Logistics solutions for a world in motion
The golf event Made in Denmark presented by FREJA will take place on the 27th – 30th of May 2021. Also in 2021 FREJA will be presenting sponsor. We have already started to look forward to four days of world class golf. Stay updated on Made in Denmark’s webpage [link] and maybe sign up for their newsletter.
FREJA Transport & Logistics A/S has invested in 65 new trailers to operate in the Nordic countries.
The new trailers are 8 walking floor trailers, 18 reefers, 17 standard taut liners, 4 swop bodies and 18 Krone/Liebner trailers with flexible sides and roof.
The trailers are delivered by Krone Fleet and produced by the Dutch company Knapen, which Krone acquired last year. In total, FREJA operates about 2,700 trailers. The 65 new trailers are both an expansion and a replacement of the existing fleet of trucks.
In FREJA we have chosen to give the new trailers a technological lift by equipping them with Krone’s information system called Telematic. The system collects data which can be integrated into our IT system and thereby improve the service towards our customers.
Niklas Eggert, who since 2018 has been the Managing Director of LEMAN AB, becomes the new Managing Director of FREJA in Sweden.
Niklas has several years of experience in the industry, and he has a good knowledge of FREJA, as he has been in the organization earlier in his career. Group CEO, Ulrik Rasmussen, says: “We have been looking for a new Managing Director in Sweden for a long time. We have carefully considered who it should be, and in the end, we chose Niklas. We are very satisfied with the recruitment, and we are confident that he, together with the rest of our strong organization, can continue the positive development we see for FREJA in Sweden”.
Despite the unusual circumstances that COVID-19 has brought, FREJA has managed to create a positive result during 2020, and the future looks even brighter. Ulrik Rasmussen continues: "We have seen a fantastic turnaround in Sweden over the past six months, and so far we have managed to come out strong through the pandemic".
Niklas will start his new position at FREJA on the 1st of November, 2020. FREJA looks forward to welcoming Niklas Eggert to the organization.
Yesterday morning, a FREJA trailer drove with one of the very first express declarations through Svinesund customs. The driver drove right past all the queues and into the express lane at the green light, really pleased that all the goods have been confirmed customs cleared, and all document processing completed.
FREJA is among the four selected pilot companies that have been allowed to test the new customs clearance service - Express clearance. Express clearance is a fully digital and automated border crossing solution that is being tested at Svinesund customs.
«We at FREJA work continuously to make everyday life as simple as possible for our customers and contribute to development and innovation. The project is very exciting and will, in the long run, represent one of the biggest changes in the customs profession in recent times," says Lars Bemer, Manager Customs & IT at FREJA Transport & Logistics AS.
The new service aims to reduce queues at the border and ensure better control of the flow of goods. In addition to this, the new solution offers customers great benefits through the immediate release of the goods upon receipt since you do not have a 10-day rule to comply with. Moreover, it creates greater predictability about the delivery time.
Read more about our customs clearance solutions here.
Contact us if you want further information about Express Clearance or other customs products.
Dear reader
In FREJA, we believe that education is important. Therefore, we are very happy that we have recently welcomed 11 young people who have chosen to start their two-year education of becoming a freight forwarder or logistics assistant in FREJA. Having new trainees in our organization also implies that others are fully-educated as freight forwarders. This year, we congratulate 15 freight forwarders, logistics assistants, and finance assistants, and most of them have accepted our offer to continue working for FREJA. We look forward to continuing the journey with them.
Since 2017 FREJA Padborg has participated in a project which strives to get young people to work or get an education. In this newsletter, we have an article about Nana, who has been an intern at the warehouse. You can also read about our investment in 75 new trailers from TIP Trailer Services to Poland and our UK traffic. We are thus expanding the fleet and now have 2800 trailers.
On July 1st, FREJA in Poland opened a new logistics center in Szczecin, which has become our new headquarter for Poland. We offer advanced logistics solutions, and we have daily linehaul trucks to and from Scandinavia.
On 20th August, the EU has passed a mobility package which will affect the transport sector severely. At the time of writing, we do not know the consequences of the EU mobility package, because the implementation of the new initiatives will last more than three years. We will keep our customers informed through FREJA’s webpage or future newsletters.
