With its technological innovations, HHLA makes a significant contribution to global
logistics chains’ ability to function. The Group also strengthens both the economy and
society with its substantial added value contribution.
44 hhLA ANNUAL REPORT 2007
The trend actively shaped by HHLA, towards automation and the comprehensive utilization of information technolo- gies in developing seaports and terminals, is gaining ever greater acceptance. This is becoming clear, and not only in the presentations and discussions at the industry’s large conventions for experts such as the Terminal Operators Conference (TOC) in Istanbul in May 2007. Construction of automated storage blocks and the use of automated cranes are under way or in preparation at a growing number of terminals in Europe, the USA and Asia.
RESEARCh fOR SEAPORT LOgISTICS
With numerous projects, in fiscal 2007 HHLA strengthened its lead in terminal technology and forged ahead with a host of innovations for the logistics chain. The focus here was on op- timization of operating processes at the container terminals: The OLAS project, subsidized by the Federal Ministry
of Economics and Technology (BMWi), was started in spring 2007. The objective is “Optimization of logistics processes and new control procedures for Container Terminal Altenwerder having regard to its hinterland con- nection by road, rail and inland waterway ship”. Among the subjects covered in the 18 work packages are in- novative routing algorithms for the Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV), optimization of storage block control, as well as more rapid transfer from the terminal to trucks and trains with the help of improved data flows between the customers and the terminal.
In 2007 five innovative container gantry cranes were
ordered for HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) that will enable two 40-ft containers to be handled simul- taneously for the first time in Europe. Control software for the downstream operating processes at the terminal has been adapted prior to deployment of these container gan- try cranes, promising a distinct boost to cargo handling. As a supporting measure for the expansion of HHLA
Container Terminals Tollerort (CTT), HHLA’s Informa-
tion Systems department developed a new Terminal
control system. This Container-Basis-System for CTT
makes the integration of such pioneering modules as the Customs system possible.
Introduction of Autogates promises a considerable
speeding up of truck clearance. In 2007 trials of these commenced at CTA and at CTB. Cameras record con- tainer and truck data on entry, transmitting this to the terminal IT systems, which further process it. The use of visual identification and inspection systems, automati- cally scanning essential vehicle and container data, fa- cilitates more rapid container checks. At novel self-serv- ice terminals, moreover, truckers can clear themselves without having to leave their vehicles.
MaTIB (Management for Transport and Incidents) is a
project backed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), with the aid of which more traf- fic should be shifted to rail. The aim is to make transport of containers on combined services more attractive by improving IT-based workflow management. This alliance project involves several sectors, and HHLA’s Polzug In- termodal, HPC Hamburg Port Consulting and Uniconsult companies are participating. They are working on the development of a standard process to be used as the basis for assembling further IT systems for the relevant services. The project should be completed in 2008. ZPMC manufactures HHLA’s container gantry cranes in China.
45 RESPONSIBILITY | CONTRIBUTION
Intensification of application-oriented research and de- velopment is promised by the initiative ISETEC II, In-
novative Seaport Technologies, backed by the Federal
Ministry of Economics, for which the projects were de- fined in 2007. As with the extremely successful ISETEC I in 1985-1995, the aim is to develop new technologies and logistics concepts as well as more efficient utiliza- tion of carriers for the hinterland connection. HHLA is involved here with a large number of projects.
ADDED vALUE BOOSTS ThE LOCATION
HHLA’s active, and in many areas of seaport logistics, leading role in the development and implementation of in- novative technologies is not the only way in which HHLA strengthens Germany as a business location. The success- ful IPO on 2 November 2007, for example, realized a sub- stantial sum now being used to help finance expansion of the Port of Hamburg’s infrastructure. The “Programme for the Future of the Port” agreed by the Hamburg senate in May 2007 provides for investments totalling around three billion euros by 2015. With the aid of receipts of more than one billion euros generated for the City of Hamburg by HHLA’s IPO, the programme is now already financially se- cured. Germany’s most important logistics hub can there- fore be expanded as timing and demand require.
Once again distinctly higher in 2007, HHLA’s contri- bution to the national economy is of at least equal impor- tance. “(Net) added value” serves as one indicator of “value added to the national economy”. This is calculated on the
basis of the value of production less all input and deprecia- tions. Amounting to 549 million euros, HHLA’s added value reached a new record mark, topping the previous year’s by more than 20 percent. The added value proportion also improved to 45 percent (previous year: 43 percent) of pro- duction value of 1.2 billion euros.
The added value contribution was distributed be- tween staff, lenders, taxes and Group surplus on the year. The largest share of “HHLA added value” accrued to the staff, 279 million euros representing 50 percent of the to- tal. This covers all expenditure on staff, including pension reserves. Next comes the Group surplus on the year of 152 million euros (28 percent), taxes at 105 million euros (19 percent) as well as payments to lenders at 11 million euros (3 percent).
In making this substantial contribution to the national economy, HHLA proves the success of its sustained and value-oriented business model.