Anyone who deals significantly in trade between the UK and the EU has been waiting for the beginning of 2021 apprehensively. The transition period for the UK’s participation in the European Union Customs Union and European Single Market ended on December 31, 2020, creating a new European reality. A reality made all the more problematic as it is fraught with insecurity and many question marks.
Until today, only some of the conditions for cooperation between the European Union countries and the United Kingdom have been definitively established, and there is still uncertainty about all applicable regulations or documents concerning imports and exports. The situation is changing very dynamically. Every day new agreements between the countries of the EU and the UK are being signed, and new regulations and rules are being introduced.
Trade, transport, logistics, customs, and tax management under these conditions is a great challenge. At Ziegler Group we have been working continuously for many weeks on solutions to enable the smooth flow of our customers’ goods between the UK and EU countries. Ziegler’s logistics expert groups in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and other European countries work continuously to analyze changing regulations and to exchange knowledge and experience. These multinational team efforts help us to analyze regulations from different sources, compare agreements, and develop a coherent system of document circulation and procedures. Although with such a rapidly changing situation, it is difficult to establish procedures of any kind.
That is why we have appreciated our business flexibility and ability to adapt dynamically to new situations. We would like to assure you that within Ziegler Group we are doing our utmost to keep our knowledge of the regulations and required procedures related to import and export to the UK up-to-date, and are continuously adapting our solutions to match current regulations to provide you with efficient and effective services.
We are aware that there are still many efforts, challenges, and work to do ahead of us in this area. However, with our multinational teams working together to adapt and deliver the best possible solutions, we are confident we can help you navigate all your import/export needs between the UK and the EU in 2021. If you wish to consult us on anything relating to transport to or from the UK, please contact our experts at our European branches.
Belgium brexit_BE@zieglergroup.com
France brexit_FR@zieglergroup.com
Germany brexit.DE@zieglergroup.com
The Netherlands brexit_NL@zieglergroup.com
UK:
Durham Brexit_UK_Durham@zieglergroup.com
Gateway Brexit_UK_LondonGateway@zieglergroup.com
Bradford Brexit_UK_Bradford@zieglergroup.com
Warrington Brexit_UK_Warrington@zieglergroup.com
Tamworth Brexit_UK_Tamworth@zieglergroup.com
Northampton Brexit_UK_Northampton@zieglergroup.com
Newport Brexit_UK_Newport@zieglergroup.com
Peterborough Brexit_UK_Peterborough@zieglergroup.com
Portsmouth Brexit_UK_Portsmouth@zieglergroup.com
Please also visit our website where we share our current knowledge related to Brexit.
In English https://www.zieglergroup.com/brexit/
In French https://www.zieglergroup.com/brexit-fr/
In Dutch https://www.zieglergroup.com/brexit-nl/
In German https://www.zieglergroup.com/brexit-de/
We are grateful for your trust and understanding and believe that by continuing to work hand-in-hand on this topic we can work out optimal solutions.
Launch of a new premium service
« Special Request »
Dear valued customer,
Today is a special day, we prepare for the launch of our new service « Special Request ».
As its name suggests, « Special Request » envisions a new era of transport services by taking care of customers’ special needs and providing premium services.
Discover a teaser of the new service launch
« Special Request »
Stay connected, our exclusive services are looking forward to impressing you in January 2021.
Special edition of the magazine on how the Ziegler Group is adapting to offer new digital solutions to customers and support their business even better through innovative products.
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit many industries and companies hard and painfully. It has brought anxiety to our professional and personal spheres. However, like any crisis, it also offers important lessons for us to learn and opportunities to take advantage. For the Ziegler Group, it was an excellent opportunity to accelerate our digital transformation and adjust our roadmap to support our customers and partners better in this changing environment.
For most other freight forwarders, increasing efficiency and productivity is the main goal of their digital transition. However, our primary focus in this process is customer-centric. We strongly believe that the development of our digital capabilities must contribute to making our customers successful.
We are happy to release this special edition of the Ziegler Group magazine, fully dedicated to the theme of the ongoing digital transformation that is occurring within our organization. We still have significant changes ahead of us. As we modernize our operating practices, we are looking to also raise the bar for the rest of our industry.
