Pim Bastiaanse, Rail Manager Europe at Dow: Future-proof growth can only be achieved through collaboration
Pim Bastiaanse, Rail Manager Europe at Dow, has been named Rail Shipper of the Year 2024. From his base in Terneuzen, he shares his vision on the sector and Dow’s operations.
The flagship of Europe
Dow is the third-largest chemical company in the world. The site in Terneuzen, with 16 production plants on one industrial complex, serves as Dow’s flagship in Europe. “We are fully connected multimodally,” says Bastiaanse. “The site has direct rail access as well as access to deep sea, short sea, and inland waterway routes.”
Rail as a strategic choice
Dow uses both block trains and the single-wagonload concept to ship products across Europe. “Block trains are ideal for larger volumes. Every day, trains with 20 to 24 wagons depart from Terneuzen to various European destinations. This enables us to offer a reliable product, without time-consuming stops or shunting at different terminals.” The single-wagonload concept offers a different kind of flexibility. “With this model, we can respond to the needs of individual customers—even if they want to ship smaller volumes. And by ‘small’ we mean 60 tonnes,” Bastiaanse says with a smile. “It allows us to send tailored shipments to various locations across Europe without having to wait for a full train. This helps us serve a broader customer base and maximize logistics efficiency.”
Read the full article via Rail Cargo
