Continental broadens Norbert Dentressangle logistics contract
Continental Tyres has renewed its contract with Norbert Dentressangle for a further five years, including “a significant extension” to the scope of the operation. In addition to acting as Continental’s UK and Ireland National Distribution Centre (NDC), under the new contract, Norbert Dentressangle’s site at Rugby will also act as a consolidation point for orders which were previously delivered as full loads direct from Continental’s European manufacturing plants to major wholesale customers in the UK.
This means Norbert Dentressangle will establish an additional 10,000 square foot area within the warehouse to accommodate the additional volumes, storing more than 30,000 units and handling almost 1.5 million tyres per annum. It is anticipated that the new operation will also create around 15 new jobs. In total, the expanded operation will occupy around 125,000 square foot and will be responsible for handling around 2.7 million tyres per year.
Instead of delivering direct to customers, Continental’s manufacturing plants will deliver full loads into the consolidation centre at Rugby. Norbert Dentressangle will then be responsible for the building of customer orders from stock held in the consolidation point with the goal of improving lead times and service levels. In some cases, products which come into the consolidation centre will also be consolidated with orders being fulfilled from the NDC.
Norbert Dentressangle has been Continental’s logistics partner since 2006, with responsibility for the storage and distribution of tyres to retailers and fitters throughout the UK. Previously located in Birmingham, the operation transferred to Rugby in October 2011, providing Continental Tyres with enhanced capacity and flexibility.
The site was one of the first to benefit from Continental’s new in-house warehouse management system which has been fully interfaced with Norbert Dentressangle’s own SHARP3 transport planning system, providing real-time visibility and control throughout the supply chain. Under the new contract, Norbert Dentressangle is also introducing RF technology across the enlarged operation to further enhance efficiency and accuracy in the warehouse.
Stewart Jackson, supply chain director at Continental Tyres said: “The continuing high level service provided by Norbert Dentressangle is of the utmost importance to us as it has a direct effect on our customers. Reliable and timely supply is a top priority for us, the retailer and their customers, the motorist. Whilst we benchmark to make sure that the service is still best in class, Norbert Dentressangle remain the leader in the market which is why we have renewed and extended our contract with them. “
Norbert Dentressangle’s warehouse in Rugby also acts as a hub for the consolidation of Continental volumes with volumes from Bridgestone, another Norbert Dentressangle customer, providing a premium next-day delivery service to both company’s retail customers throughout the UK.
In addition, Norbert Dentressangle is a major provider of logistics services to a number of other premium tyre manufacturers, both in the UK and mainland Europe, operating more than 260,000 square metres of warehousing across nine sites in six countries.
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