Onboard, edition autumn/winter 2020
Welcome onboard
The coronavirus pandemic has presented us all with unexpected new challenges: closed national borders, short-time working in production companies and the collapse of imports and exports – often forcing us to react to events at short notice in cooperation with our customers. We have been able to implement a large number of shipments despite the adverse circumstances. However, the coronavirus crisis has also strengthened us as a forwarding company. For example, the flexibility of ZIEGLER is one of the reasons we can implement special customer projects so successfully.
We are all about continuously striving to improve. The best example of this is that we have introduced a digital transformation at ZIEGLER in recent months. Logistics with ZIEGLER should be as intuitively easy, comprehensive and informative as we are used to from the world of online retail. You can read more about our digital transformation in this new edition of our “onboard” magazine.
Thorsten Witt
CEO – Ziegler Switzerland & Germany
Previous editions:
2020
2019
2018
2017
Our Christmas schedule for road transport EUROPE 2020/2021
December is often the time for summaries. As the year draws to an end, we are tempted to reflect and recapitulate. This year it has so much meaning because the year was so unprecedented. Unexpected, but also bringing new possibilities; challenging, but proving our strength; unpredictable, but allowing us to emphasize our flexibility.
Today, as 2020 draws to a close, and we reflect on all the wonderful work we have done, we wish to thank all Ziegler employees and associates. We are grateful for the enormous commitment, positive attitude, and ways in which we together proved we could change and adapt to every new situation. These attributes of our company are of priceless value.
Our knowledge and experience were used to help fight the pandemic. We delivered millions of face masks and other medical supplies to hospitals, pharmacies, and enterprises. We leveraged our rail freight capability to mitigate air freight and ocean freight capacity shortage.
In this hard time, we did not stop in our efforts to further develop. In May we moved into a new headquarters in the UK, and a month later we strengthened our position at Liège Airport (LGG) by acquiring Transports Rademaker with an excellent location in Grâce Hollogne at the end of the Liège Airport runway. Then, in October, we moved to new facilities at the Brussels airport.
This year, we also took great steps towards the digitization and further expansion of the Ziegler Group through the creation of the new ZieglerLabs in Poland – the center of excellence for digitalization and innovation.
There are no words to express our gratitude to our customers and partners, who have been standing by us through the year, working hard and looking for the best solutions side-by-side. You have made it possible for us to give as much of ourselves as possible, you have not lost your confidence and kept a positive mindset with us. This is our united success!
2021 will be a year of further interesting developments for the Ziegler Group, which we look forward to with excitement.
Meanwhile, for the upcoming festive season, we wish you a lot of peace and rest. May this time allow you to break away from the daily chase, and may it be full of joy and time spent with your loved ones. And let the New Year bring only good news!
Alain Ziegler Diane Govaerts
President Chief Executive Officer
We talk to Koen Depre, Manager of World Pack Belgium, the Ziegler Group’s department that specializes in the packaging of goods.
What is World Pack? What do you do?
We are a part of the Ziegler Group. We specialize in the packaging of a variety of goods. We offer complex solutions – take measurements, select the proper materials to pack and secure the goods, prepare it, and perform the packing service. The customer doesn’t have to do anything – no matter what it is – we take care of everything from A to Z.
How long has World Pack been a part of the Ziegler Group?
The history of World Pack starts at the beginning of the ’70s. At that time it was a company named Vandoren Piot, which was integrated into the Ziegler Group in 1971.
At that time there were hardly any companies offering such services and Ziegler’s customers often complained about having difficulties packing their shipments. Mr. Ziegler then decided to integrate Vandoren Piot into the Ziegler Group, to create the World Pack brand, so that we could offer even more comprehensive services to our customers.
What kind of goods do you pack?
We have three main specialties. Packaging of dangerous goods – chemicals, batteries, aerosols, etc. These goods are very sensitive to vibrations, temperature, and/or pressure. We have a lot of experience in safely packaging them and all the required certificates. Our second field of expertise is industrial, large-dimensioned goods, like machines or cars. We are also known for our experience in packing art and antiques. We once packed sculptures for the Louvre Museum in Paris, for example. It was an amazing experience.
Do you also have any experience in packaging other products?
Yes, a lot. We often work with the companies exporting goods that require temperature control, such as medicines or food products. We use dry ice to ensure proper temperature.
