INTRODUCTION

NEWS FLASH/TICKER

SUMMARYDear readers,

As the BESTFACT project entered its 3rd year, BESTFACT has presented itself as an impor-tant gate for collecting, analyzing and promoting Best Practices in Freight Transport. During the first four months of 2014, the BESTFACT team organised successful events, represented BESTFACT at multiple transport conferences and collected new best practices. At our workshop in January, the BESTFACT team welcomed many participants in Brussels interested in the growth of small-scale Urban Freight, Green Logistics and e-Freight. Our conference in April in Paris highlighted the use of existing infrastructure capacities in the logistics sector, contributing to a new vision for future green logistic chains.

The conference hosted the first Sustainability Award for Freight Transport & Logistics ceremony, praising the award winners for their high impact, making them an example for others in Europe. In addition, the BESTFACT team presented Best Practices and conference outcomes later in April at the Transport Research Arena (TRA2014).

“GPM Workgroup tries to draw up a current situation on the merchandise flows of the “Grand Paris” concerning emissions and flows of transport modes. GPM is particularly attentive to subjects of regulations and to the European dimension.”

Mr. Philippe Mangeard, Grand Paris des Marchandises Group (Cercle pour l’Optimodalité en Europe)

“There is an increase in cycling but a security problem with trucks in Copenhagen. The security risks for cyclist getting involved in accidents with trucks was giving the legitimation for becoming active in freight policy in Copenhagen. Previous Urban Consolidation Centre trials did not work, so the Municipality set up a business plan.”

Tanja Ballhorn Provstgaard, City of Copenhagen

Marcel Huschebeck,

BESTFACT Coordinator

INTRODUCTION …...........

FLASH/TICKERS…..........

PAST EVENTS……….........

BESTFACT AWARDS…....

PHOTO COLLAGE………....

UPCOMING EVENTS….....

INTERVIEW WITH HP…...

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BESTFACT project contributes to a new vision for future green logistic chains

NEWSLETTER 3BESTFACT newsletter issue no.3: May 2014

And there is more to come in 2014; the BESTFACT team is working on the Second Best Practices Handbook, which will contain Best Practices identified in 2013. In the autumn of 2014, the BESTFACT consortium will host a new workshop on Green Logistics & Co-Modality.

The next pages of this Newsletter will present you more detailed information on our past events, including pictures of the Sustainability Award Ceremony, portraits of the award winners and outcomes of the workshops. Furthermore, we want to remind you that you are very welcome to o�er us your Best Practice case for 2014 in the field of Urban Freight, Green Logistics & Co-modality and e-Freight by making use of our Contact Form: http://www.bestfact.net/contact-form/.

Feel free to browse through all Best Practices on our BESTFACT website and to store your preferred cases: http://www.bestfact.net/best-practices/.

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BESTFACT newsletter issue no.3: May 2014

BESTFACT EVENTS

The first BESTFACT Conference “Smart Logistics Best Practices” aimed to o�er a new vision for future green logistics chain by making better use of existing infrastructure capacities. Thanks to the kind interest and cooperation expressed by the French Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy (which is responsible for Transport), the event took place in the big conference room of the Grande Arche de la Défense in Paris.

The opening speech by Fleur Breuillin, representing the European Commission, stressed the key-role held by the logistics sector as a driver for European economy. Although the challen-ges of an increasingly complex competition, an environmental impact to be minimized and limited resources to be dealt with, still remain to be tackled, the answers are to be found in innovation, flexibility and cooperation.

The public authority, and notably the European Commission, can naturally o�er its support by setting several policy objectives (consider the last White Paper on Transport) and by funding a set of initiatives aiming at the creation of new technical tools and new standards (e.g. Horizon 2020), new infrastructures (TEN-T and Connecting Europe Facilities) and new systems of governance (ex. eFreight).

The availability of these measures has positively influenced the building and implementation of several European corridors. Antti Permala, from the Finnish Research Centre VTT, with his presentation helped in understanding the di�erences in their management operations according to the stages of their implementation, from a public-lead through a public-private partnership to a business-lead management. In this respect, the “maturity” of a corridor is dependent on the interaction of two plans: the geographical one (e.g. public authorities, academia, lobbying groups etc.) and the business-related one. The Brenner Corridor appears to be a good example of corridor management since it shows both a strong commitment from the stakeholders and a clearly established set of rules and processes, although some challenges are still to be tackled, as including more e�ectively business actors and keeping up the motivation (the corridor should be ready by 2025).

Other speakers came from Panteia, Procter & Gamble, VGTU and Hewlett-Packard. They all o�ered the audience their thoughts, their experiences, their ideas as inspiration for future corridor managers in order to formulate innovative concepts that may lay the foundation of (city) logistics in the future.

The conference, facilitated by EIA, ITENE, POLIS and VGTU, attracted about 85 registrations from all over Europe, including a huge variety of logistics actors, industries, carriers, local authorities, promotion bodies, academics and the European Commission. High level atten-dance came from the French authorities, notably Ms. Florence Pajon, Head of the Intermodal Transport mission and Mr. Eric Louette, o�cer on freight & logistics at the Intelligent Transport Task Force (both Department of Transport of the French Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development & Energy).

