A full 20% of employed Belgians live less than 15 kilometers from their workplaces, so commuting by bicycle obviously has enormous potential.
Ziegler is fully aware of this opportunity and the inherent benefits that come with it: improved physical fitness of employees, reduced atmospheric pollution, and less time wasted in traffic jams for them are all benefits that electric bikes have to offer.
With those advantages in mind, Ziegler has made it easier for employees to start using this means of transport by offering its employees in Belgium an advantageous bicycle leasing programme that started in January 2021. Ziegler’s staff can choose the electric bike of their dreams from among many models available from authorised dealers, and benefit from a package including annual maintenance, insurance and the possibility of buying the bicycle at the end of the lease.
Since the launch of the programme, the number of Ziegler employees who have taken the plunge to ride their e-bikes to work has increased. The programme continues to attract more and more participants who wish to adopt a more economical mode of transport, have a desire to stay fit, and who support further development of appropropriate infrastructure to facilitate such travel more widely – such as bike paths.
In addition to turning their daily commutes into real workouts sessions, these Ziegler employees are contributing to the increasingly green reputation of Ziegler and are perfect ambassadors for the company’s sustainable development programme “Ziegler. Now even Greener”.
We’re pleased to announce that Ziegler Nederland BV passed our yearly audit with flying colours!
Conducted by SFA Customs Consultancy on the 3rd of February 2022, the auditors were focused on monitoring and framework of our AEO certificate and all customs licenses that are involved in that process. There were 472 customs entries from 2021 randomly selected by the auditors for inspection on 16 critical points. The selection included import and export entries, as well as T2L and fiscal declarations. The resulting audit report shows that our team has scored an absolute zero on deviations or mistakes in the entries.
In addition, on the 16th of February, the Dutch Customs authorities conducted their annual inspection of our bonded warehouse license at the Rotterdam office. The customs officers concluded that our PLDA bonded warehouse management system has 98,4% accuracy with the records of the Dutch Customs on all inbound and outbound entries. The physical presence of inspected entries in the warehouse corresponded to the correct quantities and the goods were found in the locations that our systems indicated they would. This is considered to be among the highest inspection scores for all entrepot licenses issued and inspected in Rotterdam this year!
We congratulate our Customs Team and our colleagues from the freight departments for this achievement and their contribution to the continued high quality of our services.
Transport to France
Many Dutch companies working in the French market find it difficult to find a good and reliable transport and logistics partner. Not many companies have the knowledge, experience, and a strong presence in the French market that is crucial to providing efficient and comprehensive logistics solutions.
Has your own experience been less than ideal?
If so, did you know that Ziegler Group specializes in transporting goods to and from France? From packages to pallets, and from partial loads to full truck loads, we oversee the cargo entrusted to us at every stage of transport and will guarantee that your goods will reach their destination safely and on time.
We have our own network and 60 branches across the whole of France, enabling us to cope with any size and volume that you require to transport.
And using our online platform, you can view, track and access POD’s (proof of delivery) 24/7!
So if you’re in need of a reliable and trusted carrier who will deliver your goods to and from France, get a free quote now. The Ziegler Group will manage all your logistics challenges so you can focus on your core business.
Our advantages:
- Daily departure for groupage export & import
- Daily line haul from Rotterdam to Paris, Clermont-Ferrand, St Etienne, Montmarault and Roncq and vice versa
- 60 own offices throughout France
- Shipment booking before 4 PM, pick-up next day
- Fast and reliable transit times
- Timed deliveries on request
- Handling of all kinds of packed goods, including dangerous goods
- Track & Trace and online Proof of Delivery
We are excited to announce the establishment of a new Ziegler branch office in Rades, Tunisia.
The Ziegler Tunisia branch is strategically located near the port facilities of Tunis – the gateway into the country.
Wide Range of Excellent Logistic Services
Operating four departures a week, Ziegler Tunisia provides our customers with even better transport solutions between Europe and North Africa, throughout the African continent, and also within Tunisia itself.
We offer a wide range of services to meet your specific logistics needs, including:
- Road, sea, and air freight
- Customs clearance service
- Door to door service
- Cross trade shipment
- Transport insurance
- Warehousing
- Storage
- In-house logistics services
We can transport all types of goods, including products that require temperature-controlled shipping, as well as dangerous goods.
Dedicated Transport Service between France and Tunisia
We operate a dedicated service between France and Tunisia. We offer both FTL/LTL services on this route with departures twice a week.
