As part of the Kuehne+Nagel Experience cornerstone of Roadmap 2026, we work hard every day to strengthen our relationships with customers and employees. Recognizing the pivotal role we play in managing our customers’ supply chains, we are committed to consistently providing reliable services that meet their needs. We strive for excellence in everything we do and invest in dedicated and skilled employees to ensure unmatched performance.
The Kuehne+Nagel Experience harnesses the collective expertise of industry-leading professionals to deliver exceptional service and enhance customer satisfaction. But what sets us apart? Let us take the example of the cutting-edge semiconductor industry.
Our customer, a leading Netherlands-based manufacturer of equipment and services to make semiconductors, was seeking to refresh its roster of logistics suppliers. Our Air Logistics development team worked intensively to build a relationship with them, to understand the semiconductor business and what they were looking for. The supplier wanted to allocate their logistics needs over a number of suppliers in ‘bundles’ clustered by destination, and thanks to the team’s efforts, we have been awarded the largest one — Taiwan. Our Semicon Logistics solution ticked all the boxes for our customer, and we were able to prove our commitment to quality by showcasing our knowledge in handling highly valuable and sensitive products.
The challenges of transporting semiconductor equipment cannot be underestimated. The size alone of some of these machines mean they can only be loaded via the nose of the aircraft. That is where the two last Boeing 747 cargo planes ever produced — Kuehne+Nagel’s “Inspire” and “Empower” — demonstrate their value. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the equipment means that it needs supervision every step of the way — air ride suspension on the trucks picking it up from the customer, a temperature-controlled environment, limiting the amount of G force they are subjected to on take-off and so on. The latest model of their flagship machine costs more than USD 200 million, so extreme caution to avoid damage is necessary. From a spare parts perspective time is of the essence, as any downtime costs millions of dollars a day. For all these challenges, we can count on the expertise of our colleagues.
“We want the Kuehne+Nagel DNA.”
Angela Grossgebauer, Director of Air Logistics Netherlands, says the customer is very clear about what they expect.
Semiconductors at a glance
A semiconductor is a material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. Unlike conductors, which allow electricity to flow freely, and insulators, which block the flow of electricity, semiconductors have a conductivity level that can be controlled and modified. This property makes semiconductors crucial in the electronics industry.
Semiconductors are often used as the foundation for electronic devices, such as transistors and diodes, which form the building blocks of electronic circuits. These materials can be manipulated to exhibit specific electrical behaviors, like amplification, rectification, and switching. The controlled properties of semiconductors play a pivotal role in the functioning of various electronic devices, from simple integrated circuits to complex processors and memory chips. Global semiconductor sales are forecast to double to USD 1.3 trillion by 2032.
In view of the potential of the semiconductor industry, Kuehne+Nagel has made it a key growth area in its Roadmap 2026.
“Because of the great collaboration across many different teams within Kuehne+Nagel, we were able to involve the right expertise at the right time, showing our customer that not only do we have the right people, but that we are willing to invest in this partnership”, says Ufuk Sumerler, Global Head of Business Development, Air Logistics. We assembled a dedicated team composed of the right mix of 15 people working in 24/7 shifts. Their driving force — the commitment and willingness to learn, understand and fulfil this very exacting customer’s requirements and standards.
tonnes of semiconductors equipment
moved globally in 2023
Emanouela Roko, Air Logistics Customer Care Specialist, Semicon
“We want the Kuehne+Nagel DNA.” Angela Grossgebauer, Director of Air Logistics Netherlands, says the customer is very clear about what they expect.
“They've repeated this over and over again. They want something fresh, something new. They want to develop a new era of their product and how they serve their customers, and they want to do that with a new forwarder. It's been a theme throughout, and they've said this all along in terms of professionalism.” The customer has very high expectations and clear requirements. Transparency, openness, and honesty are paramount in order to build up trust.
“The great thing about working with this customer is that they really want it to be a win-win situation. They want us to succeed as that ensures their success”, Angela explains. The customer demonstrated this by hosting our team at their site to show them what the semiconductor industry is all about. The team experienced in person what a clean room is like, for example. “They want to impart as much knowledge to the team as they can so that we can do the best job possible.” Understanding the customer’s product and industry, and why each shipment is so important to them, is vital for each team member, no matter their role.