Express Trailers secured two awards – Best Freight Forwarder of the Year and Best Warehouse Facilities of the Year – at the first edition of the Translog Awards.
Express Trailers was awarded the Best Freight Forwarder of the Year award for its service to companies wanting to launch generic medicines originating from non-EU countries into European Union countries. This meant reinventing the process from non-originating countries, shipping to Malta, storage in quarantine under special Malta Medical Authority permits and batch-releasing these products for launch in the respective destination countries at midnight plus one minute of patent expiry.
With over 20 years’ experience in exporting locally-manufactured medicines, Express Trailers saw the opportunity to attract non-EU-originating products destined for European markets for hubbing in Malta to be nearer to the markets for which these products are destined, thus solving regulatory issues related to the release of these products in their respective markets.
“In fact, we were one of the first freight forwarding companies in Europe to be listed on the Eudra GMDP database with a wholesale dealer’s licence,” said David Fleri Soler, head of sales and business development at Express Trailers.
“Offering this service rested solely on quality issues with the Malta Medicines Authority, on obtaining the WDL licence for the local storage of pharmaceutical products, the ability to import these medicines and batch-release them from our warehouse, having a temperature-controlled fleet with which to distribute the products and on having completed our two fully-equipped pharma warehouses in 2012, also certified by the Malta Medicines Authority,” added Mr Fleri Soler.
This led to the second award of Best Warehousing Facilities of the Year, the result of years of investment and consolidation in the company’s warehouse processes and customer-driven solutions.
“We implemented warehouse management system software that was integrated in a way that complemented our existing customised freight-forwarding set-up and established a specialised managed warehousing product offering receiving cargo, barcoding, pick-and-pack, stock inventory and live visibility, different storage solutions and distribution from a centralised location,” he said.
“Through our platform, we improved our clients’ stock visibility and control, leading them to achieve more cost efficiencies and more reliable inventory management. We strengthened our competitive advantage and portfolio of services and enhanced our business capability on the local market, also placing ourselves on a better platform to offer efficient and reliable services in marketing Malta as a distribution centre for North Africa and Europe.
“Charles Arapa, who heads our Management Information Systems and who led the implementation of this project and close-to-zero error operation, was instrumental for this success to be obtained,” added Mr Fleri Soler.
“Vision, a will to succeed and an obsession to be leaders in our sector are the main drivers of this company, not only when it comes to award presentations but in our daily operations.
“Our greatest reward comes from satisfied clients who trust us for our experience, credibility and commitment.
“These two awards would have not been possible without the dedication of all those involved in making Express Trailers one of the leading and most trusted transport and logistics company in Malta.
“We especially dedicate these two awards to our hard-working team of employees and management and we thank the investors for the trust they put in the company’s management,” said Franco Azzopardi, chairman and CEO of Express Trailers.