Mercurio Pallia Logistics Ltd. has taken a big leap forward in the third-party logistics (3PL) arena by moving into a virgin area of yard management with the inauguration of its remote passenger car stockyard at Ranjangaon, Pune.
This 12-acre state-of-the-art remote stock yard will be for the exclusive use of FAG India Private Ltd., a fully-owned subsidiary of Fiat India Automobiles Ltd. (FIAL), and its marketing arm. The stockyard, with a capacity to park 2,000 cars, will be managed by Mercurio Pallia Logistics, a joint venture between Pallia Transport Company of India and GEFCO of France. Mercurio Gruppo SPA of Italy, the original partner of Mercuiro Pallia, was taken over by the French 3PL giant belonging to Peugeot of France.
“The development of this stockyard is in alignment with the Group’s strategy to replicate its global operational standards. Our objective here is to establish a modern, high quality distribution facility which will support our plan to provide a high level of service to our dealers and customers’, said Mr. Robert DeCrick (Head-SCM, APAC FIAT Chrysler), while inaugurating the Ranjangaon remote stockyard facility on March 5.
Welcoming the guests, Mr. Vipul Nanda, Chairman and Managing Director, Mercurio Pallia Logistics, said: “While core strength remains transportation of finished vehicles (passenger cars and heavy commercial vehicles), we decided to move into yard management to value-add to our services. This is one of our future-ready moves to offer the whole gamut of 3PL services in the outbound segment, particularly in the automotive segment, to begin with.”
Mercurio and GEFCO are leaders in compound activities in Europe and handle all the biggest compound in terms of surface, such as Markolsheim in France and San Polo in Italy. The group utilizes compounds in all Europe, both West and East, South America and now in Pune. About four millions of car transit through its compounds, mostly PSA, and also GM/Opel/Chevrolet, Suzuki, Honda, Fiat, Iveco, Renault, Dacia, Daimler commercial vehicles, BWM and Nissan.
“We have been doing this kind of business for over 50 years, and we achieve a high quality system both for stock, PDI, wash and deprotection, body activities, special market activity. Hundreds of employees provide the service in 50 countries. Compounds in the main Mediterranean ports allow us to provide one the most complete logistic service to our clients. Barcelona Foss, Setubal, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Salerno are the best link in the Mediterranean Sea and to North Europe. Thanks to compounds and through them we have a real multimodal service (ship/train/truck),” says Mr. Andrea Guido Conti, Founder, Mercurio SPA.
“Our goal in India will be to develop the compound facilities in the way to reorganize the flows and logistics systems. Our IT technology allows us to provide the highest quality service on compound. Enormous efforts have been done in quality. We have been awarded by our clients for that,” he adds.
The Ranjangaon remote stockyard, put up in the shortest possible time, boasts of unique features:
* This stockyard is set up in a 12-acre plot
* Can easily accommodate parking of 2,000 cars.
* Storage area is paved with paver block.
* Separate loading area – 2 acres & asphalted.
* Total IT interface with Fiat & FAG India
* 100 per cent European training back up
* CCTV surveillance for utmost safety & security
* High mast lighting
* Water harvest system with rain water drainage facility
* Effluent treatment plant from environmental safety perspective.
* Top class PDI booth for 100 per cent quality check before loading into the car carriers