Wettenhalls Group unveils merger with Warrnambool’s Westvic Container Services
June 7, 2010
Wettenhalls Group has unveiled a merger with Warrnambool’s Westvic Container Services, a union that will deliver the western region of Victoria a high-efficiency, high capacity, multi-modal logistics network.
Established more than 80 years ago with one truck and one customer, Wettenhalls now ranks as one of Australia’s leading national providers of fully integrated ‘end to end’ logistics services, with a large fleet and warehousing infrastructure employing more than 500 staff.
Already a successful, well established company in its own right, Westvic has been providing the western region with transport services for many years.
Now, by joining forces, and with the significant financial investment made by Wettenhalls, the partnership will be able to grow and build on the many existing strengths.
The merger will take full advantage of Westvic’s rail capabilities, and Wettenhalls’ extensive national network, allowing for the full optimisation of freight rail capacity in the area, and opening up a number of coordinated and well-linked freight lines.
These lines will extend through Victoria’s ports (Portland, Geelong and the Port of Melbourne), rail hubs (Warrnambool, Geelong and Melbourne) and key road corridors throughout Australia, opening up the region to the rest of Australia and indeed the world.
These new freight corridors, and the efficient and effective use of multimodal (rail and road) transport, will deliver significant gas emission reductions.
“With this partnership, Wettenhalls becomes a true multi-modal service provider. Through the use of our new rail capability and high-efficiency vehicles, we aim to reduce truck movements throughout the western region of Victoria while positively contributing to the local economy,” Wettenhalls Group CEO Matthew Blizzard says.
Beyond environmental, efficiency and service level benefits, the new partnership will also economically benefit the region.
With Wettenhalls providing a high-capacity, high-efficiency logistics network in a key primary production region, business activity and investment will be encouraged, stimulating and promoting growth.
Westvic’s Managing Director Warrick Lofts says it is a “fundamental goal” of the new partnership to continue to build on its existing relationships, and continue to forge new ones.