ge ne ra l val uables val uab les S ystems w A I R F REI G H T w

cargo w Logisti cs Logistics w Clearing textiles efficiently Improvisation

Keeping France Duty-free bonded Dubai: Personal service Page 5 and quick alternatives
exports moving warehouse in Panyu for individual Page 5
Page 2 Page 3 requirements
Page 4

via mat
T h e c ustom e r n e w s l e tt e r of th e V I A M A T G roup.

VA L U A BLE S L O G I S T I CS links. The stored goods can be delivered to

their requested destination quickly. The

New location
bonded warehouse, transit warehouse, and
long-term warehouse offer customers various

in Geneva
options to securely store their valuables.

Pick-up and delivery on short notice

VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG and Thanks to their own security vehicles, the
MAT SECURITAS EXPRESS AG have jointly companies can also react to needs on short
opened a new location in the financial notice and reliably handle express transports.
center of Geneva and serve their “Our customers appreciate this
customers by providing comprehensive flexibility a lot”, says Björn Züger, Head of
national and international valuables MAT SECURITAS EXPRESS AG. w
logistics solutions.
VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL SA
Since July, the experienced teams of VIA CH-1217 Meyrin, Phone +41 22 939 0660
MAT INTENATIONAL AG and MAT SECURITAS vmi.geneva@viamat.com
EXPRESS AG (MSE) have been offering na-tio- MAT SECURITAS EXPRESS SA
nal and international transports of bank- no- CH-1217 Meyrin, Transport: Phone +41 22 939 0680
tes, precious metals, watches and jewelry, va- Customer Service: Phone 0848 803 804
luables processing, storage as well as services mse@viamat.com
for automated teller machines and cash cen-
ters. “Geneva is one of the most important
banking centers. The new location enables us
to serve our customers in Ge-neva directly and
process complete door-to-door solutions effici-
ently”, says Urs Röösli, Head of VIA MAT IN-
TERNATIONAL AG. Both companies perfectly
complement each other with their range of
services and benefit from the existing global
network of VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG and
the national strength of
MAT SECURITAS EXPRESS AG.

Treasury and storage at a central location

Large high-security facilities are located near
Geneva Airport and boast excellent transport

No 7 w Autumn 2010
G e n e ra l Cargo

Keeping France exports moving

For twelve years, VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L. has been clearing and exporting aluminum profiles to France,
Belgium, and Holland for Aluminium Laufen AG. Logistics is crucial for the company. The cooperation is primarily
based on flexibility and continuity.

Every day, the truck pulls up at Aluminium Laufen AG in Liesberg to pick up the six-meter long
profiles. Loading is a very careful process, as the semi-finished aluminum products are delicate
and easily scratched. After two hours, the goods are loaded and the journey to France begins.
VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L. clears the semi-finished products before taking care of the distribu-
tion in France. Within 24 hours, the aluminum profiles are distributed to the various customers
in France.

P R O J EC T L O G I S T I CS

Special transport
using a floating
crane
O.LISBOA DESPACHOS INTERNACIONAIS Ltda.
(O.LISBOA) recently transported a Yankee dry-
er (one-cylinder dryer) weighing 104 tons from
Heidenheim in Germany to Altamira in Mexico
for Voith Paper Brazil.
O.LISBOA had organized the transport
of the Yankee dryer to a paper mill in Mexico
in cooperation with their partner LS Cargo.
Within two days, the Yankee dryer was ship-
ped by road from the Heidenheim factory to
Heilbronn by special transport. In Heilbronn,
O.LISBOA loaded the heavy cargo onto a bar-
ge and shipped it to Antwerp via Neckar/Rhi-
“Continuity is crucial to us” ne. There, it was reloaded directly onto the
“We are particularly appreciative of the flexibility of VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L. – our coop-eration Hapag Lloyd container ship Mv. Livorno Ex-
is a pleasant partnership”, says Eugen Hänggi, member of the management board and respon- press. This reloading required a floating crane,
sible for the technology division. They have had the same contact people for which transferred the Yankee dryer from the
years. “This continuity is crucial to us.” Of course, quality and price need to be right as well. And barge onto a platform on the Livorno Express
at VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L. they are. that consisted of four flat racks. The crossing
Around four times per week, VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L. also exports aluminum profiles to from Antwerp to Altamira proceeded as sche-
Belgium and Holland for Aluminium Laufen AG and handles the EU customs clearance. Logistics duled so that the Yankee dryer could be han-
plays a key role for Aluminium Laufen AG. “We transport around 120 tons of goods on a daily ded over to the customer without any delays
basis, the majority of which is shipped by truck”, says Eugen Hänggi. The remain-ing goods are and in immaculate condition.
transported by train.

