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More investment for the development of the rail highway between Algeciras and Zaragoza

Aragón strengthens its position as a logistics hub with an investment of 30 million euros in the Algeciras-Zaragoza rail highway

The Spanish Government has earmarked nearly 30 million euros for the adaptation of 13 tunnels located between Cordoba and the municipality of Santa Cruz de Mudela, as part of the development of the rail highway that will connect Algeciras with Zaragoza. This investment is in addition to the adaptation works already underway on the section between Madrid and Zaragoza, where a total of 78 million euros has been invested. These actions are essential to allow the passage of trains loaded with semi-trailers through the railway network, improving the efficiency of intermodal transport.

With these new investments, the rail highway project has already mobilized more than 315 million euros, approaching the total estimated budget of 468 million euros. The project aims to boost freight transport between southern Europe and the rest of the continent, promoting a sustainable alternative to road transport. It is expected that, once the works are completed, up to six trains per day will be able to run between Algeciras and Zaragoza, also connecting with other ports and strategic regions of the peninsula.

Aragon, a benchmark in logistics and intermodal transport

Aragon has established itself as a key logistics hub in Spain, thanks to its strategic location and robust infrastructure. The region has important logistics platforms, such as the Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA), which is the largest in Europe and a hub for the distribution of goods by land, air and rail. The connection with the port of Algeciras through the new rail highway strengthens its capacity to attract investment and boost the regional economy.

In addition, the promotion of intermodality facilitates the integration of the different modes of transport, reducing costs and improving the sustainability of trade. Investments in rail infrastructure contribute to reducing dependence on road transport, in line with the objectives of sustainability and reduction of the carbon footprint. All this reinforces the attractiveness of Aragon for companies seeking a strategic base for the distribution of goods at national and European level.

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Doing Business in Aragon Logistics

DHL Express invests 4.7 million euros in its Zaragoza facilities

The project includes the implementation of a new international transport center in Aragon
E-commerce in Aragon has grown by 60% in two years, and traditional businesses are recovering pre-pandemic activity levels
DHL Express will expand its presence in Zaragoza Logistics Platform (PLAZA) with a new 1,995-square-meter center for operations related to international transport. These new fully mechanized facilities, built on an area of 8,900 square meters and incorporating the latest technology, have already been in operation for a few weeks. The total investment for the expansion is 4,739,000 euros.

The objective of this investment is to respond to the registered growth of more than 50% both in the volume of import and export shipments in the Zaragoza facilities. “Industrial development is being strong and the companies we are providing services to are growing,” says Miguel Borrás, Managing Director of DHL Express Spain and Portugal.

Growth in B2B and B2C trade led the company to delopy five additional delivery routes between 2006 and 2021. Retail, fashion and engineering are the main sectors that concentrate shipments and deliveries in Zaragoza, followed by professional services, consumer goods and the automotive industry. Regarding the origin of shipments to the Zaragoza facilities, the “top” countries are China, Italy and Germany, while Mexico, France, the United Kingdom and Italy are the main destinations for the merchandise.

Due to this expansion, DHL’s workforce in Zaragoza has increased by 15%, mainly to carry out work related to routes and customs, among others. In fact, chances are DHL will be able to incorporate more professionals according to the growth and development macroeconomic trends for this year.

In Zaragoza, DHL Express has also committed to sustainability acquiring 12 small electric aircraft  and it is expected that, by 2025, the company will have replaced all its fleet to be electric, with the exception of long-haul vehicles.

Future growth and expansion

By maintaining the existing facilities focused on domestic transport operations, DHL Express expects to continue growing because e-commerce in the area of Zaragoza and Aragon has grown by 60% in two years, even during the pandemic, and traditional businesses are recovering, reaching pre-pandemic activity levels.

DHL’s growth forecasts within Aragon are currently focused on Zaragoza and Teruel, although the company does not rule out opening another facility in the third Aragonese province, Huesca, in the longer term. The company has a market share of around 53%, although “in Zaragoza, it may be higher and above the Spanish average.”

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Logistics

Inditex invests 80 million in the expansion of its facilities in Plaza

The apparel giant will expand its main logistics center, located in Aragon, starting in 2022
Zaragoza Logistics Platform, Plaza, proves to be an attractive location for investment

Inditex will expand, from 2022, its facilities in the Zaragoza Logistics Platform, Plaza, with an investment of 80 million euros and will create 250 new direct jobs. These facilities are expected to be functioning by 2023. The project includes the acquisition of new plots with a total surface of more than 63,500 square meters located in Plaza, close to the existing 180,000-square-meter facilities, which will allow them to connect all the centers it has in the logistics area.