In each FREJA newsletter, we bring focus on a customer. In this edition, you have the opportunity to read about Dansu, who, among other things, import masks from China. For several years, Dansu has collaborated with FREJA on road transport and has now chosen FREJA for air freight transports.
I wish you happy reading.
Szczecin is the new headquarter for Poland and employs around 50 people in different departments such as forwarding, warehousing, cross-docking, accounting, IT, HR, and administration, as well as around 85 drivers who is connected to our trucks. Some functions support all of FREJA Poland, whereas others are local activities.
On July 1st, FREJA opened a new logistics center in Szczecin. We offer a modern warehouse with 10,000 sqm and parking space for 250 trucks. The new location is our focal point between Poland and Scandinavia on the one hand and Poland and European groupage services on the other hand. We offer complex logistics solutions, including services such as handling, packaging, labeling, storage, and other value-added services that are supported by a modern WMS system.
About the opening of our new logistics center, FREJA’s Chairman of the Board in Poland, Torben Mortensen, says: “As expected, the opening went well, and with the new facilities we have the best prerequisites of delivering value-added services to our customers. We have already integrated the first customers with success, and have room for more activity and would very much like to welcome you to our new logistics center”.
We have a strong focus on the development of E-commerce, and we have experienced large increases in freight volumes over the past two years. For this reason, we have chosen to dedicate employees to handle these tasks, as it requires expertise to handle large volume fluctuations and to be able to guarantee next day delivery. Previously, we only handled the transport flow, but with the new facilities we can handle the entire logistics.
In connection with the expansion of our department in Poland, we have also focused on our trucking division. This year we are expanding the fleet from 68 to 88 trucks. This with both 2-axle and 3-axle trucks to strengthen the FREJA brand and focus on quality, environment, and the right driver conditions. Torben Mortensen elaborates: “We want to ensure that our drivers have the most optimal conditions in the industry. For this reason, we have, among other things, established modern welfare rooms for the drivers, social facilities, and a laundry room of a high standard”.
If you want to learn more about the solutions we offer in Szczecin, please feel free to contact your local FREJAN or Torben Mortensen.
FREJA has invested in 75 new Schmitz Cargobull Telematik curtain trailers from TIP Trailer Services. Of the 75 new trailers, 50 of them are for FREJA in Poland, and the remaining 25 trailers are for our UK traffic.
Poland has become an important expansion area for FREJA, and on the 1st of July this year, our brand new modern logistics center opened in Szczecin. Regarding the expansion of the fleet, the chairman of the board and founder of FREJA, Jørgen Hansen, says: “FREJA and TIP have had good cooperation in the Nordic region for many years, and after our establishment and expansion in Poland, the need for equipment on Polish plates has grown significantly. TIP could offer that solution, so now we are starting up with 50 new modern trailers for Poland. The remaining 25 trailers are for our UK traffic, where we have seen an increased need for specially secured trailers to prevent theft and other inconveniences.
According to Morten Hakmann, Sales Director for Denmark and Norway at TIP, the long-term collaboration between FREJA and TIP is based on mutual understanding and trust. "For a long time now, we have had a Nordic collaboration both within leasing, but also in our workshops. We are naturally very happy that the collaboration has expanded with Poland”, Morten Hakmann says.
Recently, FREJA was also able to announce the investment in 65 new trailers for the Nordic countries. The new trailers are 8 walking floor trailers, 18 reefers, 17 standard tautliners, 4 swop bodies, and 18 Krone/Liebner trailers with flexible sides and roof.
FREJA has thus, within a short time, expanded the fleet with 140 new trailers, which are both a replacement and expansion of the existing fleet. The trailers got a technological boost so that we can improve the service to our customers, and we look forward to starting using them. The total fleet now counts 2800 trailers in the FREJA group.
Since the corona crisis hit Denmark at the beginning of the year, there has been a great demand for goods such as hand sanitizers and masks, as this can help minimize the spread of virus.
