A new contract with Audi in Hungary, and the renewal of contracts with Volkswagen in Poland, reflect Imperial Logistics’ growing success as the logistics and transport partner of choice in the automobile industry in Eastern Europe.

At the Audi AG plant in Győr in Hungary, Imperial has been awarded the contract to operate the internal factory logistics for the vehicle assembly processes. As part of its new contract, the company will take over the employees who are currently working for a competitor, reveals Imperial Logistics chief strategy officer Cobus Rossouw. Imperial’s contract for the management of the logistics optimisation centre for this vehicle factory in northwest Hungary has also been renewed by Audi, he reports. More than 1 100 employees, working both externally and in the factory, ensure the flow of materials and goods for the vehicle assembly operations when this factory is working to full capacity.

In addition to its burgeoning partnership with Audi in Hungary, Imperial has had automotive industry contracts renewed at two different Volkswagen operations in Poland. “In Polkowice, Imperial will continue to provide the logistics support for the Volkswagen engine factory in the town. In the city of Poznań, which is Imperial’s largest business location in Poland, Volkswagen has also extended its logistics partnership with the group. As a result of the new contract in Győr and the extension of our agreements in Győr, Polkowice and Poznań, our activities in Eastern Europe are a major pillar in Imperial’s growth strategy,” Rossouw explains.

As part of the group’s response to the growing transport market which is developing in Hungary and the neighbouring countries of Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia, Imperial has been operating a new freight forwarding department in Győr since October last year. Both Audi and Daimler are currently introducing new models at their Hungarian factories. “This demands new capacities in transport logistics for automobile manufacturers and their suppliers, and Imperial’s goal is to capitalise on these opportunities, with the support of our local sales teams,” says Rossouw.

Imperial is a logistics partner for the automobile industry at five business locations in Poland and Hungary. More than 1 000 people work at the three Polish automobile sites in Poznań, Polkowice and Gliwice. They manage the precise supplies of car and engine components to the assembly lines, handle incoming and outgoing goods, sequencing and pre-assembly work. They also clean and maintain parts containers; and manage empties, repackaging work, goods transportation, packaging, dispatch services and the supply of steel coils and metal sheeting to a press shop. Imperial has been managing the logistics optimisation centre for Audi’s vehicle factory at the Hungarian site in Győr for three years. In addition to automotive logistics, Imperial is expanding its range of services in the fields of engineering and plant construction as well as retail and consumer goods in Poland.