“The purpose is to be able to provide the ‘Zara’ fashion chain with the logistics necessary for the export of its products, thus consolidating Plataforma Europa in Zaragoza as one of the logistics points of reference in the Inditex Group at an international level”, they have pointed out.

Established in 2003, Plataforma Europa has been one of the main logistics centers of Inditex and, therefore, an object of constant investment, with important expansions in 2010 and 2021. In addition, the Inditex group has highlighted that the presence of these facilities in PLAZA “has not only been a showcase for the city as a logistics hub, but has also represented a notable attraction of investment by third parties willing to develop auxiliar services for this center and for other companies in the Community, which thus benefit from the driving effect of this activity”. In 2020, it has reported a turnover of 120 million euros, a workforce of almost 1,800 people and positive results of 4.2 million euros.

On average, 1,750 indefinite jobs were created, and around 2,000 people were hired at peak times, with quality pay and social conditions. Due to this expansion, more job placements, ranging from specialist operators to production supervisors, logistics technicians, customs, administration or systems, among others, have been offered. Likewise, it is estimated that the indirect job creation factor will remain above two jobs for each direct job generated, which translates into about 750 new jobs in Aragon, between direct and indirect, associated with the expansion project.

This major investment made in PLAZA has been generating from its inception a remarkable driving effect in the economic and social environment, both in the area of activity of associated infrastructures – Zaragoza airport – as well as auxiliary companies – transport, maintenance, textile re-operations. In fact, the Zaragoza airport has become, since 2019, AENA’s second largest cargo airport, with 182,659 tons of transported materials, 90 percent of which are shipped by Inditex.

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Logistics

Amazon continues to invest in Aragón with a new logistics center and a logistics station in Zaragoza

The President of the Government of Aragón, Javier Lambán (right), and Amazon's General Manager Operations Spain, Fred Pattje (center), met in Zaragoza in June.

Amazon today reinforced its commitment to Aragon with the announcement of its first Operations facilities in the region, a logistics center and a logistics station. The company is making progress in its investment in the Community with two new centers that will be located in the city of Zaragoza -in the Plaza industrial estate-, to serve Amazon customers and support Spanish and European demand.

The logistics center, of more than 52,000m2 and expected to start operating in 2022, will be used by Amazon to store and manage small and large products. These products will then be processed and shipped to other fulfillment centers, supporting Amazon’s operations throughout Europe.

“We are delighted to continue investing in Aragon with a new logistics center in Zaragoza, which will play a key role for our operations in Spain and, ultimately, in Europe. Furthermore, sustainability has been a fundamental pillar for the construction of this center, ensuring a low carbon footprint ”, said Fred Pattje, Director of Amazon Customer Fulfillment in France, Italy and Spain. The president of Aragon, Javier Lambán, pointed out that “the arrival of Amazon to PLAZA is a before and after for Aragon, being the greatest support for the take-off of Aragón Logistics Platform, which currently has more than 20,000 employees in more than 500 companies, to which the direct and indirect jobs will be added after the landing of Amazon ”. Lambán added, “the Amazon logistics center is the confirmation of the great logistics commitment in Aragon and the beginning of a long journey of excellent collaboration with a strategic company that will bring positive consequences, such as more employment and innovation.” Amazon has also announced a new logistics station of more than 6,600m2 that is expected to start operating this year. This last-mile hub will be located near the new logistics center, and will help speed deliveries to customers in the Aragon region. Fulfillment stations power the last mile of Amazon’s ordering process and help improve the delivery experience for customers. Packages are shipped to a fulfillment station from nearby Amazon fulfillment and distribution centers, loaded onto delivery vehicles, and delivered to customers.

Source: www.aragonhoy.es, www.amazon-prensa.es

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Logistics

ZLC’s Master in Logistics named #1 Global SCM Program

The Supply Chain Management master’s programs offered through the MIT Global Supply Chain and Logistics (SCALE) Network have been ranked #1 Supply Chain Management graduate programs in the world for the fifth consecutive year by Paris-based EdUniversal. The organization evaluates thousands of specialty master’s and MBA programs each year on criteria including overall program reputation, career and salary outcomes of recent graduates, international reach, and feedback from students and alumni.

MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics formed the SCALE Network in 2003 with the founding of the Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC) in Zaragoza, Spain, and has since expanded the network to include six education and research centers on four continents. The #1-ranked SCM master’s programs offered at SCALE centers in China, Luxembourg, and Malaysia, as well as Spain, are closely modeled on the program taught at MIT CTL, which has been educating supply chain professionals since 1998. Other SCALE Network educational offerings include a low-residency Graduate Certificate program for students pursuing master’s degrees in related fields at top universities in Latin America, as well as executive education courses, part-time master’s programs, and PhD programs.

