FAQ

Sea packaging is special packaging that is used for the transport of goods by sea. At BHS Global Logistics, high-quality machinery, equipment and systems are preserved and secured in customized wooden packaging for export by sea transport or air freight. The goods are packed in the wooden components provided with the help of securing elements, films, desiccants and tension belts. Quality checks are carried out, packaging is labelled and the goods are loaded onto lorries. In addition, the packing lists are checked, the activities are documented and the goods are documented for the customer using photos.

The advantage of sea packaging is that it is robust and resistant to the harsh conditions at sea. It protects the goods from moisture, salt water, impacts and other environmental influences.

The transport of sea-packed goods is handled with the help of shipping. This involves passenger and freight transport on waterways and the open sea. This is managed with passenger ships and goods ships by inland, coastal and deep-sea shipping companies as well as private watercraft. The goods are transported through the logistics transport and supply chain from the producer to the final recipient's destination.

Pre-carriage is part of the logistics transport and supply chain. It describes the transport of goods packed for sea from the producer to the port of departure for further transshipment to the main means of transport. The main leg follows. It represents the sea transport from the port of departure to the destination port of the receiving forwarder in the destination region. A further transshipment takes place there, which sorts the consignments for transport, summarizes them and loads them onto the means of transport. The final stage of the transport chain, the onward carriage, describes the route from the port of destination to the final recipient of the goods. At BHS Global Logistics, the following applies: "Anyone who produces machines and systems within a radius of 150 kilometers must currently first transport them by truck to a seaport, where they are packed and then shipped. At BHS Global Logistics, we offer the process from a single source, i.e. sea packaging, climate-friendly transport by rail including sea freight and delivery."

BHS Global Logistics uses different types of containers for the transport of sea freight. Due to the variety of different container types, the appropriate transport container is used for each freight. On the one hand, the standard container, also known as the box container, is used. This is generally the most commonly used container for sea freight. It has a length of 20 or 40 feet, a width of 8 feet and a height of 8.5 feet. The box container is usually closed and has a door at one end. On the other hand, the open-top container is used for freight that is higher than the container wall. This type has an open top. The roof of the container consists of a tarpaulin, or a cover made of waterproof material. It makes it easy to load and unload goods that are too high and need to be lifted by crane, for example. The third variant used by BHS Global Logistics is the flat rack container. This is a sea freight container with a flat platform without side walls and roof. It is particularly suitable for heavy and bulky goods that need to be loaded from above or from the side. It also has fixed or folding end walls and can be fitted with container corners to secure the load during transport.

Cargo loads that are larger or heavier than the standard dimensions of freight containers are referred to as Out of Gauge (OOG). These are goods that are overwidth, overlength or overheight. Goods with an excess width or length are therefore loaded on the flat rack container. Goods with excess height can be transported by sea either in a flat rack container or in an open-top container. Cargoes that are within the standard dimensions are called in gauge. This means that these cargoes are usually transported in a box container.

ISO 9001 quality management certification is a widely used standard in quality management. The introduction of the standard helps to improve company performance at all levels. BHS Global Logistics has been certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 since November 2023.

ISO 9001 compliance is achieved within the company by documenting, regularly reviewing and improving processes in accordance with the standards of the standard. In addition, employees should have the ability to understand the requirements of the standard and be able to implement them in their daily work.

The duration of certification depends on various factors, such as the size of the company, the complexity of the process or the company's portfolio. On average, however, it can be said to take several months and up to a year.

During order picking, goods are compiled from a complete range according to predefined orders. The process can be either single-stage or multi-stage. If the process is single stage, a distinction is also made between individual orders and order series. The picking of lighter goods in the first two levels is handled at BHS Global Logistics with a single-step retrieval process. With multi-level picking, the orders are processed one after the other in partial orders. Additional manual work steps are required here so that the goods, which are retrieved from the higher levels in the BHS Global Logistics warehouse, can be picked. At BHS Global Logistics, picking orders are processed according to priority and goods issue date. The picked goods are then moved from the pallet and cantilever warehouse to the consolidation area. System-guided picking is carried out via a so-called Handheld.

There is manual, semi-automated and fully automated picking. Manual picking involves the manual collection of items from the warehouse, while semi-automated picking involves the use of technologies such as pick-by-voice or pick-by-light to facilitate picking. Fully automated picking uses automated systems such as ASPWs.

