Schwalbe Opens Logistic Center for Asian OEMs

BEKASI, Indonesia – Yesterday, Schwalbe (Ralf Bohle GmbH) opened a logistic center for its Asian OEM customers in Indonesia; almost next door to its factory in Bekasi. Schwalbe Asia is to reduce the tyre maker’s lead time for Asian OEMs.

Holger Jahn, COO of Ralf Bohle GmbH, officially opened Schwalbe Asia. In an informal speech for a group of Schwalbe clients and distributors, he noted to be proud that with the new logistic center Schwalbe is now able to increase its service level for Asian OEMs.

“Bicycle manufacturers in Asia pushed us to bring down our lead times which were three months. With Schwalbe Asia we focus on bringing the lead time down to one month. However, in order to be able to reach this, we need forecasts from our Asian clients. With their forecasts we can produce on stock and have frequent deliveries from our warehouse.”

Schwalbe Asia came ‘online’ last February after a long period of planning, construction and especially after establishing a computer link between Schwalbe Asia and Schwalbe Germany. At the moment of opening the new warehouse was still for a big part empty. “That’s because operations started here only two weeks ago and because most of the production of the Schwalbe tyres, tubes and tubulars is directly shipped to the various markets,” explained Jahn.

“We need to build up our stock levels in the coming weeks,” continued Holger Jahn. He further outlined that the total capacity of the logistic center is 400,000 tyres. “With our factory located next door, we are able to replenish our stock almost daily and with that establish a rapid stock turnaround. Direct shipments to OEMs from the factory will continue as normal; this logistic center is an extra more just-in-time service we offer to OEMs.”

Schwalbe Asia is foremost focused to Taiwan and China but shipments to other countries like Cambodia or Vietnam are of course also possible.