 

More information at zlc.edu.es

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Logistics

Green light for rolling highway between Zaragoza and Algeciras

The Spanish Minister for Transport and Mobility, José Luis Ábalos, and the president of state-owned railway infrastructure manager ADIF, Isabel Pardo de Vera, today announced large investments to adapt the Zaragoza-Algeciras railway line as a rolling highway for piggyback transportation. The project is the result of a joint initiative of the Autonomous Regions of Aragon and Andalusia, following an agreement signed in 2017.

The new railway connection will be a gateway to African markets for companies from the South of Europe, and vice versa. Morocco already is one of Aragon’s most important trade partners.

It will also consolidate Aragon’s position as the main hinterland port in Spain, as the region will be connected by train to all main ports of the Iberian peninsula.

Piggybacking of semi-trailers by rail offers important economic and environmental benefits. Ferroutage services are already working on several European transit routes.

The 100-million-euro investment announced today will allow to increase the loading gauge height of the railway line to AF 4.2 standard, which is crucial for the accommodation of double stack convoys.

Further information

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Logistics Sin categoría

Monzón Intermodal Terminal (TIM) handled 8% more containers in 2020

10 years after its inauguration, the Monzón Intermodal Terminal (TIM), which belongs to aragonese SAMCA group with a participation of Logirail, keeps growing steadily despite the pandemic. In 2020, TIM handled 67.705 containers, an 8.3% increase compared with 2019. 55% of handled containers were for export, many of them being reefers to transport fresh products like pork meat. The terminal’s new agrifood bulk division handled 34.730 tons of cereal in its first full year of service. 1,096 trains were dispatched in the terminal in 2020, with substantial environmental benefits as this number equals 20.000 truck loads or 3,750 tons of CO2. See full article in Spanish
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Logistics

New Climatic Test Station opens in PLAZA logistics platform

CETEMET Technological Center has set up a new climate testing station in PLAZA logistics platform, Zaragoza. The new infrastructure, unique in Spain is aimed at developing tests for vehicles, trucks or trains that transport perishable goods (food or sanitary material, for example). 

The testing station, which stands out for its size, is capable of carrying out tests and analysis in extreme thermal conditions, from 20 degrees below zero to 50 degrees, thanks to its outstanding air conditioning systems.

It provides a unique and exceptional new service to the Platform’s offer, which responds to the demand of the railway and transport sectors. It has ENAC accreditation and is approved by the Spanish Ministry of Industry as an official ATP Testing Station.

Characteristics of the test station

 

  • Dimensions: 30x5x5.5 m (LxWxH)

  • Temperature range: -20º to 50º

  • Temperature ramps of 3º C / hour

  • Thermal homogeneity of the laboratory below 2ºC

  • Generation and control of relative humidity 20% to 70%

  • Air velocity in test environment 1-3 m / s

  • Functional tests: projection of snow and generation of ice sheets

  • Installed track widths: 1000mm, 1435mm and 1668mm

  • Vehicle entrance with winch

  • 63A / 400v three-phase installed sockets

  • Temperature / humidity / time programmed cycles

For more detail please visit the CETEMET homepage.

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Logistics

CSP Iberian Zaragoza Rail Terminal is ready to offer piggybacking services, adding a new modality to the Aragonese logistics hub

CSP Iberian Zaragoza Rail Terminal (CSPZ), a subsidiary of the CSP Spain group, confirmed to ADIF and the Government of Aragon, its ability to immediately operate up to two daily ferroutage trains. After the tests carried out during the last months on a regular basis in collaboration with transport companies, the terminal, located in the ADIF terminal PLAZA Zaragoza, confirms the satisfactory results and its immediate capacity for regular operations for this type of service.

Piggybacking, or ferroutage, is a form of rail freight transport in which trains transport, by means of special wagons, trailers or entire trucks from a terminal of origin to which they arrive by road to a destination terminal where, once unloaded, it continues its journey by road. It combines the advantages offered by rail transport (such as safety, less environmental impact and economy) with those of road transport, especially the direct access to loading / unloading points

The terminal that CSPZ operates in Zaragoza is located in the largest intermodal terminal in Spain, in the PLAZA logistics platform,  with 7 loading / unloading lanes of more than 750 net meters between cantons, and unbeatable road and rail connections.

CSP Iberian Zaragoza Rail Terminal was established in 2013 to operate this terminal and offer intermodal services for the PLAZA logistics platform. The terminal aims to strengthen the railway corridors that link the hinterlands of the ports of Valencia and Bilbao with Zaragoza, as well as the development of the Central and Atlantic railway corridors that link Zaragoza with the south-central Iberian Peninsula and the ports of the Atlantic cornice.

Source: CSP Spain