With pick-by-robot picking technology, items are provided from the warehouse to a picking workstation via automatic conveyor technology. At the respective workstations, the items are removed from a source container by the robot and placed in the target container. High-performance cameras on the robot recognize the desired items to be removed from the source container. BHS Global Logistics works with the »LUKE3« mobile picking robot from IGZ, which has two gripper tools including an automatic tool changer.

In consolidation, the picked goods are compacted. Consolidation is therefore the next step in the supply chain after picking. Several picking containers are brought together on the consolidation area from different BHS Global Logistics warehouses, such as the pallet warehouse and the cantilever warehouse for a customer order, which can then be dispatched.

In logistics, a pick is either a counting unit or an activity. The counting unit as a pick indicates the frequency with which goods are removed. While the activity pick describes the removal of goods from the warehouse.

BHS Global Logistics has a total of 5 different types of warehouses:  Pallet warehouse  Cantilever storage  Block storage  Cable warehouse  Automatic small parts warehouse (ASPW)

Automatic small parts warehouses are an ideal and efficient solution for storing small-volume goods in containers in a space-saving manner. Using intelligent replenishment strategies, the goods can be dynamically and quickly made available for picking. One of the advantages of automated small parts warehouses is the high degree of space utilization: the storage volume can be fully utilized in terms of height. The option of multi-deep storage further improves the space-saving effect considerably. In addition to the increased storage density, high throughput rates can be achieved by using suitable, high-performance storage and retrieval machines, which in turn have a decisive influence on and maximize picking performance.

The ASPW was originally developed specifically for the storage of small parts such as screws or nuts. An automated small parts warehouse can store more goods in a smaller area and offers faster picking of small parts. The automation of warehouse processes increases the efficiency and accuracy of warehouse management.

The Scan Station-HAWK3 from BHS Global Logistics enables fully automated checking of the contents of containers and shipping cartons. The camera unit with IGZ image processing and full integration into SAP EWM / MFS, which is mounted above the conveyor system, compares the expected contents with the recognized contents as the containers pass through. If anomalies or errors are detected, appropriate measures are initiated automatically.

In »green logistics«, the ecology / environment factor is integrated holistically into the company and its processes. BHS Global Logistics already incorporates the areas of »green logistics« into the realization of the logistics center. Here, increased attention was paid to sustainability and energy efficiency. The building is one of the first industrial buildings to meet the requirements of the new BEG 55 energy standard and is DGNB climate certified.

BEG 55 is an energy standard for buildings that is subsidized as part of the federal funding for efficient buildings. A low primary energy requirement is achieved through a combination of measures such as thermal insulation, efficient heating and ventilation systems and renewable energies. Compared to the GEG reference building, an efficiency building 55 requires only 55 % of the primary energy.

The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) is an independent non-profit organization that was founded in 2007 and has developed into Europe's largest network for sustainable building. The DGNB certificate is therefore proof of greater sustainability in construction. The logistics center has been awarded the DGNB Gold certificate since April 2024. The logistics center sets technical, ecological, economic, and functional standards. It offers owners and users more comfort, lower ancillary costs, and a higher market value.

Using digital tools and platforms, for example, resources can be conserved and thus be effective drivers for sustainable logistics. The use of energy-efficient means of transport and the reduction of waste also contribute to greater sustainability.

To promote the environment, attention must be paid to sustainable transport. Sustainable transport should reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels and energy. It should also support compliance with political guidelines.

Logistics encompasses all tasks relating to the integrated planning, coordination, implementation and control of the flow of goods and goods-related information, from the points of origin to the points of consumption. Logistics is an interplay of the availability of the right goods, in the right quantity, in the right condition, in the right place, at the right time, for the right customer and at the right cost.

As a provider of »end-to-end solutions« in inbound and outbound logistics, BHS Global Logistics is a central point of contact that takes care of all the necessary steps to ensure that the products reach their destination. Inbound and outbound logistics cover the entire value chain. Inbound logistics concentrates on the procurement and supply of goods, while outbound logistics focusses on the distribution of goods, i.e. transport to the customer.

A freight forwarder takes care of the transport of goods, while logistics covers the entire process of transporting, storing and managing goods.

Transport in the logistical sense describes the bridging of space for goods using means of transport. The central functions of transport are the carriage and the necessary handling. The choice of the most cost-effective means of transport is determined by the factors influencing the transport goods, business partners and the law.