This workshop was organized in the European capital Brussels, therefore giving access to the most relevant local and EU authorities as well as transport NGOs. Purpose of the event was to elaborate on up-to-date business solutions, markets, technology aspects and policy/regulatory frameworks designed to support the uptake of small-scale solutions, while understanding the ’ingredients’ for a future sustained growth of this type of business.

The main issues discussed at the workshop were IT requirements and new vehicle solutions, interurban freight transport, clients’ perceptions and solutio ns for last mile deliveries. Speakers stressed the importance of e�cient integration of last mile deliveries in the supply chain and vehicles in logistics operations in order to meet and adapt to customer and logistics provider requirements. Other key discussion points of the workshop concentrated on development of appropriate and clean vehicles and ICT solutions. In addition, innovative companies (such as PTV Group) explained self-success experiences in freight logistics, while European authorities (European Commission, DG MOVE) elaborated on sustainable logistics initiatives.

The BESTFACT consortium was pleased to welcome 110 participants from di�erent sectors and industries, including carriers, manufacturers, consultants, academics and local and European authorities.

Information and presentations can be found at:http://www.bestfact.net/events/smallscalesolutions/

BESTFACT Conference: Smart Logistics Best Practices

BESTFACT Workshop: Growth of Small Scale Solutions in Urban Freight, Green Logistics and e-Freight. Brussels – 29th and 30th of January 2014

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BESTFACT newsletter issue no.3: May 2014

BESTFACT AWARDS11 April 2014: the Grande Arche de la Défense in Paris was the prestigious venue for the Bestfact Award ceremony during the conference ‘Smart Logistics Best Practices’: making better use of existing infrastructure capacities’.Purpose of the ceremony was to reward ‘the best of the best practices’ of companies corresponding to three Bestfact clusters: Urban Freight, Green Logistics and Co-modality and E-freight.

Cluster 1: Urban Freight. DISTRIPOLIS

The international provider group GEODIS has invented a new sustainable logistics solution called ‘Distripolis’ designed to improve quality of life in the city. Distripolis business consists of delivering daily 13.000 parcels & goods to french city centres with 85 electric vans and 59 electric cargo vehicles - instead of diesel vans. In addition, investments undertaken by Distripolis were constructing the new electric vans and cycles and organise small tranship-ment points close to delivery locations.

Further benefits are mileage reduction, less time driving on road, less air and noise pollution and an agile ‘tricycle’ vehicle with free access to pedestrian areas. Distripolis aims at growing its electric fleet up to 95% until 2015, thus reducing CO2 by 85% compared to the situation before.

BESTFACT Impact Assessment was pleased to note the magnitude and impact of this business unique in Europe with high potential for transferability to other cities.

More information can be found at: www.bestfact.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CL1_2_QuickInfo_Distripolis-26July2013.pdf

Cluster 2: Green Logistics and Co-modality. VIKING TRAIN

The ‘Viking Train’ is an international intermodal freight logistics project covering the railway, sea and motor transport. This is a joint project of Lithuanian, Ukrainian and Belarusian railways, stevedores and ports of Klaipeda, Illichivsk and Odessa. The route is crossing Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania and links Baltic and Black Sea, en route to Mediterranean and Caspian seas.

Since February 2003, this piggyback service crosses this vast and legally challenging distance in just 52 hours. Checking of a complete train at the border between EU and CIS takes only 30 minutes, at competitive prices.

Other ‘Viking Train’ success factors aside facilitation of border and customs procedures are fixed regular schedules, meeting customers’ safety & security levels.

The physical movement of assets is supported by a bespoke IT system which also contribu-tes to improve lead times. Therefore, Viking has become the first in the Award category ‘Green Logistics and Co-Modality’.

More information can be found at:http://www.bestfact.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/bestfact_Quick_info_greenlogistics_2-005_VIKING-TRAIN.pdf

Cluster 3: E-Freight. KOKOBAHN

KoKoBahn (in German: ‘Coordination & Communication Rail’) is a platform which has been introduced by DBH Logistics IT and Travemünder Datenverbund GmbH.

The platform can facilitate electronic data exchange between seaports, intra-port actors and hinterland railway transport. It caters for simple, cost-e�cient dialogue between di�erent systems, providing distribution and translation. This platform is also capable of splitting messages and/or sending messages to one or more recipients. For users, this results in one (cheaper) interface to many partners for various types of messages. It leads to faster handling of trains.

Synergy e�ects are gained by enabling secure, real time and detailed communication of rail-relevant data in form of services and formats for railway companies and customers, especially SME’s. BESTFACT Impact Assessment was pleased to note that the magnitude of this business and its high impacts makes it unique in Europe today, with a high level of scalability. Therefore, KoKoBahn has become the first in the Award category E-Freight.

