Import Logistics

ISOCHEM North America had focused exclusively on imports until a few years ago when the company was faced with handling export products from the company’s US manufacturing sites to overseas locations. ISOCHEM North America wanted to ensure both import and export processes were lean and efficient.

Trek Bicycle Corporation imports finished bicycles and parts from a number of locations, including Taiwan, Japan, and China. Trek often imported small shipments from different vendors to a single location in the United States, then redistributed inventory to final destinations. Based in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek wanted to outsource logistics management services to help keep things moving smoothly half a world away

Larsen & Toubro were undertaking a new development project on Saadiyat Island. Saadiyat Island is a 27-square-kilometer natural island—half the size of Bermuda—and lies only 500 meters offshore of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates’ capital city. The island can be reached by road and sea. Normal cargo and truckloads not exceeding 90 tons can be driven to the island without any problems. Access by sea—a distance of 12 nautical miles—is very challenging: there are only three jetties, designed for small passenger ships and for small barges, tugs, etc., but no cargo movements have taken place before.

How does a leading U.S. importer enhance customer service and bring additional consistency to the company's import process? At Heineken USA's headquarters in White Plains, New York, a significant step has already been taken that benefits not only customers and Heineken's operations but the company's bottom line, too.