Geodis Wilson Takes Its Place In The Project Freight Capital, Houston

Global freight management company Geodis Wilson has launched the US headquarters of its specialist Industrial Projects Division in Houston to be closer to the decision-making centers of a growing client base that demands organization of global transportation to site of major generators, turbines, large volumes of pipes, mining and construction equipment and desalination plants, along with associated support and control.

Alongside the headquarters of global oil and gas and engineering corporations and their suppliers and sub-contractors, the Geodis Wilson Industrial Projects Division provides a multidiscipline team of 40. By having a dedicated division for this sector Geodis Wilson is able to respond to clients’ diverse needs in adapting to today’s world economy and evolving business models explained Philippe Somers, the division’s Senior Vice-President, who has a 20-year management pedigree in this sector.

“When you have to move heavy or out-of-gauge cargoes into countries that are not your typical destinations it is very specialized and you need a team that is not only familiar with the type of cargoes involved and how to handle and treat them, but also has the know-how to deal with matters in other countries, and all of this expertise is consolidated here in Houston in one group of people,” he said.

The Houston team is led by Managing Director George Abreu, head of projects business in the US, and Houston Branch Manager Frank Abreu. It is already meeting the demands of oil and gas, engineering, drilling and engineering procurement contractors (EPCs) based in the Houston area, providing a one-stop shop for transport management by truck, barge, air and ocean, as well as offering order expediting, customs brokerage, storage and inventory functions, materials management and distribution.

It serves as a national center of excellence for the US and will service projects through other areas, including the eastern seaboard and Pacific coast.

Essential in serving this sector is provision of an industrial packing capability, which Geodis Wilson’s Industrial Projects Division meets through its own 65,000 sq ft (6,000 sq metre) packing and temporary and long-term storage warehouse close to Houston Airport, complete with two acres of outside area for marshalling heavy plant and project equipment. Supplementing this facility, a mobile packing team will service projects at the docks where necessary.

In tandem with the obvious technical and commercial capabilities required to deliver on time, with safety, and at a competitive price, the division also provides the wider expertise and support now demanded. Control of infrastructure at both ends of the operation is vital.

“Of added value to our clientele - both major corporations and smaller and medium-sized independents - is our geographical network in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, where a lot of projects are now happening,” said Somers, who joined Geodis Wilson some three years ago after a career long on industry experience. He has held management posts in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Houston and Russia.

Project customers increasingly seek a logistics partner able to collaborate with its financial management as well as production and procurement. “Today’s clients also seek project support in areas such as health and safety, local content, security, quality assurance, human resources and environmental and ethical and cultural aspects of their operations - all of which the Houston-based team is equipped to handle,” added Somers.

Geodis Wilson sees further potential development in the industrial projects activity, which has been strengthened by the acquisitions of TNT Freight Management and Rohde & Liesenfeld, attracting raft of new clients worldwide. Revenues have doubled over the past three years and further expansion is anticipated over the next five years.

The Houston office, which has grown its staff from just 15 at the start of 2009 and is expected to comprise a team of 80 by the end of 2010, joins a global Industrial Projects Division network of competence centers in 34 countries. Other scheduled launches include Abu Dhabi, Dammam and Rio de Janeiro. Algeria and Libya have also joined the network.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” promised Somers. “We came out of nowhere and slipped into the global top 10. Between sixth and tenth it is all hanging close. If you want to get into the top five you have to step things up and that’s what we are doing here with the Houston launch.”