The family-owned company, Dansu A/S, has also felt the increase in demand. The company is best known for importing raw cotton, which they process at their location in Ganløse. The cotton is then used to produce swabs and cotton wool, which they deliver to shops, pharmacies, and hospitals. Dansu has produced the cotton swabs that are used in COVID-19 tests. In addition to these products, they also sell CE approved masks in which they have experienced an increasing demand due to COVID-19.
Dansu's suppliers on masks are located in China, and therefore it was necessary to have a logistics partner who could transport the goods home to Denmark. For several years, Dansu has collaborated with FREJA on road transport, and it was only natural to also choose FREJA on air freight.
During the course of August, FREJA has delivered around 1000 packages = 50 pallets of masks to Denmark from China, which corresponds to approximately 2,2 million masks, and many more are on the way. Désirée E. Danechi, Assistant Manager at Dansu, says: “We are so grateful for FREJA and especially Nicolai Christensen's efforts with transporting these masks to Denmark. Everything has been smooth, and you are helping to protect so many people because of your work. Thank you so much!”
When our customers are happy, we are happy, and when we get to contribute to society, it doesn’t get much better. If you have an international transport need, then we have the solution. Contact FREJA’s Sales Director, Franz Andersen, to hear more about how we can help you.
In FREJA, we are working on a project, where we focus on all the people who are in FREJA – the so-called the FREJANS. People know us mostly for our trucks with our "FREJA" logo, but it is all the employees who make the difference and differentiate us from our competitors. Without everyone in FREJA, we would not be the company we are today.
In the last period, we have started the video production of three new corporate films, each of which provides an insight into who FREJA is and what we can do for our customers. The three new films are a brand film, a pharma & healthcare film, and a film where you can get to know the FREJANS better. Each film focuses on something different, but what they have in common is that they have the FREJANS in the center.
The purpose of the brand film and the pharma & healthcare film is to tell what we can do for our customers and what value-creating services we can offer. The purpose of the FREJAN film is to show how we work together and give an insight into our culture and who the FREJANS are in a humoristic way.
To make the films, we have received help from the filmmaker, Morten Bo Johansson, who, among other things, has made films for Bang & Olufsen and Jack & Jones, as well as the talented photographer Philip Ørneborg. Together, the two have been around some of our different locations and gotten to know the FREJANS quite well, so they had the best prerequisites of visualizing the culture in FREJA and who we are.
We look forward to unveiling all the films, but so far, you have to settle for some pictures from the film shooting.
Since 2017, when the project started, FREJA in Padborg has been a loyal partner. "Unge på Toppen" is a job project that, in collaboration with Jobcenter Aabenraa and multiple companies, strives to get young people to work or get an education.
This year, FREJA in Padborg had the honor of having Nana as an intern at the warehouse. Warehouse Manager, Teddy Petersen, and his team took Nana under their wings for approximately ten weeks. Nana explored what it is like to go to work, and she has tried tasks such as packing and picking of goods.
“It has been a pleasure to have Nana as an intern here. She got the opportunity to try out different tasks, and she was not afraid to try something new. The team and I wish her all the best of luck”, says Teddy Petersen.
The internship has given Nana a good insight into how a warehouse works, and she has now started working at ISS after a successful time at FREJA.
Project leader, Thomas Schmidt-Sonne, says: "From Unge på Toppen and Jobcenter Aabenraa, we would like to give many thanks to Teddy and the rest of FREJA for a good collaboration - together we help the young people move on with their lives".
FREJA is proud to be part of this project, and we look forward to welcoming more interns in the future.
Facts about the project
In the spring of 2017, the first project in Aabenraa Municipality was completed with great success. The project has over the past four years, proceeded with a success rate of around 70-75%. The project targets young people who, for various reasons, are receiving cash benefits, but who are ready to try something new and push some boundaries. The project extends over an 18-20 week intensive course consisting of three focus areas: diet and exercise, personal development, and company internship.
A total of 108 young people have started up over six projects. 94 of them have completed. The remaining 14 young people have dropped out during the project, primarily because meeting stability is required, but also because there is zero-tolerance for abuse.