Semi-finished products for the construction industry

Aluminium Laufen AG produces around 25,000 tons of aluminum profiles every year. The com-
pany produces semi-finished products for the construction industry, which will be
processed into façades, panels, shutters, etc. These account for roughly half of production. The
aluminum cast division produces semi-finished products for the electrical industry as well as for
machinery and plant construction. Aluminium Laufen AG’s customers also include companies in
the automotive industry. The most important markets for the company are Switzerland, Germa-
ny, France, and the Benelux countries.
Aluminium Laufen AG’s order books are always filled. Yet, Eugen Hänggi does not risk
making a prognosis for the future. “If the Euro continues to fall, all export companies will have
a problem.” The company will need to remain flexible in the future. The movement of the goods
is organized by VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L. Eugen Hänggi: “We are very satisfied with the services
provided by VIA MAT (FRANCE) S.A.R.L.” w

VIA MAT Journal no 7 w Autumn 2010 2

 I nt e rnationa l va l ua b l e s l ogisti cs

Duty-free bonded
warehouse in Panyu
Since the beginning of September, VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL (GUANGZHOU) CO. LTD.
has been operating a duty-free bonded warehouse specialized in jewelry, diamonds
and precious metals in Panyu for Worldmart Jewelry & Gems Emporium Co. Ltd. Panyu,
a district of Guangzhou, is the most important jewelry production center in China.
VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG supports its international customers with their entry into
ART LOGISTICS the Chinese market by providing comprehensive logistics services.

Attractive collective
transports
Exhibitors and gallery-owners who take part in
national and international exhibitions would
like to transport their artworks professionally
and affordably. The focus is on the careful and
safe handling of the works.
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG offers its cus-to-
mers attractive collective transports from and
to Geneva, Lugano, Paris, Milan, and London
– as well as further destinations throughout
Europe. All the while, your works will be in safe
hands: The collective transports are carried
out by trained employees. State-of-the-art
transport and storage infrastructures guaran-
tee customers flawless service.

From left to right: Gilbert Chan, General Manager, China; Shelly Li, Accountant, VMI-Guangzhou; Josie Hou,
Customer Services Manager, VMI-Guangzhou; Sindy Cheung, Station Manager, VMI-Guangzhou

The economy in China is booming. More and more foreign traders and investors want to
invest in the Chinese market, however, the trade barriers remain high. This makes it all the
more important to have an experienced partner by your side when entering the market.
Worldmart Jewelry & Gems Emporium Co. Ltd. in Guangzhou has recently commis-sioned
VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL (GUANGZHOU) CO. LTD. with overseeing the duty-free
bonded warehouse in the Shawan Industrial Jewelry Park in Guangzhou’s Panyu district. World-
mart owns the license for the monitored duty-free and export warehouse for valuables. It is
China’s first duty-free bonded warehouse with a customs office specializing in valuables. VIA
MAT INTERNATIONAL (GUANGZHOU) CO. LTD. is therefore able to efficiently handle all customs
clearance formalities and offer you comprehensive logistics services when entering the Chinese
market.

