DHL Freight helps major industry player in the delivery of wind generators and energy solutions As the wind energy market grows, having the right services and infrastructure in place plays a fundamental part of being able to succeed. That is why Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the only global energy company dedicated exclusively to wind energy, approached DHL in 2004 to assist them with their logistics requirements.
Vestas was founded in 1898 as a blacksmith shop in western Denmark, and it wasn’t until 1979 when they started producing wind turbines. Since then, they have gained a market-leading position with their best-in-class wind energy solutions. Vestas currently has more than 71 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind power and more than 49 GW under service globally. To put this in perspective, 1 GW is equivalent to 1000 megawatts (MW); It is estimated that a 1 MW powers 900 average households in the European Union.
First Global Wind Conference
With its geographical footprint, global inbound and outbound logistics services, DHL has been able to call on a number of its business units to assist in the transportation of these wind generators and components. In addition, a dedicated team of engineers operates in its Regional Wind Competence Center, and they held their first Global Wind Conference in Denmark earlier this year, which focused on offshore wind shipping and logistics.
DHL Freight Serbia was one of the business units entrusted with the transportation of Vestas’ wind generators and all related components for the construction of the first wind farm in Serbia. The biggest challenge was the complexity of the transport itself, which included using different modes of transport. The components were usually oversized and required special equipment during transportation and reloading. It was therefore not only a challenge to reload the goods onto barges from trans-oceanic ships at the port of Konstanca, sailing across the Danube and later unloading from barges onto trucks at the port of Apatin , but also to deal with the mechanization that followed. Vladan Šaljić, Country Manager, DHL Freight Serbia: “I must emphasize that all these processes are supervised and monitored by professionals from DHL’s Regional Wind Competence Center – EMEA. Most of them were employed as engineers in the wind generator industry in the past, so they know the business rather well.”
Confirmation of the high standards
The center was formed when DHL began its partnership with Vestas, as it requires specialized knowledge of the industry, its needs, and security processes. DHL Freight Serbia supports this team through customs mediation services, as well as selecting local partners for the project. Special oversized transportation is carried out by a local company, Bora Kečić, who unload the components from barges, place them on special vehicles and deliver the goods to the installation premises.
"Successful completion of the multimodal transport of wind turbines and supporting components is a confirmation of the high standards of business of DHL Freight”, explains Vladan.