Contact Ziegler Tunisia
Route Radès La Goulette, Rue Mohamed Ali
Blue Center, 3rd floor, office No. B-3-3
CP 2040 – Rades
Phone: 0021 671 443 559
e-mail: hela.yazidi@zieglergroup.com
The Ziegler Group continues its environmental initiatives by choosing Altens (the leading French supplier of a range of alternative fuels for the transport sector) for its XTL solution: bio-fuels based on the recovery of used oils.
Our aim:
To use standardised, tracable and certified sustainable alternative fuels.
The production of this fuel is mainly focused on biodiesel obtained from oil that is extracted from rapeseed and sunflower. This fuel is produced from plant waste, so production does not compete directly with crops used for food production.
XTL is a 2nd generation biofuel, non-toxic, biodegradable and is stable over time.
88% reduction in CO2 emission compared to diesel
30% less fine and ultrafine particles
The advantages over conventional fuel are numerous:
- Biodegradable fuel
- Reduced engine noise
- No extra fuel consumption
- No odour
- No impact on engine wear
- No impact on engine performance
- No impact on maintenance intervals
- No early replacement of the exhaust system
- No impact on warranty
- No impact on the price of the service contract
A first test within the Ziegler Group
The Rennes branch bought 36,000 litres of this clean diesel.
Our EURO 6 trucks are compatible with this type of diesel.
The next step?
To validate the effectiveness of this new fuel and at the same time, think about a more extensive partnership.
For more information, please contact :
François LEFEVRE
Quality Manager
francois.lefevre@zieglergroup.com
03 20 69 36 47
Ziegler. Now even Greener.
Throughout Ziegler Group, quality and customer service are our top priorities. So we are delighted to see the efforts of our team at Ziegler Luxembourg recognized with ISO 9001:2015 certification.
ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognized standard that combines the expertise and know-how in quality management from the last decades into one standard. The ISO 9001:2015 standard is known worldwide as an established benchmark for transparency, reliability and quality within any organization.
BSI awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification to Ziegler Luxembourg for the following: General Forwarding and Logistics, with particular emphasis on the storage and handling of packaging materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
This certification confirms the precision and professionalism of the Ziegler Luxembourg team based in the Euro Hub of Dudelange.
The team works hard to ensure that customers get consistent, good-quality services and this certificate provides further evidence of their dedication.
Ziegler Luxembourg
335 Zae Wolser “G”
L-3434 Dudelange
In order to introduce autonomous delivery vehicles to Europe, Ziegler Group is partnering with several key organisations and agencies.
Each partnership will contribute to the overall goal of building the technology, regulatory, and safety frameworks that will allow autonomous delivery vehicles to operate safely on the roads.
Ziegler Group is proud to enter into this ambitious project together with our fellow visionaries:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is one of the top universities in Europe for research into autonomous vehicles.
Their Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Center (MOBI) is a leader in electro-mobility, sustainable mobility and logistics research. With a multidisciplinary team of over 100 specialists, MOBI gathers expertise in engineering, economic, social, political and environmental sciences. It develops electric, hybrid, and autonomous vehicles technologies, and evaluates new concepts in mobility and logistics on their sustainability.
Ziegler Group can count on the knowledge and expertise of MOBI as we prepare the autonomous Transporter vehicles for operation, as well as pass our own data and findings back to the MOBI research centre. They will play a vital role in the testing of our autonomous logistics vehicle. We are very happy to partner with a local university that is at the forefront of research regarding this new technology.
Innoviris
Innoviris is a public organisation that funds and supports research and innovation in Brussels in order to address societal challenges around mobility, health, climate and social cohesion.
The new Regional Innovation Plan 2021-2027 stimulates ambitious actors to develop creative projects in 6 strategic innovation domains aiming to have a positive impact on the economical, social and ecological transition of the region.
They support various initiatives that work to improve the well-being and prosperity of every citizen in Brussels.
Brussels Chamber of Commerce
Thanks to the visionaries at the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BECI), Ziegler Group was able to launch the Cargo Bike project.
Ziegler Group has been active in Brussels since 1908 and always had a special affinity with the city. The goal of this autonomous delivery project is to lessen all the external costs that are inherent to last-mile logistics and transport. We will continue to work with BECI in this new project, and find ways to benefit the city of Brussels and help BECI to address issues that the city faces that might be improved with the use of autonomous delivery vehicles.
Brussels Mobility
Together with Brussels Mobility, Ziegler Group is looking forward to working out steps and solutions that are needed before autonomous delivery vehicles can hit the road. We are determined to work together with the government, administration and local law enforcement and believe that it is our duty as a logistics and transport provider to make sure that all our activities are safe and legal.