Collective transports introduced Importing goods to China

to the website Thanks to the duty-free bonded warehouse in Panyu, customers of VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL (GU-
Customers benefit from the close collaborati- ANGZHOU) CO. LTD. can import their products such as precious metals, semi-finished precious
on with foreign agents. “This enables us to metal products, jewelry, diamonds, and watches, to China. During the duty-free period, the for-
continuously expand collective transports”, eign traders can hold exhibitions and sell in all Chinese cities. Import duties and taxes are only
says Vinicio Cassani, Head of VIA MAT ART- charged once a sale has been completed. Traders have the option to extend the duty-free period
CARE AG. The latest information on collec-tive or to export their unsold goods from China. VIA MAT INTERNA-TIONAL (GUANGZHOU) CO. LTD.
transports within Switzerland and Europe can can also act as customs agent for those sellers in China who do not have the required import
now be found on the VIA MAT ARTCARE AG permit.
website: www.viamat.com/artcare/en/servi- The duty-free bonded warehouse in Panyu enables foreign companies to enter the Chine-
ces/consolidated-transports.php se market without having their own company there. Thanks to its central location and the good
For further information, please do not transport connections, the goods can be transported to anywhere in the world quickly and affor-
hesitate to contact Robin Graber, Head of Gal- dably. “The duty-free bonded warehouse is the first step for our customers to acquire market
lery Business. w shares in China”, says Gilbert Chan, General Manager in China. Our
specialists will be happy to assist you. w
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG
Robin Graber, Head of Gallery Business, VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL (GUANGZHOU) CO. LTD.
Phone +41 43 488 9975, robin.graber@viamat.com Phone +86 135 7099 4428, vmi.guangzhou@viamat.com,
Gilbert Chan, General Manager in China, Phone +852 9139 3907, gilbert.chan@viamat.com

VIA MAT Journal no 7 w Autumn 2010 3

I nt e rnationa l va l ua b l e s l ogisti cs

Dubai: Personal service

for individual requirements
This spring, VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG has opened a new What is your conclusion after the first few months?
location in Dubai. An interview with Stefaan Willemen, Head of You can only really see if everything is running smoothly when you are
VIA MAT INTER­NATIONAL FZE in Dubai. on-site. There are still a few things that need to be optimized in terms
of organization. Based on past experiences, we can see where optimi-
How is business doing in Dubai? zations are required after the initial phase and then implement the
Stefaan Willemen: We have felt the effects of the economic crisis in necessary steps. In addition, we are now primarily focused on acquiring
Dubai as well. This has impacted primarily on the shipment volumes to new businesses and customers.
India. Otherwise, we are satisfied with the start in Dubai.
Which objectives would you like to meet by the end of the year?
What customer feedback have you received? By the end of the year, we would like to fully develop our Dubai location
Our customers really appreciate that we are now also represented in and expand our range of services. This includes vaults at our dif-
Dubai, an important trading center. The reactions were very ferent sites in Dubai, for example in Gold Soukh or DMCC (Dubai Multi
positive. Commodities Centre), so that we can offer our customers
attractive storage facilities there as well.

Why should customers choose VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL FZE

in Dubai as a partner?
We offer our customers individual service. We focus on our cus-
tomers’ requirements and find alternative solutions for them if necessary.
Regular contact and exchange of information in the process is very
important to us. w

O ur s e rvi c e s in Du b ai w
Global air, road, and sea transports for
precious metals and banknotes
International transports of jewelry, gemsto-
nes, watches and valuable goods
Storage of valuables
Pick & Pack solutions
Trade fair logistics for international watch
and jewelry exhibitions

VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL FZE

Phone +971 4 609 1992, vmi.dubai@viamat.com

An overview of international valuables logistics

services in Dubai
The new brochure about the services offered by
VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL FZE provides key information
about our services in Dubai. The brochure is available in
English and Arabic on our website:
www.viamat.com/vmi/locations/dubai.php

VIA MAT Journal no 7 w Autumn 2010 4

 AIR FREIGHT

Improvisation and
quick alternatives
S y st e ms

Clearing textiles
efficiently
Since the middle of March, BONAFIDE LOGISTIC AG has
been handling export shipments for Calida AG, using
the new electronic export system e-dec-export. Their sound
technical know-how and core competence in customs
clearance have convinced Calida AG to choose this external
solution.

