CEVA Logistics has secured a three year extension of its partnership with BTCESAB, a forklift truck manufacturer in Italy which is merging with Toyota Forklift Italy. The contract will see CEVA become Toyota Material Handling Italy’s exclusive logistics provider, assuming responsibility for the management of the entire distribution supply chain for the next three years, including high value added activities.

At a national level, CEVA Logistics will manage the distribution and collection from retailers and customers of BT, CESAB and TOYOTA branded forklift trucks. CEVA will continue to provide the customer with the services included in the previous contract, such as the management of forklift truck warehousing activities and the organization of a shuttle linking the customer’s Italian plant with its warehouse. CEVA will also be responsible for manual transpallet handling activities. Altogether, 2,500 m2 of the Zola Predosa warehouse, in the province of Bologna, will be set aside for the management of these activities.

In the last few months, Toyota Material Handling Italy (TMHIT) has announced its official formation planned for 1 April 2010 as a result of the merger of BTCESAB and Toyota Forklift. TMHIT‘s headquarters will be the same ones used by BTCESAB in Caselecchio di Reno.
Roberto Landriscina, Supply Chain Manager of BTCESAB, soon to be TMHIT, said: “Not only have we reaffirmed our ongoing relationship with CEVA Logistics, but also the integrated process of TMHIT, which is in progress at the moment, and the synergies which will derive from it, have convinced us to extend it and make it exclusive. The logistics solutions offered by CEVA, efficiently and quickly satisfy our strategic and operative needs. CEVA and TMHIT share the same characteristics of excellence, flexibility and strong regional presence that will make the logistics operator the ideal partner to help us develop and affirm our leadership in the Italian market.”

Gianfranco Sgro, President of CEVA Logistics for Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “We are delighted with BTCESAB and Toyota’s decision to renew their trust in CEVA, asking us to manage their entire distribution supply chain and choosing us as their exclusive logistics partner. CEVA has lots of experience in the industrial sector and is able to provide high value added, integrated logistics services right across the supply chain - from the management of suppliers and producers through to delivery to the end customer - offering advanced information systems, excellent logistics solutions and a broad distribution network.”