About Krämer Bau GmbH
Krämer Bau GmbH offers the entire spectrum of services when it comes to civil engineering and demolition. In addition to its core expertise in earthworks, cable construction, sewer construction, road construction and industrial construction, Krämer Bau specialises in the systematic dismantling of building complexes and wind turbines. With more than 120 employees, the family-run company from the Eifel region works on numerous projects for its customers throughout Germany.
Keeping the construction site moving: Logistics requires flexibility
“Change of plan!” Especially in logistics, where every cog has to mesh seamlessly with the others, these three words are sure to send shivers down the spine of anyone in charge – especially when time is short. Bernd Rehles, a graduate in industrial economics who works as a technical purchaser responsible for logistics processes at Krämer Bau GmbH, is also familiar with the fast pace of logistics. “There are always new challenges,” he says about logistics, which has become his main area of responsibility during his 32 years with the company.
Construction site delivery in particular is a fast-moving business. As a civil engineering and demolition company, Krämer Bau GmbH has to adhere to tight schedules. Whether pipes, container systems, construction fences or 40-tonne excavators – everything has to be on site on time to keep the construction site from coming to a standstill. Storage is also an issue, as there is usually only limited space available on construction sites, meaning prompt collection is required. Unforeseeable events such as weather conditions, delivery difficulties, traffic problems or authorisations ultimately result in a change of plan.
According to Bernd Rehles, “Sudden changes can occur on construction sites. Tools and machines may have to be organised or removed again, or one or two Euro pallets of construction fencing may need to be delivered to cordon off a demolition site, all within the space of a day.”
Krämer Bau GmbH faces yet another challenge – but this time for positive reasons: it has experienced major growth in recent years. The “Repowering of wind turbines” business segment was developed and has expanded across Germany. Bernd Rehles’s colleagues are responsible for setting up the transport infrastructure and demolition work as part of projects in which old wind turbines are replaced with modern ones. More and more journeys beyond the region were pushing the company’s own fleet to its limits and significantly increasing the time required for external transport.
As time went on, it became more difficult to cover all transport operations with the company’s own fleet – and the transport partners from the surrounding area were no longer sufficient either.
Responding to the fast pace of logistics with agile processes
For a year now, the hassle of having to spend a long time searching for transport partners available at short notice has been a thing of the past for Krämer Bau GmbH. So much so that Bernd Rehles says: “Sometimes I wonder how we ever managed before!” Since February 2023, he has been using the TIMOCOM Marketplace to meet logistical challenges.
TIMOCOM has become an integral part of his day-to-day work. Transportation of demolition vehicles, barriers, fences, pipes – everything is handled via the freight exchange in the marketplace. Only the specialised heavy-duty transportation of construction site vehicles weighing more than 40 tonnes is unsuitable for the marketplace due to the high requirements.
He is happy to support his contractors with his experience as a lorry driver: “Some construction sites that are somewhat off the beaten track are not easy to find. I research the conditions and coordinates in advance to ensure the transport runs smoothly and the driver can manage.”
“The first time I used TIMOCOM to find a transport company for a job, I had 100 calls and 70 emails within an hour – I was amazed at how quickly it worked,” says Bernd Rehles. He now prefers to use digital communication: “It keeps me more organised and I get on very well with it.”
Agile logistics processes save both time and money
All in all, Bernd Rehles sees the TIMOCOM Marketplace as the answer to the fast-paced construction site business. The company has successfully met the challenges and become more agile. “The cost savings, the time savings and the strong transport network,” are what he considers to be the most important advantages. For him, logistics is not a game of chance, because “if you do it well, there are only winners!”
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