The PCN Head Office is pleased to approve Express Global Logistics Pvt Ltd as a new PCN member representing India. The company are almost 70 years old, starting business in 1946, and now employ 210+ staff in their freight division & 800+ as a whole. They cover the whole of India with a large network of offices - their head quarters are located in Mumbai (in Nhava Sheva,the airport & the old port) with branch offices in Ahmedabad, Ankleshwar, Bangalore, Baroda, Chennai, Delhi, Dahej, Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Jamnagar, Kolkata, Haldia, Kandla, Mundra, Pune and Surat. Express Global Logistics were assisted in their application by a recommendation from a current PCN member. We are also pleased to confirm that Company Director, Nailesh Gandhi, will be attending the 2014 PCN Annual Summit in Rome, Italy (16-18 November). Their main services include:

        - Project Handling   

        - Freight Booking: Air & Sea

        - Door-to-Door Logistics 

        - De-Consolidation of Cargo       

        - Customs Clearance 

        - Warehousing & Distribution            

        - Supply of Transport Equipment 

        - Site Handling   

        - Relocation of Plants & Machinery   

        - Packing & Documentation  

        - Route Survey & Inspections   

        - Heavy & ODC (previously 340tn pieces)    

        - Shipping Agency & Representation 

        - Pre-Shipment Advice    

        - Hydraulic, Telescopic & Crawler Cranes   
         (to 450tn) 

        - ISO Tank(Owned) (Haz & Non-Haz)   

Nailesh states; "We provide fast, convenient, professional and efficient logistics solutions both import and export. With over 5 decades of experience, we have diversified and our expertise is in the handling of end-to-end project movements. We are ISO:9001:2008, ISO:14001:2004 and OHSAS:18001:2007 certified and have been the recipient of various awards in the recent past (click here for full information).Express Global Logistics' team comprises of knowledgeable professionals from two different generations, each complimenting the other. The younger generation ensures the implementation of new technology systems and the older generation assists them based on their extensive experience. This combination, backed by excellent workers, differentiates us as a leading logistics solutions provider in India.

At Express Global Logistics, project handling is a core function and one of the main strengths of our comprehensive portfolio. We provide project services to a variety of industries and one of the keys of our success is intricate planning which we believe is essential to this sector. The hallmarks of our service include attention to detail, accurate & fast paperwork, close & continuous co-ordination with government officials, constant monitoring of movements, trained staff at ports, a complete understanding of national and international processes and a full range of handling equipment.Given the scope and the number of projects that we handle, with the support of our trained personnel, we are able to offer visible cost benefits to our valued clientele plus deliver quality that guarantees minimum delays, total safety and adheres to time bound schedules. Our project services are specially customised for each individual contract, successfully satisfying the most complex tasks. Our specialist teams use the creativity and skills that only come from a long experience in the field.

For projects awarded on Turnkey basis, we offer a comprehensive consultancy from visualisation to realisation. We prepare techno-commercial feasibility and detailed project reports in coordination with any specific provisions and constraints. Our previous experience (sea, air, rail and road) in turnkey projects has included multinational clients in the following sectors of industry; Power, Cement, Engineering, Fertilizer, Agro-Tech, Communication, Bio-Tech, Two Wheelers, Sugar Plants, Infrastructure, Textile, Oil & Gas, Packaging, Steel, Automobile, Pipeline, Petrochemicals and Float Glass.In addition, our 100% owned subsidy company is in the engineering and fabrication industry and can extend their services to our partners to carry out EPC work, dismantling & assembling, fabrication and sourcing. Also, our warehouse facility is very close to the gateway port, Nhava Sheva in Mumbai and we are open to deploy our own feet of handling equipment to various countries and project sites globally for site handling & erections etc."

Examples of the range of capabilities and turnkey experience of Express Global Logistics are showcased below beginning with the completion of one of the largest hydroelectric projects undertaken by their client in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The client is a leading EPC company based in India with a particular interest in Africa, specifically in power, telecoms, substations, sugar plants and farming etc.

