Geodis Wilson, the global freight management and logistics provider, has announced the expansion of its global network of operating hubs dedicated to the sector, thus underlining its on-going commitment to the logistics demands of the Oil & Gas industry. In addition to existing hubs in Houston and Vitrolles (near Marseille), the company has just opened a third hub in Singapore. Two more, in Antwerp and Dubai, will be online by the end of the year and a further two are planned for 2015. The development is in line with Geodis Wilson’s strategic growth plan in its Industrial Projects division for the burgeoning Oil & Gas sector, where it plans to increase freight volumes by 50% within a year after opening the new hubs.
From its headquarters and primary Oil & Gas hub in Houston (established in 2009) the Company has developed its network of operational centres across the globe. The new hub in Singapore is strategically located to service the Oil & Gas clusters in Southeast Asia. The North African region is served through its Vitrolles hub in the South of France. The upcoming centre in Antwerp will serve North Sea activities, Eastern Europe and Africa, while Dubai will become Geodis Wilson’s Oil & Gas hub for the Middle East and Indian sub-continent. In 2015, the company plans to expand into China and South Africa with the launch of additional hubs. Companies in the Oil & Gas sector place complex and constantly changing demands on their supply chains. “As a primary provider of logistics and transport management services we must be flexible in our development”, says Philippe Somers, Senior Vice President of Geodis Wilson’s Industrial Projects Division. “The strategy of developing a network of hubs allows us to implement enhanced solutions to these dynamic requirements.” “Our strategy is to put a knowledge-based workforce in the centre that can work in close collaboration with our customers. Therefore the hubs are staffed by highly experienced personnel with particular knowledge and skills in the Oil & Gas sector”, explains Steen Christensen, Global Head, Oil & Gas for Geodis Wilson. Describing the customer-driven philosophy behind the dedicated global-hub network, he adds that “flexibility in the provision of logistics services is undoubtedly a key characteristic of successful service providers, particularly in Oil & Gas. At Geodis Wilson the ability to customize solutions for each individual logistics challenge is ingrained in our culture; it’s what makes us stand apart in a highly competitive market.”