Chemical product logistics involves a series of challenges, since delicate and even dangerous goods are handled , which require mobility and adherence to regulations and special transportation, according to Roberto Canales, Supply Chain Manager at Pochteca , a company specialized in the sale of raw materials and chemical inputs for the industry.
In an interview with T21 , Canales pointed out that permits are required for all units and operators to be able to move chemical materials, especially those that are dangerous, which is why the transportation of this type of merchandise is becoming increasingly more specialized .
The chemical logistics chain has a series of requirements that must be met, as well as policies and requirements that have to do with the compatibility of the products being transported.
“You cannot mix materials that, in the event of a spill, could cause an incident, a fire, an explosion, and endanger the lives of the operator and people,” he explained.
There are organic and inorganic chemicals, as well as salts and other supplies, which are identified with a safety data sheet so that we know how to respond in the event of an emergency and what measures must be taken for their transportation.
“It is a very specialized logistics. In fact, I believe that all companies that transport chemical materials, or well, not all, but many, have chosen to register with the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) because of how specialized it has become,” he explained.
Roberto Canales said that they use units that meet the standards for transporting their products , such as pipes with all the security measures for, for example, the handling of solvents.
Also in an interview, Alejandro Prieto , director of Koprimo , a company specialized in the distribution of chemical supplies and for various industries, indicated that the role of a distributor in the value chain is very important , since in his case they bring the materials from the United States in bulk by rail, which requires special care.
“When they arrive in Mexico, we take them to our facilities in Monterrey, Toluca, Guadalajara, Mexicali, Salamanca, and from there we normally repack everything in 25-kilogram sacks and transfer them to hoppers on trucks so they reach our end customer,” he told T21.
Dangerous products are transported in special transports, in addition to having to comply with regulations and controls , and they must also take into account the compatibility of the substances.
The manager said that the driver of the unit is important in the logistics chain of this type of products , since they have to be able to handle chemical goods.
Sodium bicarbonate, zinc powder, activated carbon, micronutrients for the field, mining exploitation agents, products for the plastics, ceramics and steel industries are some of the inputs they transport. Regarding storage, he said that dangerous products are separated and stored in a special place, to which only certain people have access.
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