HILLEBRAND ACQUIRES BRAID

With this acquisition, Hillebrand aims to strengthen its position as a leading global logistics service provider not only for alcoholic beverages but also for other non-hazardous bulk liquids commodities.

Mainz, Germany, October 22th, 2020: Hillebrand, a world leading forwarding, transport and logistics provider to the alcoholic beverage industry and products that require special care, officially announces its acquisition of Braid, a key player in bulk liquids logistics. Through this acquisition, Hillebrand strengthens its expertise in handling non-hazardous liquids in bulk, such as wine, olive oil, non-hazardous chemicals, juices and edible oils, which adds to its long-established experience in full service logistics services of cased goods.

“Braid offers an exciting opportunity for Hillebrand to strengthen its network of services, products, skills, knowledge and teams”, explains Cees van Gent, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Hillebrand. “With its global reach, wide range of customized logistics solutions in bulk liquids transportation, as well as its manufacturing and technology know-how, the acquisition of Braid supports Hillebrand’s strategy to not only lead the market in logistics services for alcoholic beverages but also for non-hazardous bulk liquids”.

Braid is recognized as a diversified group offering innovative bulk liquids logistics services worldwide, which will not only complement Hillebrand’s array of bulk liquids solutions, but also expand its manufacturing capabilities, with two more facilities located in the United Kingdom and China. The combination of Hillebrand’s bulk liquids services and Braid will create a world leading end-to-end service provider for bulk liquids and one of the largest food-grade ISO tank operators globally.

Allan Leddra, CEO of Braid, comments “Hillebrand’s acquisition of Braid provides a major growth opportunity for both businesses. The two companies will achieve more as a unit, increasing value for customers, given both companies’ high reputation for providing a leading customer experience in bulk liquids logistics.” Allan Leddra and his management team will join Hillebrand to drive a successful integration and continue to grow the consolidated bulk liquids business of Braid and Hillebrand. “We also share  the same values and culture, so we are confident that our employees will smoothly integrate in the new organization and will find new growing opportunities within Hillebrand.”

Both Hillebrand and Braid share their commitment for a safe and sustainable transportation of goods, with high investments in R&D to create innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for their customers. The shared knowledge and expertise in non-hazardous commodities, the aim to provide an end-to-end service to even more customers, in addition to a wider product offering, are part of the benefits of bringing the two companies under one corporation.

Despite the current global Covid-19 situation, Hillebrand’s and Braid’s service and financial performance have remained very resilient. Hillebrand continues to pursue its business plan objectives of growing both organically and through acquisitions, to expand customer service and tailor-made solutions  worldwide. “This marks a further step in our journey to make Hillebrand an even more robust, bigger and better company than it is today, through our buy and build strategy,” details van Gent. This acquisition represents the third one in the past year, after 3W-Logistik (Germany) and Royal Logistics (USA), and is expected to result in greater efficiencies and significantly increase Hillebrand’s product offering.

Hillebrand’s bulk liquids services and Braid will, for the time being, continue to run their operations separately. However, bringing both businesses together will gradually unfold within the next 12 months. “It goes without saying that our customers will continue to receive the same high quality service, which they have come to expect” concludes van Gent.

ABOUT HILLEBRAND:

Hillebrand was founded in 1844 in Mainz, Germany. The company is a world leading forwarding, transport and logistics provider to the alcoholic beverage industry and products that require special care. Through its global carrier network Hillebrand manages logistics and transport for any quantity, from a single bottle to bulk, from all origins to all destinations, for all modalities. The group is known for its tailor-made solutions to improve efficiency in its customers’ supply chain. Hillebrand generates revenues of approx. EUR 1.2 Billion with a team of 2,300 professionals located in 90 countries.

ABOUT BRAID:

Braid was founded in the UK over 60 years ago, operates in 19 countries, with a team of 400 professionals and a turnover of approximately EUR 200 Million. The company is recognized as a global player in bulk liquids logistics via the dual bulk modes of flexitanks and food-grade ISO tanks. Braid owns a substantial fleet of ISO tanks and designs and manufactures its own flexitanks in sterile conditions using the unique Hexopure technology. In each flexitank, every component is traceable to source, including the polymers which make up the very fabric of the flexitank.

Visit Hillebrand’s website here: hillebrand.com

For more information or to request an interview, please contact Hillebrand’s PR Manager, Felicia Skira (f.skira@hillebrand.com).

We are all facing a very challenging situation with the pandemic and feeling the effects of it from a personal and company perspective. Our foremost thoughts must go to the people that have contracted the virus and not survived.  This has been terrible for their families and all concerned and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

This silent enemy is unprecedented in virtually all of our lifetimes.   I remember SARS in March 2003 and was in Hong Kong and China at the time of the outbreak.  Many friends and employees were quarantined, but we got through it.   Covid-19 is far more prevalent and has affected far more people globally, but again we will get through it.  Time will run its course and there will be a global recovery meanwhile we must react, individually and corporately, in a way to protect ourselves, our families, friends, colleagues and everyone else we come into contact with.

We must comply with local government regulations wherever you maybe at this current time and work towards how we can exceed these requirements in the best interests of everyone.

Braid are working internally and externally to meet all current regulations and determined to meet all obligations of our service commitments.   In many locations we have already been commended with our ability not only to supply our equipment and services, but to also meet additional demand.   Thanks to our staff and suppliers who have been able to make this happen.   Clients have approached Braid to assist in these difficult circumstances where our competition have not been able to.   Braid are able to do this because of our totally integrated supply chain and global network.

