing facility, servicing their blue-chip customers - Tyco, Wormald Fire Systems and Siemens Building Technologies. John Foulkes, from Timesace Ltd stated Until the appearance of Hazchem Network in October 2004, it has been impossible to find pallet-based transport that offers a robust Hazardous Goods [ADR] Carriage capability for our products. Because of the size and hazardous nature of the high pressure fire extinguishers (80 litre), any quantity over 12 cylinders require drivers being ADR-trained. Timesace Ltd are now also required to supply extinguishers in Northern and Southern Ireland.
The award was presented by Hossam Farid Director for Supply Chain Solutions for Oracle [Europe, Middle East & Africa] to Ali Karim The Hazchem Networks Safety and Technical Director who attended the Logichem Conference. Ali stated on receiving the Supply Chain Award - I have been involved in Chemical Logistics for over 20 years, and this award means a great deal to our staff, our network members, our customers and shareholders as we have worked very hard to provide this unique solution for the European Chemicals Industry. I must thank the Logichem Committee for recognising our efforts and hope that the UK and European Chemical Industry use our unique service fully to give it a competitive edge in these highly competitive and regulated times.
Jim Scanlan The Hazchem Networks Managing Director commented from Rugby - This is the third Palletised Transport Network I have set-up, and it has been the most challenging to date. I must first thank our shareholders and our two critical suppliers, The National Chemical Emergency Centre at Harwell and Deltion Software of Feltham for proving how integrated IT-Systems can use on-line bandwidth methodology, to enhance Chemical Logistics in terms of cost, security, and safety to provide efficiency in operation. But I must make special mention of all our members, the transport companies that make The Hazchem Network, the success it has become.
Managing Director of Palletline PLC [who recently formed a Strategic Alliance with The Hazchem Network] Glyn Jones, commented, Our first priority is to operate safely. The safe transportation of hazardous chemicals increasingly requires specialist skills, knowledge and facilities. Our alliance with the Hazchem Network gives our members full and immediate access to hub facilities which set new standards in this sector of the market. It also provides them with skills and knowledge of hazardous chemical distribution which are market-leading as well as essential to safe operations. This level of specialisation and professionalism will, I believe, come to be regarded by operators and customers alike as the only acceptable way forward in the very near future.
The Hazchem Network is the brainchild of Managing Director Jim Scanlan and Safety and Technical Director Ali Karim. It has 40 approved and audited members [independent chemical hauliers] linked together to give a full UK and Ireland next-day collection / delivery service for packaged chemicals and gases. The Hazchem Network provides the operational efficiencies and commercial benefits of Hub-and-Spoke Pallet Networks to the UK Chemicals Industry, but ensures safety, security and environmental considerations remain the number one priority.
The Hazchem Network has been formed to respond to a growing requirement by chemical manufacturers and distributors for a technically robust method of delivering ADR packaged products; and to ensure regulatory compliance in terms of safety, security, environmental awareness in this highly regulated and tight margin logistics sector. Due to COMAH regulations and tightening of ADR, many chemical companies need to move smaller consignments more frequently, especially as the European market is moving toward more higher value / lower volume chemical products.
All the members [Hauliers] would have previously worked within competing supply chains, but by all working in-concert with the specially designed hub in Rugby, they bring their local knowledge to provide a national solution with pooled resources. The efficiency is brought by the members using their radial vehicles to collect and deliver ADR packaged freight during the day in their allocated regions. They consolidate [with key segregation rules] their customers products and night-trunk to the hub in Rugby, where the material is subject to careful sortation [based on Kemmler Classification], and then reloaded back to their allocated regions for onward customer delivery.
To become a member of The Hazchem Network all potential haulier-members have had to undergo an onsite Technical audit by the Safety and Technical Director and Chartered Chemist Ali Karim. The Hazchem Network will accept Kemmler classes 2 [compressed gases], 3 [flammable liquids], 4 [flammable & reactive solids], 5.1 [oxidising agents], 5.2 [selected organic peroxides], 6.1 [toxic], 8 [corrosive], & 9 [environmentally hazardous] but excludes groups 7 [radioactive], 1 [explosive] and 6.2 [biologically infectious materials]. Ali Karim also provides the members with specialist training on spillage control and regulatory advice in-conjunction with their own DGSAs.
The centre of operations is a specially modified 56,000 sq ft hub in the centre of the UK [near Rugby], which can segregate ADR packaged products into specific classes and groups thus providing for a robust method for stowage and transhipment. A specially designed operational plan for all vehicles being processed within the hub has been devised and thoroughly tested to ensure complete safety of the overnight operation. Shift controllers work with the members tracking and tracing consignments and ensure PODs are collated and available for rapid invoicing.
The Hazchem Network has worked with the National Chemical Emergency Centre at Harwell and Deltion Software to integrate a bespoke UN Number database, Tremcard Software and Chemdata to provide online and instant chemical data for all pallets travelling within the system integrating the Kemmler Class Groups within ADR. A substantial six-figure sum has been invested in equipping the hub with safety devices such as Angus Hi-Combat foam cannons, bunding, security and control systems [digital cameras], breathing apparatus and chemical protection suits, spillage kits, safety showers and specialist absorbents. Extensive training and risk assesments have been carried out with the input of external authorities and all staff drilled prior to start-up.
All Hazchem Network members have been thoroughly audited to ensure that they meet the highest quality standards in operation giving chemical customers the confidence to use the network, commented Jim Scanlan managing director of The Hazchem Network. Since going live we have successfully moved and tracked ADR pallets and ensured that tremcards and [DGN] delivery notes have travelled safely with the goods and the track and trace system ensures POD verification and return.
The Hazchem Network is a new solution to the problem of delivering ADR consignments next day across the UK safely and economically. It will become especially useful for European Chemical Companies looking for more efficient and safer methods of delivering and collecting consignments into and out of the UK. The Hazchem Network will reduce the amount of chemical freight using the UK road network during the day [using the less congested night-shift for trunking], and alleviate some of the issues brought about by the rising cost of fuel, the EU working time directive and the current shortage of ADR drivers.
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