1. THE NETHERLAND

The Netherlands has long been considered the ideal site in which to base pan-European logistics operations. The Netherlands distinguishes itself from other countries by means of its excellent central geographical position in Europe, its advanced infrastructure, its favourable business climate, its highly developed logistics service sector and its pro-business government. Other unique selling points are the outstanding customs facilities, the favourable tax climate and the skilled, highly productive & multilingual workforce. To date, 7,000 foreign companies have already discovered that the Netherlands is the best location from which to penetrate markets throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Mainport Rotterdam is Europe’s premier port. The Rotterdam network includes all kinds of deep-sea cargo terminals, hundreds of logistics service providers and excellent hinterland connections. This network makes it possible to very efficiently handle cargo flows to more than 350 million consumers and the main industrial areas, all within 24 hours. In addition, Rotterdam offers tailor-made solutions for any and all types of cargo and volumes. You can either opt to set up your own operations or make use of the services provided by one the many specialists in the Greater Rotterdam area.

For the warehousing and distribution of containerized cargo, the three Distributionparks offer the most added values. These logistics parks are situated at unique locations in the port and industrial area. They offer a substantial concentration of facilities having to do with distribution operations. And it is this concentration that yields advantages in terms of both time and transport costs.

Transport

The strategic situation within Europe, the open and fast connection with the sea, the very deep access channel (75 feet) and the perfect hinterland connections: these are just some of the main strengths of the port of Rotterdam. Together with the high quality of services, they form the basis of  the port of Rotterdam’s success as the European mainport. All destinations in Europe can quickly and easily be reached from Rotterdam. Cargo can be transported by either truck, train, inland shipping, coastal shipping/feeder (short sea /feeder), air and - for liquid bulk - pipeline. Rotterdam offers the perfect mode of transport for each type of cargo, each volume, each speed and each tariff. Rotterdam simply is the  intermodal European transport centre.

With the disappearance of internal borders within the EU, economies of scale in all branches of industry are rising. In logistics, such economies of scale are being realized by making use of larger vessels which can call only at a few European mainport. Centralized European distribution from a few large distribution centres that are conveniently located near the main ports also contributes to the realization of advantages of scale.

26000 ships a year

Hamburg has an own departure

Goods: coming with ships, transported from the ships, transported by automatically cars to several halls, transported by trucks into the world

2002: more than 322 tons of goods are trans – shipped

2. SEABREX

History of Seabrex

If we take the opportunity to look back over the last century we can see that all sectors have evolved by leaps and bounds.
This is not only true for the manufacturing and production sectors but also for the service sector, which, in our case, is logistics.

For many trades, the key to success has often been to find the right logistics partner.
Many trades would never have been established if the logistics world had not followed the required changes step by step, and thus ensure that appropriate tailor-made services were provided.

The world has become smaller due to the fast reefer and container vessels with high sailing frequencies and world-wide connections, reliable road transportation and, last but not least, airfreight which has gained a prominent position within the overall logistics sector.
All of this, combined with new means of communication such as fax, e-mail and Internet, has resulted in the globalisation of products and cultures.

To be able to offer our worldwide clients a complete integrated logistics service, we have had to invest heavily in cranes, rolling stock, sophisticated warehouses equipped with racks, sorting machines, computerised warehousing systems and all other added-value logistics services for perishable goods and general cargo.

We have also been faced with the challenge of entering into world-wide strategic alliances and creating our own in-country presence in developing markets such as the Far-East, Mexico, South America, South and West Africa, Italy, Spain and the Middle East in order to optimise and to reach the highest possible level as a global logistics service provider.

After having said all of this, there is still one extremely important and valuable factor that makes it all happen - People.
Human resources play a major role in any business, but certainly in the logistics world where timeframes are always under pressure.
We have to deliver, whatever the circumstances.
Through internal training plans and proper integration, we have managed to deliver the right skills to the right people so as to ensure that our clients receive the correct professional support.
Our staffs work as a team and pursue one common goal - to deliver you the best tailor-made service.

