Rotterdam Blending & Filling opens its doors

Collaboration between Rotterdam/Turkish family business results in unique concept on the Maasvlakte

Maasvlakte, 4 October 2019 – Logistics service provider Neele-Vat Logistics and its Turkish partner Arkem Chemicals have together established a 22,000-m2 storage and distribution centre for liquid cargo on the Maasvlakte: Rotterdam Blending & Filling. The new facility has been specifically designed for storage of both non-hazardous goods (merchant goods) and packaged hazardous substances, and also features a filling and blending station. The official opening is set to take place on 4 October.

First filling station for small-unit repackaging on the Maasvlakte
This storage and distribution centre is unique for its all-in-one concept. Rotterdam Blending & Filling offers one central location for filling, packaging and blending liquid chemical products as well as (chilled) storage and further distribution of these products. The complex is the first on the Maasvlakte to be equipped with a filling station for repackaging liquid cargo – arriving in tankers or tank containers – into smaller units. These units could be drums or the 1000-litre bulk containers (IBCs) that seem to be gaining in popularity.

Suitable for both hazardous (IMO) liquid cargo and non-hazardous cargo
Rotterdam Blending & Filling boasts a total surface area of 22,000 m2 with a storage capacity of 35,000 pallet positions. A total of 12,500 m2 is suitable for merchant goods; with a sprinkler installation covering the entire area. 6,000 m2 is set up for storage of packaged hazardous goods. In addition, 1,500 m2 will be used for in-house filling, packaging and blending of liquid chemical products. The 3 compartments and the dispatch zone – with 9 docks in total – are kept safe by way of a CO2 extinguisher system. The complex complies with the current regulations relating to safety and the environment: SEVESO III, BRZO 2015, PGS-15 standards.

This location on the Maasvlakte represents an expansion of Neele-Vat’s service provision for (liquid) chemicals packaging and repackaging. The annual blending and filling capacity amounts to 100,000 tonnes, with partly new cargo for Rotterdam. Cuno Vat, managing director at Neele-Vat Logistics: “The international collaboration in Rotterdam Blending & Filling not only strengthens our service portfolio, but also enhances Rotterdam’s position in chemicals logistics. This is a sector with a traditional stronghold in Antwerp.”

Central location with multimodal connections
The new complex at Madoerastraat 10 on the Maasvlakte is easily accessible by road, rail and water and is situated no more than a stone’s throw from high-frequency Deep Sea and Short Sea shipping route links. Rotterdam Blending & Filling is also conveniently near the A15, the Maasvlakte Plaza truck parking facility, the existing Maasvlakte distribution park and the goods transport rail line between the Maasvlakte and the European hinterland.