But we also send live animals between zoos or circuses. And once we even had to pack up a human body, which was being sent to undergo a forensic examination in a distant medical institute. We didn’t know what it was until it arrived for packaging. Everyone froze when we saw it! But we did it.
Maybe we should stick with talking about animals then… (laughs)
(laughs) The information about the content of the parcel also froze us a little.
So, back to the animals… We’ve had to prepare different species for shipments- even lions and tigers!
Wow, how do you “pack” a lion?
These kinds of animals always travel with a caretaker, who is responsible for taking care of them – feeding, watering, etc. Dangerous animals are transported in double cages, which allow them to be fed without opening the bars. We build each transportation solutions custom for a specific animal.
What was your biggest challenge so far?
Actually, it happened quite recently, a few months ago. The customer needed to load onto a ship that was leaving that same day, spare parts for the ship’s various machinery. The total weight was 12 tons. The timing was the biggest challenge in this case because the ship couldn’t leave without these parts, so everything had to be packed and on its way the same day. The team worked very hard and within 5 hours the shipment was ready.
It was worth the effort because it gained us a happy new client, who we still serve today.
Do you remember the biggest item that you’ve packed?
It was an attraction for a Chinese adventure park. It weighed about 200 tons and was over 12 meters long.
I hope one day I will get an opportunity to go see how it looks at the park. It’s very nice to know it’s entertaining people every day.
Do you only operate in Belgium?
No, we also fulfill orders in France, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Hungary. And actually, we are able to work anywhere in Europe.
You can find our full list of services on the website. And they can always contact us directly to receive a custom solution.
According to the most recent market intelligence, about two-third of companies are affected more or less by supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic. That number is expected to rise.
Production capacity in China and other Asian countries is slowly increasing and shipping companies are trying to compensate for the container imbalance by sending empty containers back to Asia.
At Ziegler, we will help you to better manage your supply chain and adapt to the disruption that may occur. We have a few tips to help you manage this difficult supply chain situation.
- Market conditions in the area of customs, shipping costs, and space availability are currently changing rapidly. Our Ziegler experts are up to date and in the best position to assess your needs and find the best solution for your business. We recommend that you use their help.
- Try to plan and book your freight as much in advance as possible, as this will help to secure the cargo space of the aircraft/sea. It is recommended to book cargoes at least 2-3 weeks before the expected due date. This will help to manage the cargo flow and add a buffer for possible delays.
- Explore our warehouse and logistics centers that can help you potentially ship your goods faster to the point of sale or simply store them until possible dispatch.
To find out more about our offer, that may help you to create end-to-end solutions tailored to your needs, please contact us.
With the support of our long-term banking partner BNP Paribas Fortis, we have made one more step forward in the transition to sustainability and recently moved to our new environmental friendly headquarters, proving that even in the transport industry, which is seen as not very eco-friendly, Ziegler takes many actions to save our planet.
” (…) «The sustainability aspect of the new building was thought out down to the smallest details», explains Diane Govaerts. Photovoltaic panels, rainwater collectors, heat pumps, techniques for reducing power consumption, and so on. The new HQ is Ziegler’s showcase in terms of sustainable development and perfectly embodies the company’s policies in this field (…)”
 
Brexit is going to bring some changes to your organization soon. Ziegler’s expert groups in the UK and Europe have worked their best to minimize Brexit related disruption to logistics networks. As international specialists, we want to support you in this transition. Therefore, to prepare and support you in this transformation, we provide a non-exhaustive list which includes the formalities to be done to limit the impact of Brexit on your business.
Check:
- If any product restrictions apply in Great Britain or the EU countries you send to –> check here
- If additional licenses or certifications are needed for your products –> check here
- If any special export control requirements apply to your products –> check here
- If your UK VAT number is valid and the option to defer VAT posting
Learn:
- What is the commodity code (HS code/harmonized system) of your product and remember to indicate it on your invoice and the electronic transmission –> learn more
Make sure:
- You provide a complete and accurate commercial or proforma invoice
- You applied for an EORI number (for EU and UK) if you don’t have one yet
- You set up a UK deferral account for import duties and VAT
We are on your call and will be happy to help you go through the formalities related to Brexit. We are looking forward to continuing our cooperation and being able to support your export efforts and guide you through the unknown of Brexit.
The following materials may be also helpful:
How to export goods from GB into the EU