They achieve this by removing all potential obstacles that may be present at any given moment in order to defend and protect your product and to ensure that it is delivered on time.
And of course we're all human beings and failures can be made, but we are very proud to say that our service level rate shows a very high positive percentage and we do everything we can to keep it that way.

All in all, we have the capabilities and ambition of supporting you throughout the world with the services that you require.

Ebrex Foodservices

Ebrex Foods Services Sárl, located in Geneva, Switzerland (EFS), can be described as a full-line food distributor. EFS combines logistics with the trading of food supplies and food-related products.

EFS coordinate all its activities in close cooperation with its operations office in Italy, also called Ebrex Food Services. It can therefore be regarded as a closely integrated team effort with clearly assigned responsibilities.

EFS distribute its products and services from a number of warehouses (platforms) in Southern Europe. These platforms are located in Alicante, Spain, Cesena, Italy, Gevgelija, Macedonia and on Isla Terceira, The Azores (Portuguese territory). Being part of the Ebrex Group enables EFS to have ready access to the platforms operated by the group itself in the port of Rotterdam.

Order processing and general and logistical administration is handled by means of advanced electronic order entry systems and/or EDI. This enables EFS to provide its customers with accurate and up-to-date information at all times. Transparency and visibility are key concepts when working on such a large geographical scale.

When the above is placed in the context of our worldwide forwarding experience, the result is accurate deliveries, on time, everywhere, every time. Customs formalities form a natural part of our day-to-day business activities.

The knowledge and expertise we have gained over the years can now be made available to you. We are ready, willing and able to help you in both food distribution and food supplies. Should your request relate to General Cargo, we will help you to find the right logistical solution in Southern Europe.

Ebrex

Though we started out handling footwear and textiles, diversification has taken place into many other products.

This office, located in the Port of Rotterdam, has its own network for sea, road and air freight, as well as an external network of carefully selected agents throughout the world.

Due to its excellent infrastructure and worldwide connections, most shippers use the port of Rotterdam for transhipment to all destinations within Europe and beyond. However, cargo that arrives via other European ports is also within the scope of Ebrex Schiedam.

We can provide you with all kinds of logistics services, including distribution, warehousing, customs clearance, inventory checks, etc.

Ebrex Holding

Since it was founded in 1985, the Ebrex company has seen healthy growth and has become the leading logistics company in the fruit and vegetable sector and a major one in the dry cargo branch at the world’s largest port of Rotterdam. As an all-round independent logistics company, Ebrex offers the required facilities for all kinds of products, whatever their characteristics.

Often the key to success in international trade depends on finding the right company to work with, sharing the same philosophy and interests.

Our philosophy has always been to be the extension of the producer or exporter, so that they regard us as their warehouse and allow us to act as their “eyes” for the European continent.

Ebrex is the extension of the supplier and recipient, offering a dedicated tailor-made package that incorporates all the required services.

Our offices in the Netherlands are located in the port of Rotterdam, at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, at the flower auctions in Aalsmeer and Honselersdijk, in Tilburg, Waalwijk and Barendrecht.

Outside the Netherlands, Ebrex offices are found in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Ecuador.

On this website you can find detailed information on all our activities.

Ebrex Recondition

On several Ebrex locations in the Netherlands we offer a very important added value which is Recondition. Due to European and non European regulations or if supplier was not able - due to time pressure or any other reasons - to finish the product completely, some times goods have to be repacked, labelled or priced, or in case of damage, reconditioned. Reconditioning means being fast, flexible and reliable as goods are always under time pressure for the just in time delivery.

With opening a division in Rotterdam with a bonded warehouse we now can save our clients considerable costs by handling the goods direct after arrival in the port.

As the heart of the shoe industry is still located in Waalwijk we recently are able to offer reconditioning in that important area as well.

The main services which we provide in Rotterdam and Waalwijk are;
- labeling
- quality control
- repacking
- finishing
- polishing
- mildew cleaning
- fashion service

Of course we also work close together with specialists who can solve any technical problems like;
- replacing outsoles
- replacing heels
- reglueing
- replacing eyelets
- new stitching
- neutralizing chromium VI
- replacing parts with cadmium
Besides footwear and textiles we also handle other commodities like toys, household goods and gift articles.

