[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]The Caribbean island of Trinidad is home to Pitch Lake, the world\u2019s largest natural deposit of asphalt, of which 200 have been discovered so far.<\/p>\n
Credits: Carl Ungewitter, Andreas Kn\u00f6big[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”waves2″ bottom_divider_color=”#DFE6EE” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Whilst close business relationships are common enough, few have lasted quite as long as in the case of the Carl Ungewitter company, which was founded in Bremen in 1878. The family-run business has been importing natural asphalt from the Caribbean island of Trinidad since 1888, which is home to Pitch Lake, the world\u2019s largest natural deposit of asphalt, of which 200 have been discovered so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was ultimately trade with empty petroleum drums that resulted in trade with asphalt,\u201d reported Managing Director Andreas Kn\u00f6big, who took over from his father when the latter retired 24 years ago. Many of the written documents from that time went missing during the Second World War. But what is certain is that natural asphalt, which is essential for road construction, has been shipped to Bremen ever since \u2013 with exclusive rights, as Carl Ungewitter is responsible for sales throughout the whole of Europe, from the UK to Turkey. <\/p>\n
\u201cNatural asphalt is mined and then cleaned in Trinidad,\u201d explained Kn\u00f6big. \u201cThe raw material, which has the consistency of hard chewing gum, is extracted from natural bitumen and aggregate and then filled into drums on-site. The general importer has around 20 40-foot containers, each filled with 100 hard-fibre drums, that are shipped to Bremen\u2019s industrial docks roughly every five weeks. The journey by sea takes five to six weeks.<\/p>\n
At Ungewitter, the drums are opened at the company\u2019s own production facility. Whilst natural asphalt can be mined in Trinidad both in the rainy and dry seasons, it needs to maintain a temperature of at least 5 \u00b0C for road construction in Europe, which is why there are very few deliveries to asphalt mixing plants between December and February. \u201cThe mass would cool too quickly after heating and could no longer be sufficiently compacted,\u201d explained Kn\u00f6big. The peak season in road construction is in September and October. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Patching-System-c-Carl-Ungewitter_800.jpg” title_text=”Patching-System-c-Carl-Ungewitter_800″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Carl Ungewitter not only provides transport services for the North African crude oil supply industry but has also developed a patented pothole repair system. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
The managing director knows all the possible pitfalls because the company has developed its own patching system for repairing potholes, which has since been patented. As the asphalt can be prepared directly on-site, the process of filling potholes is now even faster and more flexible.<\/p>\n
A broad focus is also important because company orders are directly dependent on the budgets for work on federal motorways. \u201cIf the Federal Ministry for Transport has to postpone projects due to reduced tax revenue, for example, that needs to be compensated for with our other areas of business,\u201d explained Kn\u00f6big.<\/p>\n
Besides importing, selling and manufacturing goods made from natural asphalt as well as the patching system, this also includes other logistics services associated with sea and air freight. \u201cWe have a wide variety of sea freight items,\u201d stated Kn\u00f6big. \u201cWe handle everything, from food to technology \u2013 with clients big and small.\u201d<\/p>\n
Business with North Africa originated from normal acquisition activities in the 1980s. \u201cThere was a central European purchasing department for Libya in D\u00fcsseldorf at that time, which basically resulted in the contact. Transport services for the North African crude oil supply industry have been an important field of business for us ever since,\u201d emphasised Kn\u00f6big. Nowadays, most of our customers are state-owned companies and their suppliers. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s ongoing demand there again as a result of wear and tear and spare parts, which we cover logistically,\u201d the managing director continued. This business is largely conducted via container, as the frequency of breakbulk liner departure has fallen in recent years due to a drop in freight. \u201cUrgent orders are shipped by air to Libya, which is not all that uncommon these days,\u201d added Kn\u00f6big.<\/p>\n
Detailed knowledge and plenty of experience in fulfilling complex logistics orders are an absolute must, as oil companies in Libya have many special requirements that need to be met. \u201cConsequently, we need to handle our suppliers very meticulously and, more importantly, tailored,\u201d Kn\u00f6big emphasised. The ubiquitous lack of specialists poses a challenge, which Carl Ungewitter attempts to counter with employee training. But even that is increasingly difficult, he said. \u201cUp until five years ago, we had eight apprentices. These days, we\u2019ve got one,\u201d said the managing director regretfully. <\/p>\n
And that has consequences. \u201cWe actually want to develop a new field of business, but haven\u2019t been able to do so because we simply don\u2019t have suitable specialists,\u201d he added. \u201cThe situation was really bad two years ago.\u201d But things have improved in freight forwarding since then. What is particularly difficult at present is finding foremen for road construction. <\/p>\n
Ungewitter relies, among other things, on degree apprenticeships in collaboration with the German Academy of Foreign Trade and Logistics (DAV), which is also based in Bremen. \u201cAround half of all young professionals take advantage of the programme,\u201d reported the managing director, hoping it will be even more in the future. (cb)<\/em>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_9″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AndreasKnoebig_500px.png” title_text=”AndreasKno\u0308big_500px” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Andreas Kn\u00f6big, Managing Director\u201cIt was ultimately trade with empty petroleum drums that resulted in trade with asphalt.\u201d<\/h3>\n
\nof Carl Ungewitter in Bremen[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Facts” admin_label=”Fakten” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”50px||20px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_blurb_title=”display: inline-block!important;||background: #002754!important;||padding: 5px 13px 3px 13px!important;||position: relative!important;” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#002754″ global_colors_info=”{}” header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” header_text_color__hover=”rgba(255,255,255,0.71)” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\nCarl Ungewitter<\/h4>\n