The cargo comprised of 3,500frt of material handling equipment such as excavators, dumpers & cranes etc. and the project site was located in a very remote area of the landlocked country, which was not easily accessible by road, rail or river. Nailesh: "We initially transported the shipment from Mumbai to Dar-es-Salam in Tanzania to then make the journey to Lubumbashi. The project faced several challenges with regards to the execution of timely and proper shipping documents, custom clearance with the least amount of demurrage at the discharge port, organising transport for the entire lot (involving around 80 vehicles) including ODC’s and escorts. After the shipment arrived in Tanzania, the movement passed through 3 international borders (Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Further issues also included obtaining the necessary permits from various authorities within the stipulated time and ensuring that all the cargo was safely loaded and moved in the client's Lubumbashi yard. Along with our associates in Africa, we had to ensure that the larger pieces were re-oriented carefully under the authorisation and supervision of the client to enable a safe passage of the material to final destination.

We are proud to have managed to clear the entire lot in one go with minimum demurrage and safely delivered the cargo to Lubumbashi with no damage. We also managed to maximise the loads without compromising the safety of the cargo, thereby reducing the initially estimated number of trailers. These savings were passed to the customer who was very pleased by the solutions completed by Express Global Logistics."

Next, Express Global Logistics have recently completed a power project involving the loading of 8,094frt of cargo moved from Yantai (China) to Mongla (Bangladesh). The cargo included 15 modules (weighing up to 158mt with dimensions of 26.78 x 4.80 x 2.81m) and LP, HP, & IP drums (the heaviest drum weighed 115mt with dimensions of 13.39 x 2.97 x 3.58m).

Nailesh states; "We chartered an entire vessel to move this shipment which was marked as extremely urgent. Given the time constraints, we managed to convince the carrier to skip the next port of call after Yantai & divert the vessel directly to Mongla within the shorter transit time of 18 days. For a smooth loading operation of these units, team members from Express Global Logistics personally visited Yantai to ensure the completion of the shipment within the time frame. The challenge was to arrange the vessel to our conditions at Yantai port and also to arrange a 18-axel hydraulic truck to bring the modules alongside the vessel. However due to efforts of our company, the project was completed well in time."

Another successful project successfully completed for an oil & gas customer included ship chartering, safe & timely loading, surveying and the ocean transportation of cable reel weighing 130mt. The reel had measurements of 9.40 x 6.13 x 9.40m and was destined for an oil & gas site in Abu Dhabi from Newcastle in the UK. The cargo was transported on M.V. Abis Dusavik which stows 541cbm on the lower hold & under deck. Nailesh Gandhi states; "We moved a shipment of 2 similar reels last year also to Abu Dhabi and therefore we knew what was required of us and like the last time, the movement was absolutely critical and strictly time bound.

With consideration to the urgency of the shipment, our entire team closely monitored the delivery arrangements of the shipper and port handling agency to ensure the smooth completion of the loading as per our pre-planning. The challenges were to arrange a suitable vessel in Newcastle and to berth the vessel to load the cargo during the available window slot provided by terminal. However due to excellent loading, stowing, fastening & extensive planning, the operation was completed in good time (only 1 hour at the UK port)."

An on-going project for Express Global Logistics involves the import handling of casings & tubes for an oil & gas client. They have been successfully handling these operations for over 5 years with shipment quantities varying from 1,000 - 5,000mt per shipment with around 15,000mt+ on a yearly basis. The pipes and casings are designed to carry oil & gas and require special handling.

Lastly, The delivery and timely loading of 2 heavy tyre mounted cranes moved from Mumbai to Jebel Ali, UAE. The craneswere 82m and 70m high and were shipped on M.V. Grand Orion. The project involved at total of 7 pieces with a total weight of 169.25mt and a volume of 510cbm.

Express Global Logistics' scope of work included: Providing a specialised driver to pilot the cranes from the site to Mumbai port (a total distance of 500km) which took 3 days, to shift the crane inside the port and during the loading onto the vessel; Providing engineers to service the cranes in port before loading; Providing an escort team for moving the cranes from the site to Mumbai port; Creating a specially designed saddle for on-board lashing and securing; and Identifying and booking a suitable vessel.

www.expressworld.com