It goes without saying that you are more than welcome to consult our specialized staff for any kind of inquiry.

For example, our division in Waalwijk is also skilful in finishing and replacing the interior of classic automobiles. Thanks to this speciality they even finished the total interior of a private airplane and a very luxury yacht !

3. ECT: Europe Container Terminals

ECT is the largest and most customer focussed container terminal operator in Europe, handling almost three-quarters of all containers at the port of Rotterdam. All year round, twenty-four hours a day, ECT operates the Delta Terminal on Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte along the North Sea and the Home Terminal in the Eemhaven area, near the city center. Both terminals are under all conditions easily accessible from sea.

ECT is also developing a network of inland terminals to facilitate optimum intermodal transport between Rotterdam and the European hinterland. Currently, ECT has terminals in Venlo (in the southeast of The Netherlands), Willebroek (Belgium) and Duisburg (Germany). All ECT’s terminals inside and outside Rotterdam is at the crossroads of visible container flows and invisible information flows.

Water plays also a big part in companies like Seabrex and ECT. All year round ECT operates the Delta Terminal on Rotterdam`s Maasvlakte along the North Sea and the Home Terminal in the Eemhaven area, near the city centre. Both terminals are under conditions easily accessible from sea.

4. THE FLOWER AUCTION

Since about 1950 in Holland more and more flowers became important. From the moment many vegetable growers also started to grow flowers, the position of Holland as land of flowers increased quickly. Those days many flowers were imported. Because the production and import is much larger than the use of flowers in Holland itself, most were exported. The flower auction in Honselersdijk is the second biggest of the Netherlands. From this point flowers and plants are distributed to the rest of Europe. Every morning at 6 o’clock the plants and flowers are sold. Holland became the centre for trade in flowers and plants. The reason Holland’s position is strong is because:

1 There is a good and functional trade system.
2 The assortment has a wide variety during the year.
3 The quality of flowers and plants is good.
4 There is a lot of knowledge about growing and trading the products.

In a flower auction are many people needed. Everyone has its own important task. I give a list of some professions;

-Breeder
They grow new varieties of flowers and plants. Mostly they are specialized in a few plant varieties.

-Grower
They grow the flowers and plants to bring their products to the auction.

-Trade grower
This type of grower usually has a wide variety of potted plants. They deliver directly to the retailers.

-Grower-florist
Only a  few growers are in the same time also retailer and sell their own product to the consumer.

-Whole sale
This are all companies who trade in flowers and plants and deliver only to the retailer. There are some differences to see:

-Importer
The importer buys the products abroad and brings them to Holland. As well fresh flowers and plants as dried materials are imported.

-Exporter
A company who sells the flowers and plants in several countries.

-Wholesaler
This is a company who has a large assortment of flowers and or plants. He sells them direct to the retailer. The florist can buy in front of his door.

-Commissioner
A company who buys flowers only after they are ordered. They receive a small percentage for their work.

-Cash and Carry
In Holland and also in other countries there are special markets for the retailer. They can buy here all kind of flowers, plants and assessors for the shop. This companies usually only sell after direct payment.

As you can understand is water very important for the flower auction. Flowers need water for growing, so the transportation must be efficient. When the flowers have a long time no water, the flowers will fade. Quality is very important and water is the most important link.

5. AMSTERDAM

In the 17th century Amsterdam became more and more important as a harbour, because of their situation. From Amsterdam products were distributed to the rest of the world. The VOC was the richest company in the world. Maps of the world were made here very well, with the help of seamen. We have seen a replica of a VOC-ship, what was very impressive. Also now we saw water was very important in the past for trade. In the Scheepvaartsmuseum we saw many boats and paintings of them. It was really impressive to see how ingenious they were in those days.

In this week water played a very important role. The water from rain, for drinking. It’s all important. After all you can see that water is such a very important thing in the Netherlands, Germany, Europe and all over the world. But water also can be a threat to people and therefore the build thing like the Maeslant Barrier. This week was very interesting for everyone and we enjoyed it very much.