The transport and logistics company FREJA Transport & Logistics Holding A/S announces a satisfactory result for the first half of 2020. The integration of Transcargo has been completed and in spite of COVID-19 and continuous large investments in the Polish subsidiary, we deliver a good result above budget. We have seen a successful turnaround in the Swedish subsidiary, improvement of the operation in Denmark and a continuous fine development in the daughter companies in Norway and Finland. Furthermore, the youngest daughter companies in Poland and China contribute positively. Continuous focus on business development and investments in IT, RPA and employees still have a high priority and these focus areas are contributing factors to ongoing success in the privately owned Skive company.
In spite of COVID-19 and the resulting turbulence in the transport markets, the result for the first half of 2020 is very satisfactory
During the first half of 2020, FREJA Transport & Logistics Holding A/S has focused on adapting the company to the new market situation as a result of COVID-19, as well as the ongoing integration of the company in Poland. Ongoing focus on quality as well as safe and efficient transport solutions have resulted in additional sales to existing customers as well as an increase of new larger customers. This means that we have been able to obtain almost the same turnover as in 2019. On the other hand, the net profit is significantly improved, especially because of large operational improvements and an even stronger and closer cooperation across the countries.
The development in the subsidiaries in Norway and Finland continues to be very positive. In Denmark we continue the trend with a stable progress and for the first time in a long time, Sweden contributes positively, which is a significant improvement compared to the first half of 2019. Likewise, China and Poland contribute with positive results better than expected.
The following key figures for FREJA Group are published with respect to the first half of 2020
FREJA Transport & Logistics Holding A/S reports a small decrease in turnover for the first half of 2020 at 1.5 % compared to 2019. The total turnover for the first half of 2020 ends at a total of DKK 1.64 billion.
EBIT for the first six months of the year totals DKK 76.6 million in 2020 compared to DKK 30.0 million in 2019. The pre-tax profits of the first six months total DKK 66.9 million in 2020 compared to 22.3 million in 2019.
The Group equity capital has increased from DKK 272 million as of 30 June 2019 to DKK 331 million as of 30 June 2020. Because of a transition to IFRS16, the solvency ratio has fallen to 22 %.
“The financial statement for the first half of 2020 shows that our business model and our large focus on a cooperation across FREJA countries is worth the efforts. Our loyal and dedicated employees have shown exceptional efforts during these difficult COVID-19 times which means that FREJA has come out stronger of a very turbulent first half year,” says Group CEO Ulrik Rasmussen.
An ongoing focus on high quality, value creation for all players in the value chain and goal-oriented sales efforts will create unique possibilities for continued growth in FREJA
Founder and Chairman Jørgen Hansen insists that FREJA’s focus must be directed towards the development of long-term relations with as well customers as suppliers. In spite of a large focus on efficiency improvements, FREJA is well aware that each individual is still the most important resource in the cooperation.
The key words for a strong cooperation are openness, trust and credibility. FREJA’s foundation is built on strong values, and the mission is to develop these values daily in cooperation with customers and suppliers.
For further information please contact
FREJA is proud to announce that we in Denmark have extended our GMP permit to include EU release of medicines produced in third countries, i.e. outside of Europe. The EU release is a requirement before medicines can be sold on the European market.
[caption id="attachment_18481" align="alignright" width="225"]
Kiki Baagøe Andersen - QA Manager, QP, RP in FREJA[/caption]
The permit means that our customers can send medicines directly from third countries to FREJA, after which FREJA's QP (Qualified Person), Kiki Baagøe Andersen, will perform a Batch certification. Prior to the release of the products, FREJA's QP ensures that the products are analyzed in the EU according to current regulations. After this, FREJA will handle the delivery of the products to wholesalers, hospitals, or named doctors working on clinical trials. For you as a customer, this means that you do not need to hire an external QP consultant to perform the Batch certification, meaning you save time and money.
“We have been working on getting the permit since March, and we are incredibly proud that we can now offer this service. We are constantly looking for new ways in which we can create extra value for our customers, and we are confident that this new service will benefit our customers”, Marina Steensen, Group Healthcare Logistics Director, Denmark, says.
The permit applies to all non-sterile human and veterinary medicinal products, as well as non-sterile medicinal products for clinical trials for both human and veterinary products.
