Get to know KS Project Logistics better

KS Systems is able to realize projects wherever the customer wants them. We completely relieve the customer of this. We couldn't do that without our partner KS Project Logistics (KPL). We asked Rick van Keeken, general manager of KPL, about the background of his organization. Rick van Keeken, like KPL, has both feet firmly on the ground. He likes to explain what KPL stands for: "We don't want to be an ordinary logistics service provider. We like deviations. That's what we're good at. Because we think and work differently, we get more and more requests. We look for our own trade, often involving fragile goods. That ties in with our experience with steel, because you have to be very careful with that too." Below you can read Rick's story about KS Project Logistics.

The services

"We perform logistics services for different parts of KS Industries: KS Systems, KS Profile and KS Service Center. But we are an independent company and that means we have to operate really sharp. We stand on our own two feet and work for our own customers. Our services include cross-docking, transport & distribution, warehousing, on-site management and value added services. Since we are an independent limited liability company, we have the space to do our own business."

Fragile goods

"You might not say it, but the way we handle steel gives us the experience we need to handle fragile goods as well. You have to be very careful with steel, and the expertise that KPL has is perfectly applicable to other fragile products. Think of beer, spaghetti, wine and diapers. But also glass facade elements, paper rolls, air compressors and large tractors. We do all kinds of things."

Unburden

"For KS Systems, we are now doing a project in the US, where we are bringing 350 containers. We pick up the products produced for KS Systems at the production site and trailers bring the products to our warehouse. Once we know what and how it will be built, we make sure that the necessary materials are in the right place at the right time, undamaged. It all listens very closely. From Moerdijk to the United States, and even within the US, we organize all logistics for KS Systems. Through an online portal, all our customers can see where their products are 24/7. This way they are always up to date. Our people understand the business KS Systems and of our other clients and that is how we differentiate ourselves. Delivery of customization suits us. We arrange everything from a to z, including customs papers."

Figures, figures, figures

• Number of containers in 2023 - 820

• Number of shipments per year - 4,900

• Flexible storage - 22,000 m2

• One of the halls is filled with racking, good for about 5,000 pallets

• Warehouse has room for items with dimensions between 10 centimeters and 17 meters

Sustainability

"Sustainability plays an important role within KPL. We are in a sustainable building and within the warehouse everything drives electric. We load all transports as full as possible. We use solar energy and have our own solar carport. In every possible way, we are working to reduce our footprint. This includes small things like using glasses and mugs instead of disposable cups, getting rid of water coolers and buying sustainable coffee. We reuse the wood from pallets to make new pallets. Finally, and this is also very important, sustainability is a chain story. So we are also trying to convince our suppliers to go green."

Committed and intelligent

"For our relations it is important that we understand them and can think with them. We demonstrate this on a daily basis. Our people are committed and intelligent, and we take clients through decision processes while trying to make improvements.

We are a full-service provider, managing many projects and doing everything we can to make it run smoothly. My people take pride in what we do, but at the same time we all have our feet firmly on the ground."