VIAS (Traffic safety research institute)
VIAS is a research organisation focused on improving road and mobility safety. Their team is 120 strong, ranging from academic researchers and engineers, psychologists and field specialists, to legal advisers and consultants.
This diversity of knowledge makes them a specialised and much-appreciated partner for Ziegler Group as we address the safety of autonomous vehicles. They will also be crucial during testing as they will help us use the vehicle with the highest safety for users and other road users taking into consideration the infrastructure on which the vehicle operates. They have been a part of every major project regarding autonomous vehicles and their testing in Belgium and will also support Ziegler on legal, modal approval and user acceptance issues.
Udelv (Delivery Vehicle provider)
Udelv is the supplier of the autonomous Transporter EV that can handle last- and middle-mile multi-stop deliveries. Ziegler Group has ordered a number of Transporters to pilot, and the partnership with Udelv will be very close as these vehicles are developed and tested for use in various European countries.
MobileEye (Technology provider)
MobileEye is an Intel company that develops the autonomous driving technology and software used in the Udelv Transporters, in addition to their other many projects and achievements in improving road safety through their innovative technologies.
As one of the top providers of autonomous driving software and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), MobileEye-equipped vehicles have mapped more than one billion kilometres of roads globally, and their high standards for safety and best-in-class performance is one of the key features of the Udelv Transporter.
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, will be celebrated very soon.
In 2022, the first day of the Chinese New Year (the year of the Tiger) will fall on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally last 16 days from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. In 2022, this will last from January 31 to February 15.
However, to ensure a continuous supply chain between Europe and China, the Ziegler offices in China and Hong Kong will be on-call to take over each other’s duties to keep the movement of goods flowing as smoothly as possible for our customers’ goods.
For more detailed information, please get in touch with your Ziegler representative.
Autonomous Vehicles are coming…
Just days after the world welcomed the year 2022, Ziegler Group announced they had ordered ten autonomous electric delivery vehicles from Udelv. And just like that, Ziegler, the EU-based logistics operator signalled their commitment to pioneering a technology that will forever alter the daily lives of future generations.
With more than a decade of research and testing behind them, some of the world’s largest tech and automotive companies have poured billions of dollars into the development of hardware and software needed for autonomous vehicles (AVs) to become a reality.
EU governmental authorities, Germany, France and Belgium are at the forefront of legislation to allow AVs onto public roads, but there is still much to be done.
Ziegler’s order is part of the next stage of the process – further real-world development by the companies that will actually use the technology for their unique business requirements and local environments.
Why Autonomous Delivery Vehicles?
Public opinion regarding self-driving vehicles has been mixed since before the first test vehicles started driving on public roads. The range of sentiments is perfectly understandable. Even positive changes require adjustment to the status quo.
However, as the technology has matured, and researchers have been able to study the impact that self-driving vehicles will have on society, the reasons to pursue adoption continue to increase.
AVs represent more than just self-driving cars. They are part of a broader shift away from congestion, pollution, and shrinking urban space. They represent just one avenue to open up new possibilities for society, individuals and our environment.
This vision for the potential of AVs is reflected in Ziegler Group’s own dedication to pursuing technology and practices that are more efficient and eco-friendly.
“Similar to our current Cargo Bike project that is making deliveries in vehicle-restricted areas of Brussels,” explained Diane Govaerts, Ziegler Group CEO. “The Transporter – Udelv’s autonomous driving and electric, cab-less delivery vehicle – is another step in exploring new possibilities for less intrusive and more ecologically-friendly last-mile deliveries in crowded urban centres.”
Safer Roads
Researchers believe that the majority of vehicles sold after 2050 will be driverless. The implications of that change will affect society and especially urban environments in many positive ways.
In practice, autonomous delivery vehicles can slot in and complement existing supply chains for last-mile deliveries, and provide unique benefits, especially when used in congested European cities.
Driverless vehicles are already safer than when operated by a driver. According to studies, AVs could reduce road fatalities by 90%. [source]
Human drivers have blind spots and a limited point of view. They can get distracted and have varying emotional responses to take into account when on the road.
Compare that with a self-driving vehicle. Using redundant visual and sensor systems to monitor its surroundings in every direction every millisecond, an AV is always being improved due to the continual input of data from other AVs.
Low Impact Last-Mile Transport
The Transporters produced by Udelv are fully electric, contributing to a cleaner environment and less noise pollution. Their relatively compact size makes for less impact on roads, especially the narrow historic streets of Europe’s city centres.
“This is a major step towards a sustainable fleet of commercial vehicles for Ziegler Group,” said Diane Govaerts, Ziegler Group CEO.