Each year, BONAFIDE LOGISTIC AG exports more than 150,000 ship-

ments for Calida AG and handles the customs clearance processes.
Since the middle of March, they have been managed through the new
electronic export system e-dec-export. “This way, we know that cus-
toms clearance is handled by experts, and we benefit from simple and
fast procedures”, says Josef Stadelmann, Head of Logistics at Calida
AG in Sursee.

Calida AG transfers
the electronic cus-
toms data to BONA-
FIDE LOGISTIC AG
where they are scan-
ned into the e-dec
application via the
new interface. Subse- The eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull turned
quently, BONAFIDE the world of transport upside down. Through improvisation,
LOGISTIC AG takes speed, and flexibility, the air freight teams of MAT TRANSPORT AG
care of the export and VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG ensured that the goods
customs clearance nevertheless arrived at their destination as quickly as possible.
procedure at Swiss
customs. Here, a dif- The closure of the European airspace not only brought international
ferentiation is made passenger transport to a halt, but also impacted on the supply chains
between goods that around the globe.
are forwarded with a
consignment note Exceptional situation brings unknown challenges
and those with an ex- The first flight restrictions were announced in Scandinavia and England.
port list. Goods with “While other airspaces were still open, the airlines switched to other
a consignment note airports and routes”, says Patrik Berni, Head of Air Freight at MAT
are processed with TRANSPORT AG. But in many cases, smaller airports quickly reached
status “Domicile”, capacity or did not have the necessary loading and unloading equipment.
while goods that are The air freight team reacted quickly, offering customers alternative flight
forwarded with an export list are processed with status “Customs of- routes and road-based routes.
fice”. The export lists must additionally be scanned at the export cus-
toms office or transferred into the computerized transit system (NCTS). Alternative concepts for valuables shipments
For shipments of valuables, the experts also did everything possible.
Focus on core competencies The biggest challenge was the time factor. “Nobody knew for how long
BONAFIDE LOGISTIC AG can request the electronic assessment the airspace would remain closed. Our customers did not know whether
notice from Swiss customs. The data is then automatically assigned or not to make use of alternative solutions”, says Urs
individual Calida AG-specific names and stored. Using a further inter- Moser, Global Sales & Marketing at VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG. Here,
face, Calida AG accesses the electronic assessment notice at BONAFI- quick responses and a high level of flexibility were crucial as well. “Less
DE LOGISTIC AG and archives it on a server on its own premises in ac- than 24 hours after the airspace was closed, the first security vehicles
cordance with statutory requirements. of VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG were on the road for special transports”,
Calida AG is convinced of the advantages of e-dec exports says Urs Moser.
through a specialist: “We let experts handle the e-dec exports, which Thanks to the air freight team’s experience and improvisational
enable us to focus on our core competencies”, says Josef Stadelmann, skills, MAT TRANSPORT AG and VIA MAT INTERNATIONAL AG were able
Head of Logistics. w to demonstrate their capabilities even in an extraordinary
situation. w

VIA MAT Journal no 7 w Autumn 2010 5

A rt l ogisti cs

A beautiful world with

mankind at its center
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG organized the transport of around 100 works by
Swiss artist Albert Anker to the Museum of Fine Arts Bern. For the
centenary of Albert Anker’s death, the museum displayed a large-scale
commemorative exhibition of the artist’s multifaceted work.