If you want to know more, please feel free to contact Marina Steensen or call your local contact person at FREJA.
Because of the Corona situation, Fjord Line has experience a somewhat reduced use of their services between Denmark and Norway. Therefore, they have been forced to find savings by reducing their costs related to staff and by reducing their schedules.
Unfortunately, this will affect the lines that FREJA uses, as the following changes will take place:
The line between Hirtshals (DK) - Bergen (NO) and vice versa will close down
The line between Hirtshals (DK) - Langesund (NO) and vice versa will close down
The line between Hirtshals (DK) - Stavanger (NO) and vice versa will be limited to two weekly departures instead of daily operation
The changes will become effective on 28th October and we expect an extended transit time.
We, as well as Fjord Line, look forward to getting to the other side of the Corona pandemic and back to an ordinary traffic situation.
If you have any questions as to how this will effect you as a client in FREJA, please contact your ordinary contact person.
Today FREJA Transport & Logistics Holding A/S and SDK A/S, owned by USTC, announced a merger that will consolidate two large family-owned companies in the transport and logistics industry. SDK and FREJA will bring together approximately 1,300 people and carry an annual turnover of more than DKK 5 billion.
The announced merger between FREJA and SDK, which is owned by the USTC Group, will create a new force in the transport and logistics industry, strengthening the combined market position and paving the way for future growth.
Pending the approval from the relevant competition authorities, SDK A/S will become a 75% shareholder in the newly merged company. The remaining 25% ownership will be held by the current majority shareholder and founder of FREJA, Jørgen Hansen, along with the management team.
Long-term commitment
Handing over a large part of his life’s work has not been an easy decision. Therefore, it was crucial for Jørgen Hansen to find a business partner that stands by the same long-term values and commitments that FREJA was founded on.
“Since I founded the company in 1985, it has been our ambition to grow the business and expand our reach. I am very proud to find our company in a situation where we will become part of the USTC Group by merging with SDK. Our family values align with the values of the Østergaard-Nielsen family, and I have full confidence that the new ownership is a perfect fit,“ says Jørgen Hansen.
Reaching more customers
The SDK Group is owned by the Østergaard-Nielsen family and has a long history in transport and logistics. The company was founded in 1876 under the name Julius Mortensen Shipping. Many years later, it became the first company that USTC owner Torben Østergaard-Nielsen acquired.
USTC is a global conglomerate with more than 2,500 employees, covering more than 100 offices in 33 countries and headquartered out of Middelfart, Denmark. In the last fiscal year USTC reported a turnover of DKK 76 billion.
“We have been looking for a strong company with equal values to join forces with in order to achieve our long-term goals. This merger will create a platform for further growth, both organically and by acquisitions. When the merger is finalized, we will be better positioned to compete in the market through scale and by combining existing competences and knowledge from our experienced and valuable employees in both FREJA and SDK’s logistic companies”, says Søren Gran Hansen, CEO of SDK.
The CEO of FREJA, Ulrik Rasmussen, also welcomes the merger and is very aware that this move puts the joint company in a great position to approach customers with an even better service, quality and a broader portfolio.
Experienced leadership
The merger will result in changes to the company structure. All of FREJA’s current business units will merge with SDK’s logistic activities into a new entity called FREJA Transport & Logistics. As a consequence, the majority of the current SDK logistic activities will be rebranded to FREJA, carrying on the well-known and respected brand within the industry. All other SDK activities within shipping, agency, chartering, stevedore, and cruise will continue unchanged under the SDK brand and will remain under the full ownership of the USTC Group.
The current CEO of SDK A/S, Søren Gran Hansen, will continue in this role as well as taking on the role of Chairman of the Board for the new entity FREJA Transport & Logistics. The founder of FREJA, Jørgen Hansen, will join the SDK A/S Board of Directors and bring with him invaluable experience and industry expertise. Ulrik Rasmussen, who is currently the CEO of FREJA, will continue as CEO of FREJA Transport & Logistics.
FREJA Transport & Logistics will have offices in seven different countries, namely Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, Holland and China.
The agreement is conditioned upon the approval of the relevant competition authorities.
The transaction price will not be disclosed.