ASTAG sees pollutant emissions at zero after 20 years of LSVA
Feb 1, 2021 at 5:56 PMInterRail Opens New Branch in Nur-Sultan/Kazakhstan
Feb 3, 2021 at 8:06 PM2020 was a challenging year for the Bertschi Group due to the pandemic. Revenue fell to 900 million CHF, a nine percent decrease compared to the previous year, with a five percent decline when adjusted for currency fluctuations. Thanks to proactive measures, the year was concluded positively. Bertschi is optimistic for 2021. With Marc Houtermans as the new head of the Solutions business unit, the Group Management Team is strengthened.
(Dürrenäsch) The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its rapid global spread significantly impacted the business year. Due to the imposed lockdowns, there was a global decrease in demand for durable consumer goods. This was particularly felt in the automotive industry, which experienced a severe downturn. This led to a decline in demand for chemical precursors, resulting in significant revenue losses for Bertschi in its core business of chemical logistics. Demand began to recover in the autumn, driven by the end of the first lockdown and a rapid recovery in Asia.
COVID-19 Setback Partially Compensated
Revenue fell in 2020 to 900 million CHF, a nine percent decrease from the record revenue of the previous year. In addition to COVID-19, the strengthening of the Swiss franc against the euro and the US dollar had a significant impact, as the Bertschi Group generates less than five percent of its revenue in Switzerland. Adjusted for currency, revenue declined by five percent. The earnings situation was maintained at a good level thanks to proactive cost discipline.
At Bertschi, the protection of the 3,100 employees worldwide from COVID-19 infection is a top priority. “Thanks to the advanced digitization of our work processes, which enabled home office for a large part of the workforce, and the early implementation of protective measures in the workplace, we were able to provide our employees with a safe working environment at all times,” explains Jan Arnet, CEO of the Group.
Bertschi invested significantly in the future of the company in 2020. The container fleet grew by 1,200 to 37,800 units. As a result of strong demand, the capacity of the hazardous goods container warehouse at the Schwarzheide location (Eastern Germany) was structurally doubled. COVID-19 had an accelerating effect on the digital transformation of the Bertschi Group. Business processes were made more efficient, safer, and customer-friendly. Significant investments were made to provide customers with seamless visibility of complex supply chains, which often combine rail, road, and sea transport.
Positive Outlook and High Investments in 2021
For 2021, Hans-Jörg Bertschi, Chairman of the Board of the Group, is optimistic: “We expect the positive trend from the last quarter of 2020 to continue this year. Asia, and particularly China, have largely overcome the pandemic and are currently sending out growth impulses. Thanks to government support measures and the ongoing vaccination of the population in industrialized countries, the global economy is expected to gain additional momentum from mid-2021.”
The positive outlook will lead to significant investments by the Bertschi Group in 2021. With the construction of a logistics center for liquid chemical hazardous goods in Zhangjiagang in the Greater Shanghai area, Bertschi has initiated the largest single investment in the company’s history just before the start of the year. Three warehouses for different classes of hazardous goods with a total capacity of 25,000 pallet spaces will be built on the 67,000 m2 site. Complementing this, a container hazardous goods warehouse with a capacity of approximately 1,000 tank containers for the storage of complete liquid loads will be constructed. Together with automatic filling systems and tank container heating stations, a complete logistics center for handling, filling, and storing liquid chemical products in China will be created.
Visualization Bertschi Logistics Hub Zhangjiagang (CN)
Bertschi is also making significant investments in Europe. In the Port of Rotterdam, Bertschi operates its own transshipment terminal for shifting from road to rail, in conjunction with a container hazardous goods warehouse. The capacity of this warehouse will be structurally more than doubled to 2,000 tank container spaces in 2021. Furthermore, Brexit is leading to increased demand for storage in the UK. Bertschi operates a central warehouse in Middlesbrough (Northern England) for bulk and packaged imported plastics from overseas. The capacity of this facility will be significantly increased through an extension on an adjacent plot. In the growing transport market to Southeast Europe, Bertschi also plans to shift more transport from road to rail. Therefore, the capacity of the rail terminal acquired in 2019 in Ploiesti near Bucharest will be increased. To absorb the transport growth, Bertschi continues to invest in its specialized container fleet.
Marc Houtermans Strengthens Group Leadership Team
Marc Houtermans
On March 1, 2021, Marc Houtermans will join the company and subsequently take over the leadership of the Solutions business unit. The Dutchman brings extensive experience in the global chemical industry, where he has held various leadership positions. In 2014, he co-founded the start-up QCP (Quality Circular Polymers), which recycles plastic waste in a newly built facility in Geleen, Netherlands, and processes it for use in high-quality products. After the sale of the company, Marc Houtermans will now take on a new challenge at Bertschi.
“Due to his previous roles on the customer side, we have known Marc for many years and are convinced of his broad know-how and capabilities. He will focus on the further development and expansion of our global logistics centers in his global role. We are pleased to welcome Marc to Bertschi and look forward to future collaboration with him,” explains Jan Arnet.
Christian Bart Becomes Head of Operations in the Largest Business Unit
The former head of the Solutions business unit, Christian Bart, has been significantly involved in building this unit, which operates infrastructure for logistics services worldwide, over the past few years. Later this year, he will move to the largest business unit, the Liquids Business Unit, where he will be responsible for the entire operational business. Christian Bart will remain in the Group Management Team in his new role.
Christoph Wälchli Becomes Head of All European Branches
The long-standing head of operations of the Liquids Business Unit, Christoph Wälchli, will introduce Christian Bart to his new role as part of a long-term succession plan and will subsequently take over the leadership of the over 30 branches of the Bertschi Group in Europe. Christoph Wälchli has significantly shaped the growth of the pan-European liquid chemical business over the past decades. He will remain in the Group Management Team in his new role.
Record Number of 161 Anniversaries
In 2021, the record from the previous year will be surpassed again, with a total of 161 employees celebrating their company anniversaries. They can look back on 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years of service. Among six individuals with 30 years at Bertschi, André Gloor from Leutwil, who has built and shaped the liquid transport by rail to Italy as chief dispatcher for 40 years, has remained loyal to the company for a full 40 years.
Hazardous Goods Container Warehouse Bertschi STR Schwarzheide (DE)
About Bertschi
Bertschi owns 37,800 tank and silo containers, 1,100 trucks, and 30 container terminals. The company is the market leader in Europe in intermodal chemical transport by rail, road, and water, as well as a leading global provider of tank container transport and complementary logistical value-added services for the chemical industry. Important locations outside Europe include Shanghai, Singapore, Houston, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Dubai, Al-Jubail (Saudi Arabia), and Istanbul.
Photo: © Bertschi / Image Caption Cover Photo: Bertschi Terminal Rotterdam (NL)