Good for Companies and Workers
Right now there is a massive shortage of qualified drivers, so AVs can help cope with that issue. And the Transporters are intended only for last-mile deliveries.
Once put into the field, they still require a remote operator to monitor them at all times and intervene if necessary (for example during docking). Long haul transport will still be performed by Ziegler’s trained drivers.
The Transporter Technology
Udelv’s Transporters are the world’s first middle- and last-mile electric cabless autonomous delivery vehicles dedicated to multi-stop delivery. Featuring Level 4 autonomy, the Transporters use Mobileye technology – an Intel company that specializes in autonomous vehicles.
The vehicle senses and interprets its environment using a camera-centric configuration. Using a robust system that can drive solely based on cameras allows us to pinpoint the critical safety segments for which redundancy from radar and Lidar is required.
Making Deliveries
As far as making deliveries seamless and secure, adjustable compartments in the vehicle hold goods destined for different customers.
Between trips, the compartments can conform to whatever sizes are needed for the cargo being carried.
Regulatory Challenges and Testing Plan
However, even with all these capabilities, when the first Transporter arrives at Ziegler’s headquarters in Brussels, it will not be making deliveries on public roads right away.
This will be the beginning of a rigorous testing and development process that Ziegler Group will undertake with the oversight and input of government agencies and research groups that deal with transport topics and regulations. Some of these include the Vrije University of Brussels (VUB), Innoviris, the Brussels Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Transport, and the Traffic Safety Research Institute (VIAS).
Many steps will be required before a Transporter is allowed on a public road. But this commitment is what is required to pioneer technology that has the potential to deliver goods more efficiently while making our roads safer and our cities less congested.
What’s to Come
As Ziegler Group explores the possibilities and benefits of AVs for last-mile deliveries, you can follow the journey.
We will be sharing insights from our partners and experiences in upcoming articles and video conversations. So stay tuned. This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of distribution and transport.
BURLINGAME, Calif. and BRUSSELS, Belgium, Jan. 5th, 2022
Udelv, a Silicon Valley autonomous delivery pioneer, announced today that Ziegler Group, a global transport and logistics service provider headquartered in Belgium, has placed an order for ten Udelv Transporters.
“This order signals Udelv’s continued ambition to export the Transporter and rapidly become a global provider of autonomous delivery services worldwide,” said Udelv CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Laury. “With a cab-less vehicle purpose-built for multi-stop last- and middle-mile delivery and Intel’s Mobileye partnership providing millions of kilometers of mapped roads in Europe and Asia, Udelv can deploy the Transporter beyond the borders of America. We are incredibly proud to be trusted by the Ziegler Group, a dynamic and eco-focused logistics company which has been operating for more than 100 years in Europe.”
Udelv is the world’s first company to produce middle- and last-mile electric cab-less autonomous delivery vehicles dedicated to multi-stop delivery. Featuring an entirely novel cargo robotics technology, Udelv’s Transporters are “driven by Intel’s Mobileye”. Since unveiling the Transporter concept earlier this year, Udelv has enjoyed a considerable amount of demand and the company has announced its plans to commercialize and deploy more than 50,000 Transporters between now and 2028, with commercial operations beginning in earnest in 2023.
Udelv’s customers expect Transporters to solve for two key challenges of commercial fleets: a massive shortage of drivers and electrification. Udelv’s Transporter dramatically improves the efficiency of last- and middle-mile delivery services for everything from electronics and auto parts to groceries and medical supplies.
“Ziegler Group has a very ambitious sustainability plan in place and has already announced several initiatives in that area,” said Diane Govaerts, Ziegler Group CEO. “Similar to our current project using human-powered Cargo Bikes to make deliveries in vehicle-restricted areas of Brussels, the Transporter – Udelv’s autonomous driving and electric, cab-less delivery vehicle – is another step in exploring new possibilities for less intrusive and more ecologically-friendly last-mile deliveries in crowded urban centers. This order is a major step towards building a sustainable fleet of commercial vehicles for Ziegler Group, will add great value to the bottom line of our customers, and align perfectly with our “Ziegler, now even greener” sustainability program. We are proud to partner with Udelv and to be the first major EU transportation company to deploy autonomous delivery vehicles on European roads.”
“Autonomous delivery is quickly becoming a worldwide reality as the answer to the skyrocketing growth in e-commerce,” added Laury. “With sweeping cost reductions over traditional driver-based services, public interest in contactless delivery, electrification of commercial fleets, shortage of drivers and a rapid growth in online deliveries, Udelv’s autonomous delivery vehicle will help Ziegler Group lead the way.”
