Your Benefits

The significant cost savings delivered by the BHT Solution are primarily generated from simple logistics programmes, designed to use the currently wasted rail capacity represented by the empty returning trains of 'RVT' car transporter wagons to the manufacturing plants.

If you are a typical automotive OEM, then this capacity will have been purchased through an annual contract in order to guarantee RVT wagon availability whenever large numbers of finished manufactured vehicles need to be transported away from your manufacturing plants. Thus, part of the remit of your 'out-bound logistics' management will be to plan and ensure the availability of such vital capacity.

However, FOCAL has identified that most of the RVT wagons lie idle in port and holding yards awaiting their return journeys for periods of up to 6 weeks at any one time. The BHT Solution therefore proposed to use the OEM return journey to haul in components, engines and part assemblies, an opportunity made possible by the concept of the patented BHT trolleys supplied.

Once effectively implemented, the utilisation of the RVT fleet can be developed to generate even greater savings and revenues from co-ordinated logistics planning.

An illustration of the possible annual OEM savings could be calculated as follows:

  • 1 Train = 12 Rail Wagons (WIA Wagon)
  • 1 Wagon = 20 BHTs (max)
  • 1 BHT II can carry 2.0 (net) tonnes freight
  • 1 Wagon = 20 BHTs x 2.0 tonnes = 40 tonnes freight per wagon
  • 1 x 45ft trailer carries an average of 25 tonnes in payload
  • Therefore, 1 Rail Wagon = 1.6 Lorries (Trucks).
  • Cost of average 1500km lorry (truck) trip = €1,980
  • Cost of 19 lorries (equivalent to 12 rail wagon loads) x €1,980 x 2 = €75,240
  • Cost of average 12 rail wagon in & out-bound leg = €40,000
  • Therefore, saving per train = €75,240 - €40,000 = €35,240
  • If 2 BHT trains were operated per day, 243 days per year, then gross BHT annual savings =
  • 2 x 243 x €35,240 =
  • €17.127m p.a.

Although designed for the automotive sector, the BHT System is capable of carrying anything which fits within its loading restrictions and does not require special handling (e.g. dangerous goods).