We would like to thank everyone for your continued support, keep safe and lets all work together to get over this pandemic crisis as quickly as possible.

Kind Regards

Allan Leddra

Group CEO

The Braid Group are constantly investing in the expansion of their global network and in keeping with this goal are pleased announced the establishment of Braid Japan Co., Ltd. This has been possible with the support and assistance from JETRO and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) whom have help making Braid Japan a reality. The renewed relationship and co-operation with their long-standing partners in Japan Uni-X Engineering (a member of NYK Group) ensures business continuity and strengthen customer relations.

With the office opening in Japan, Braid continue to build upon their history which follows their strategy of building a service offering that matches the needs of their growing customer base in Japan and worldwide.

“Since 1955, the name Braid has been synonymous with high-quality logistics delivery. Our liquid logistics product and service has been built around our own flexitank manufacturing capability. Braid flexitanks are constructed from high tensile strength polyethene film of our own manufacture. This allows us to transport up to 24 tonnes of non-hazardous liquids in standard 20ft shipping containers and we currently provide this service to over 120 countries including Japan. Wine, edible oils, specialty chemicals, mineral oils, and food ingredients are a sample of the products we transport worldwide and for our Japanese Clients. We are especially proud of our relationships with many of the Japanese Trading Houses who are a vital conduit for Japan based companies globally” said Allan Leddra CEO of the Braid Group.

“We are extremely excited about our presence in Japan which will greatly strengthen our global foot print. We look forward to the benefit that this investment by the Braid Group will bring to all parties especially our customers.” concludes Mr. Leddra

Braid Logistics are continually investing in our service capability and we have introduced another 50 X ISO Tanks to our ever-expanding Fleet.

Manufactured by CIMC in Nantong, China, the 50 X 26cbm T11 ISO Tanks, like all Braid ISO tanks, are food grade standard. They will now be utilised for bulk liquid distribution in the service of food and drink industries in New Zealand, Australia, and South East Asia. The 50 ISO Tanks represent the second of four batches which Braid will take in this year.

Braid have always provided a dedicated Fleet of ISO Tanks exclusively for food grade freight, offering our customers complete confidence in safety standards. We are one of the few ISO Tank operators accredited with ISO22000, demonstrating the highest standards in food safety management, including the traceability of our cargo history, the quality of our cleaning process and our ability to safeguard food safety in the entire supply chain.

Braid Australia commenced life in April 2003 whose initial business was largely dominated by ISO tanks via an office of 3 people in Melbourne, Victoria plus 1 in Adelaide, South Australia. As acceptance of the one way flexitank system took place as means of offering a cost-effective mode of transport of non-hazardous bulk liquids, the burgeoning Australian wine & food oil market took full advantage of this option. As a result, Braid elected to further enhance its Adelaide operation & in 2009 open the strategically located in the bulk wine growing area of New South Wales an office in Griffith.

Fast forward to May 2018 we celebrate the 15 year anniversary of the establishment of Braid Australia. Today we have a complement of 12 staff in the 3 locations in Australia, our Auckland, New Zealand office established in 2007 continues to flourish at a pace, servicing both gaseous ISO tanks in addition to catering for the rapidly growing New Zealand bulk wine trade. Our reach extends now into the Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea with strategic joint venture partners in key locations.

Our service offering has diversified into complimentary niche market products in the general international freight forwarding sphere, plus we continue to be proactive members of various related industry bodies.

Braid Australia is a proud member of the global Braid Group footprint, we excitedly look forward to the next 15 years & beyond!

Braid found its way over the bumps, hills and obstructions to deliver two Heat Recovery Steam Generators to a leading oil refinery.

The first module was 16’7” tall with a gross vehicle weight of 499,000 pounds and the second module 15’3” tall, 513,000lbs gross vehicle weight. The overall length of each load was 248’ (about 76 meters).

The difference in height required 2 different routes. While a regular load would travel the distance from shipper to receiver within 39 minutes, it took over 7 hours for the heaviest unit to complete a 117-mile journey.

Moves were performed during nighttime hours and in rainy conditions. Despite the weather challenges, Braid safely manoeuvred through 20 turns, 1 roundabout and lowered the trailers to clear a bridge.

Loads moved in slow motion and constant communication was required between push and pull tractor drivers to operate these specialised rigs at an optimal speed. At the job site, the modules were transferred onto a 12-line Goldhoffer SPMT and taken to their final laydown areas. With the help of the state patrols, field supervisor and route surveyor, the critical loads were delivered to their final destination without incident.

“After months of preparations, we are proud and happy to see that the operations turned out to be a great success” said Mr. Gus Chalos, President of Braid Projects.

Each year BIFA holds a freight service awards lunch in January and this year Braid Projects Division entered under the Project Forwarding Award.

Our submission, based on an export project from Glasgow KGV Docks, was selected as a finalist along with three other companies.

We attended the Freight Service Award lunch in London with another 500 people from the freight industry in the UK which was hosted by the reggae reggae sauce owner and entertainer Levi Roots.

Braid Logistics Asia reached out to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and donated 10 flexitanks for storing clean water meant for consumption.

With women and children making up a majority of those displaced by the conflict, there is an urgent need to prioritise their safety. Providing flexitanks storing clean water we are able to aid with the basic needs for consumption for those sleeping out in the open or in refugee camps.

Braid offers our deepest condolences to all those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state.

Braid Griffith is supporting a great cause in the month of October where all businesses in the town of Griffith, NSW are encouraged to decorate their shop windows in support for Breast Cancer Awareness – we are one of 143 businesses to “Pink Up” for the McGrath Foundation.