Extra-information can be found at: http://www.bestfact.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Bestfact_Quick_info_efreight_3-050_KoKoBahn.pdf

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BESTFACT newsletter issue no.3: May 2014

BESTFACT PHOTO COLLAGE

Bestfact Award-winners (with trophy) from left to right: Kokobahn Platform (Ms. Karin Ste�en-Witt), Distripolis (represented by Mr. Christophe Rizet) and Viking Train (Mr. Stasys Gudvalis)

Sustainability Award in Urban Freight to Distripolis, handed over by Ms. Florence Pajon (Head of Intermodal Transport - French Ministry)- to Mr. Christophe Rizet (I�star), representing Distripolis

Ms. Fleur Breuillin (European Commission – DG Mobility and Transport)

Afternoon session students EDM workshops Sustainability Award in eFreight for KokoBahn, handed over by Mr. Peter Wolters (EIA) to Ms. Karin Ste�en-Witt of Travemünder Datenverbund GmbH

Sustainability Award in Green Logistics & co-modality for Viking Train, handed over by Mr. Marcel Huschebeck (PTV) to Mr. Stasys Gudvalis of JSC “Lithuanian Railways”

UPCOMING EVENTSSmart Urban Freight Conference 2014

The ‘Smart Urban Freight Conference’ will be organised on 12th June in the city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK and will be facilitated by NewRail & POLIS.

Throughout the day, a group of invited experts will give a combination of micro-lectures and presentations which will provide an excellent dissemination and networking opportunity for companies or organizations interested in smart urban freight. The event will bring together several industry stakeholders and European Research Projects who will address issues related with urban logistics, transport operators, low emission vehicle technologies, policy initiatives, business models and urban logistics as a commercial opportunity, among the highlights.

You are cordially invited. Registration is needed at: http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=5639

Intermodal Europe 2014

Intermodal Europe, the world leading container transport and logistics event, will host its 2014 edition in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on November 11-13. The European Intermodal Association will be representing

BESTFACT at this important containerization event.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the entire logistics supply chain- ports, rail operators, shipping lines, hauliers, air cargo specialists through to forwarders and 3PLs.

For more information:http://www.intermodal-events.com/

BESTFACT Cluster Workshop on Co-modality and Green Logistics“Sustainable and e�cient supply strategies and practices for food and consumer goods”

BESTFACT is organising a workshop in Milan 6/7 October 2014 on strategies and practices in the food and consumer goods supply chain. This topic is especially important in light of the Expo 2015 which will be held in Milan. The BESTFACT workshop is free of charge and provides the possibility to meet and discuss with key stakeholders from policy, food and consumer goods industry, transport industry, as well as researchers on how to achieve a more e�cient supply chain and more sustainable logistics.

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BESTFACT newsletter issue no.3: May 2014

BESTFACT INTERVIEW

Thomas Scherer (Hewlett Packard): “The use of intermodal & logistics technology has led to significant cost savings”Mr. Thomas Scherer is Business Development and Innovation Manager at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services CEE. He participated at the BESTFACT Conference in Paris (April 2014) with a lecture about Intermodal & logistic technology in market realities.

HP is nowadays working in iReal Initiative solutions in 4 areas: Passengers, Energy, Safety & Security and Logistics. HP became new member of the European Intermo-dal Association.

Thomas SchererBusiness Development & Innovation Manager (HP)

1. Can you describe the main trends in intermodal & logistic technology?During the past few years, we have seen a digital revolution. The rise of information technolo-gy had also an impact on the logistics industry.

With advanced Systems, companies outperform their competitors.

2. Can you highlight its main advantages?To summarize; the use of this technology has led to significant cost savings.Complex processes are easier to handle and e�ciency increased in nearly every important sector.

3. Which market realities does the intermodal & logistic technology face?Increasing transportation leads to a more intensive use of existing infrastructure.The challenge is to optimize the use and the maintenance of this infrastructure, while saving energy and other resources at the same time. This problem can be solved with IT.

4. How do you think best practices in technology can contribute to e�ciency in intermodal & logistic technology?Di�erent companies share their experience. Very often companies are facing the same problems, but solve them in a di�erent way.

Discussing these problems together can create a synergy e�ect.

5. What is your opinion about Bestfact project?This is a great opportunity to create such synergy e�ects. Outside the box thinking is very important to not remain static.

To quote David Packard, founder of Hewlett Packard: “To remain static is to lose ground”

6. How can Bestfact project contribute to your company?On the one hand, Bestfact allows HP to get a better understanding of current and upcoming problems and maybe their possible solutions.

On the other hand, we have the possibility to meet new potential partners or customers.

ALL ABOUT BESTFACT

www.bestfact.net info@bestfact.net

The objective of BESTFACT is to develop, disseminate and enhance the utilization of best practices and innovations in freight transport that contribute to meeting European transport policy objectives with regard to competitiveness and environmental impact. BESTFACT builds upon the work of the projects BESTUFS, PROMIT and BESTLOG and integrates interrelated areas of the key freight logistics challenges the European Union is confronted with.

Three clusters “Urban freight“, “Green logistics and Co-modality” and “eFreight” have been chosen as they represent the most pressing issues in freight transport and logistics in terms of economic, social and environmental sustainability, as well as being closely linked to important innovations and developments in freight service provision. SMEs, companies in general, regional and local authorities are welcome to share their own Best Practice cases.

BESTFACT receives funding from the EC's 7th Framework Programme.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme

for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 265710