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New
Distribution Centre creates strategic benefits for Antalis
An
interview with Mr. Pim Stolwijk, Director Operations Antalis
Netherlands
Antalis
is the largest European group in the distribution of communications
support materials (Print & Office Paper, Visual Communication
& Packaging) with more than 230,000 customers — from printers
and resellers to large companies and communication agencies
— in some 53 countries. Mr. Stolwijk used to work for ModoVanGelder
(now part of Antalis). He has had a long relationship with
Groenewout dating back to the nineties. This is why he approached
Groenewout when Antalis needed a new Distribution Centre
in Almere.
A
long-standing relationship with Groenewout
 “Our
first contact with Groenewout goes back to the nineties,
says Pim Stolwijk (Director Operations Antalis Netherlands).
“I used to work for ModoVanGelder, which later became part
of Map Merchant. In 2007, the wholesale business of Map
Merchant was taken over by Antalis”. During all these years
I had a very positive experience with Groenewout in various
projects”, says Stolwijk.
“Groenewout regularly helped with projects for Map Merchant
(for example, realizing a warehouse extension at ModoVanGelder).
They also provided advice. For example, for optimizing the
operations at Grafisch Papier, another subsidiary in the
Netherlands. And, in 2006, they advised Map Merchant on
the consolidation of the Map Merchant operations in the
Benelux.” He continues: “In February 2008, we decided that
we needed a partner for our consolidation plans in the Netherlands.
We immediately contacted Groenewout.”
‘We
needed to work within a tight time-line’
Stolwijk
explains that Antalis had an option on land in Almere for
the planned new consolidated Distribution Centre. “We were
anxious to work within a tight time-line and Groenewout
prepared a proposal on how this could be done very quickly.
Their proposed approach also ensured that the rental price
would be market competitive and that despite the tight schedule,
the quality of the decision-making process would not be
negatively affected.”
Taking
care of the smallest details
 According
to Stolwijk, Groenewout made contributions in many areas.
They initially chaired workshops on business development
and then produced a sizing for all the warehouse and a configuration
of the racking. In addition, Groenewout provided advice
with regard to the facilities, the selection and acquisition
of equipment required for the warehouse - and produced the
design and lay out of the warehouse. He explains: “Groenewout
helped us to set the scope of the consolidated operation
and they did the sizing and conceptual design for the Distribution
Centre. They took the lead in the tendering process with
the project developers, while also detailing the lay-out.
Groenewout also provided support for the contracting stage
while taking on the project management and they provided
advice with regard to the complete building and installations.
In fact,” Stolwijk says, “they also did the tender and realisation
support for the Racking and Material handling equipment.
And finally, they provided transition support, including
for the stream leader facility, the office move to the new
Distribution Centre and even the detail such as cleaning,
catering and the coffee machines!”.
Pleased
with the new Distribution Centre
Stolwijk
is very pleased with the new 27,000 m² Distribution Centre.
“It has a FM Global EFSR sprinkler system and is equipped
with narrow aisle racks for storage and picking of paper
in many different qualities and sizes”, he says. “It contains
a VAL area for the cutting, counting and repacking of paper.
Orders can be sorted per route and can be loaded in the
correct sequence in accordance with the daily dynamic planning
of deliveries.” He continues: “Other product categories
are separated from the paper products. These include packaging
business such as packaging materials but also packaging
machines and spares (on approximately 7,000 m²), imaging
with special VAL equipment and Viscom (visual communication)
on approximately 2,500 m², with cantilever racking.”
According to Stolwijk, the onsite offices for the commercial
organisations of ModoVanGelder and Dekker Packaging and
the Antalis Operations NL organisation can accommodate approximately
150 people. “The idea was to get the Distribution Centre
up and running during the autumn of 2009, right after the
opening of the building on September 24, 2009. This has
been put in place for packaging related products. Paper
related business will start as of January 2010.”
New distribution system offers many strategic advantages
Stolwijk concludes: “The logistics of three company subsidiaries are to be combined. This delivers considerable synergy and cost advantages. The main benefits of consolidating our operations are to be found in the opportunity this provides with regard to synergies in inventory reduction and transportation efficiencies. The efficiencies and synergies in warehousing processes and space utilization are of course also of very high interest to us. I would say the main thing is that this operation allows us to optimize the services we provide to clients and to achieve much more efficiency in the use of the warehouse, which will lower cost significantly.”
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