Bulk Distributor May/Jun 19 | Page 5

B ULK D ISTRIBUTOR Tank Containers May/June 2019 Largest Manufacturers Manufacturer HQ Fleet* CIMC Group China 29,500 Nantong Tank Containers China 8,500 Singamas China 5,500 Welfit Oddy South Africa 4,850 CRRC (China Railroad) China 3,600 CXIC Group China 2,500 JJAP China 1,500 Van Hool Belgium 750 *Tanks built in 2018 The number of tank containers produced last year also showed a significant jump. In 2018, a total of 59,700 tanks were built, compared with 48,500 in 2017, an increase of more than 11,000 units over the previous year. The survey also shows how the industry continues to be dominated on a global level by a relatively small number of major operators and leasing companies. The top 10 operators account for over 225,000 tanks, representing nearly 60 percent of the global operators’ fleet. The top 10 leasing companies account for 227,000 tanks, about 82 percent of the total leasing fleet. The top three leasing companies alone account for 150,000 tanks, almost 55 percent of the total fleet. An on-going trend is that the growth in the demand for tank containers globally has enabled smaller players to enter the market - usually offering niche products or working in a regional market. Lee noted: “This year’s ITCO Fleet Survey again shows significant growth in the tank container business during the past 12 months. The expansion of the tank container industry underlines the fact that this mode of transport is safe, reliable, economic and sustainable. Interestingly, he also took a side-swipe at the growing use of flexitanks, which sometimes directly compete with tank containers for shipping non-hazardous liquids. “The world today is very concerned with the pollution of our planet and the effect on global warming,” Lee said. “Plastic waste is polluting our oceans or being incinerated to pollute the air we breathe. Still more plastic material of all kinds is being sent to landfill sites around the world where it will take 100 years or more to bio- degrade after being buried to become a problem for future generations. At last governments around the western world are showing their concern and are banning plastic bags. The tank container industry must show its concern for the planet, by demanding that - if plastic bags are used to transport bulk liquid products - the customers using them should obtain a certificate from the carrier to confirm where and how the bag will be disposed, after this product has been discharged.” www.itco.org 5 This year’s ITCO Tank Container Village will feature a total of 68 exhibition stands. There will be 73 ITCO Members participating in the Village Even more in Munich T his year’s ITCO Tank Container Village – organised as part of the transport logistic 2019 exhibition taking place in Munich, Germany – will be the biggest one so far arranged by the association. Comprising 68 exhibition stands and 73 ITCO members in total, the 2019 Village represents a 11 percent increase in size over 2017 - which in turn was 10 percent larger than in 2015. Located in Hall B4 of the New Munich Trade Show Centre, the 2019 Tank Container Village will again offer ITCO members, exhibitors and visitors an important opportunity to meet their customers and partners in a dedicated and professional environment. The growth in the exhibition reflects the growing range of products and services that ITCO is offering to its members – and also the increasing membership of the organisation. ITCO will be showcasing a number of initiatives that it has been developing over the past year. This year, the organisation has published three new reports: - Guidelines for taking samples from tank containers - The 2019 Tank Container Fleet Report - Guidance for tank operators transporting polymerising substances subject to SP386 ITCO is continuing to manage the @TCO Depot Audit Scheme for depots in Asia, enabling tank container owners and users to verify that depots are meeting their required criteria. A further initiative in the past 12 months has been the updating of the ITCO Tank Container E-learning Course, which was successfully launched in 2017. The organisation has also organised conferences in Singapore and Antwerp, together with the Tank Container Village at Transport Logistic China. Commenting on the village, Reg Lee, ITCO president noted: “With 68 exhibition stands and a total of 73 members exhibiting, this year’s ITCO Tank Container Village at transport logistic will be the biggest so far. The Tank Container Village has established itself as the most important global meeting place for the tank container industry worldwide.” Two evening receptions are being organised: the traditional ITCO Welcome Reception on Tuesday 4 June at 18:00 – which is being sponsored this year by tank container manufacturer CIMC; and the Wine-Tasting Evening, sponsored by Perolo, which takes place on Wednesday 5 June. Visitors to transport logistic will find the Tank Container Village in Hall B4 (Stand 221/322 and 217/318). www.itco.org RENTAL & TRADING   INTERMODAL CONSULTANCY & TRAINING CONTAINERS, SWAP BODIES & TANKS   CHASSIS & INTERMODAL RAILCARS TEL : + 33 4 42 65 92 36 ENTITY IN CHARGE OF MAINTENANCE www.modalis.com - [email protected]