As a new partner, the Duisburg-based company TanQuid GmbH & Co. KG brings an exciting focus on logistics services for the chemical and mineral oil industry. Through this cooperation, the new partner supports the innovation platform for logistics and supply chain, seeking to engage with innovative solutions from startups within the startport network.
Exciting Questions for the startport Innovation Platform
With tank farms at 15 locations, TanQuid GmbH & Co KG is the largest independent tank farm operator in Germany.
However, the company not only stores mineral oil (diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and heating oil) and petrochemical products but also focuses on the smooth handling of these goods. As a crucial infrastructure provider, TanQuid, alongside other market participants, ensures the supply of liquid energy carriers to the population. The energy transition offers TanQuid significant opportunities in addition to many changes.
“[…] for example, an optimization of data structures and the tracking of our tank truck dispatches. For these and other innovation topics, we want to draw on one or more startport startups.”
“Currently, we are working on a variety of digitalization projects. This includes, for example, optimizing data structures and tracking our tank truck dispatches. We have also already explored the innovation field of robotics. This involves automating the handling process and thereby saving time in work processes. For these and other innovation topics, we want to draw on one or more startport startups,” says Sebastian van der Ploeg, CEO of the industrial group active in Germany and Poland.
With over 60 years of experience in the tank storage business and its nearby headquarters in Duisburg, high logistical competence and local expertise are simultaneously brought into startport’s logistics network. Johannes Franke, Managing Director of startport, is pleased about the new addition: “The safety requirements of a company like TanQuid make collaboration with our startups, as well as international scouting, challenging but also interesting. I look forward to the matching and potential integration of innovative solutions and see them as a further enrichment in port and hinterland logistics. The core idea of our innovation platform is also fully realized here: both sides of the industry, corporates and startups alike, benefit.”
Innovative pilot projects between partners and startups
As a subsidiary of Duisburger Hafen AG, startport has built a strong partner network over its 5 years of existence. This includes regional players such as Bohnen Logistik, Duisburg Intermodal Terminal, and Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg. These partners are connected with specific startups in so-called Innovation Challenges, enabling them to successfully launch pilot projects. Through this new startport format, tailor-made innovations are matched to the specific challenges of companies, driving innovation in Duisburg. Furthermore, by supporting the incubator program, partners promote entrepreneurship in logistics and supply chain in Duisburg.