The exhibition “Albert Anker – beautiful world” was one of the highlights of the festivities com-
memorating the 100th anniversary of Anker’s death. From May 7 to September 19, 2010, the
Museum of Fine Arts Bern displayed paintings, drawings, watercolors, and faiences by the
unique artist. The starting point in the showroom was the show featuring Anker, which the
Museum of Fine Arts Bern had already held for four Japanese museums from 2007 to 2008.
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG packaged the roughly 100 of Anker’s works on the premises of the
lenders, museums, collectors, and private owners and transported them to the Museum of Fine
Arts Bern. All loaned exhibits came from Switzerland. “The cooperation with VIA MAT ARTCARE
AG was very swift and professional – the company had already organized the transport of the
works to the exhibitions in Japan”, says Ethel Mathier, registrar of the
Museum of Fine Arts Bern.
There was huge public interest in this exhibition. Around 100,000 visitors came to see
the exhibition. www.kunstmuseumbern.ch w Albert Anker, Girl with Two Cats, 1888,
oil on canvas, 66 x 43 cm, private collection

A R T L O G I S T I CS N e t wor k

Gallery service: Expansion of

Flexible and individual distribution network
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG is your reliable partner in the gallery The existing EURODIS network, which BONAFIDE LOGISTIC AG has been
business. For more than 50 years, the company has specialized a member of since 1993, has been joined by UK Mail Ltd. (formerly
in professionally packaging, transporting, and storing art. Business Post Ltd.) and Sernam SA, thus gaining two
important partners in Great Britain, Ireland, and France. Both new part-
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG provides a full service for art trade fairs and is ners have also committed themselves to the EURODIS network strate-
able to offer worldwide transport solutions due to its global network. Art gically and in the long term by acquiring shares in EURODIS GmbH. The
transports are carried out in specially equipped vehicles that meet the new network partners are replacing the former partners Tuffnells Ltd.
most stringent security standards. and TATEX SA.
Switching traffic to the new partners is planned for October 2010.
Ideal storage conditions From that point in time, BONAFIDE LOGISTIC AG expects an import ship-
Robin Graber and his gallery team offer individual and personal serv-ice ment increase of approximately 2,000 shipments per year from Eng-
at attractive conditions. The team advises customers when it comes to land and Ireland as well as 1,200 shipments per year from France.
finding an ideal packaging solutions or even a temporary home for their
works. The modern and secure art storage facilities in Zurich-Kloten, About EURODIS
Basel, and Geneva provide ideal storage conditions for artworks. Cus- The European Distribution Network (EURODIS) is a union of strong na-
toms clearance and insurance solutions round off VIA MAT ARTCARE tional logistics providers from all over Europe that develop spe-cialized
AG’s comprehensive range of services. industry solutions for their customers on a European level and imple-
We will be happy to advise you in finding the suitable transporta- ment them without compromising on quality. All partners are able to
tion solution for your requirements. w transport pallets and parcels quickly,
efficiently and safely without switching systems
VIA MAT ARTCARE AG (combined freight). The EURODIS holding com­pany
Robin Graber, Head of Gallery Business is based in Weinheim, Germany. It oversees the ad-
Phone +41 43 488 9975, galleries@viamat.com herence to quality guidelines, international data
transfer, shipment tracking and internal
billing among the partners. w

T h e V I A M AT G R O U P  w E d itoria l offi c e  w
Bonafide Logistic AG • Loop • Mat Securitas Express AG • Mat Transport AG Via Mat Management AG
O.Lisboa Despachos Internacionais Ltda. • Via Mat Artcare AG • Via Mat (France) S.A.R.L. Obstgartenstrasse 27, CH-8302 Kloten
Via Mat Interna­tional AG (China, Germany, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE, Uk, USA) Phone +41 44 804 9292, Fax +41 44 804 9293
Via Mat Management AG • Via Mat Packsafe AG info@viamat.com, www.viamat.com

VIA MAT Journal no 7 w Autumn 2010 6