Eighty percent of the world’s goods circulate by container. These huge metal boxes built to a standard specification have barely changed since they were invented 70 years ago. For the co-founders of AELER, one thing was clear: to have a major positive impact worldwide we have to re-think a global aspect of how we do business. So, they chose to revolutionise the container by offering a new freight forwarding solution. An important step forward that makes goods shipment more efficient and massively reduces its environmental impact.
“After giving the matter careful thought, we decided to improve three aspects: container design, digitalising the shipping process and helping the customer through the process of using them,” sums up David Baur, co-CEO and co-founder of AELER. Made of a composite material containing recycled PET, the containers developed by AELER are more robust and more hygienic than conventional models. They are also aerodynamically shaped, resulting in a 4% fuel saving when transported by road. The insulating properties of the composite material keep the humidity and temperature variations inside to a strict minimum, which does away with the need for secondary packaging. This results in up to 300 kg less single-use packaging per shipment, depending on the type of cargo being shipped. They also have a bigger storage volume than conventional containers. “In the case of liquids transported in our flexitanks, we gain 17%, leading to a 20% reduction in CO2 for every container shipped,” adds David Baur.
Because the containers come with advanced Internet of Things (IoT) functionality, various parameters – location, temperature, humidity, impacts, door openings, etc. – can be continually monitored, improving the security of even the most fragile goods. The company also stands out from the crowd because of its completely new kind of business model. AELER offers its customers a subscription based on the number of days they want to use the containers. “More than 50% of the containers in circulation are transported empty,” says David Baur. AELER provides a solution to this problem too, fine-tuning control of its fleet to prevent a container making the return trip empty. The company takes on the task of finding other customers so that the container can be sent back to its starting point in stages.
AELER has a host of partner goods depots all over the world, mainly in Europe and Southeast Asia. Around 100 containers are currently in circulation. The company’s customers include big hitters in the freight forwarding world such as Kuehne+Nagel, Leschaco, NAVEX and OEC. It also works for the American giant Procter & Gamble. AELER secured CHF 9 million of finance to launch commercial operation, with a series A funding round taking place in 2023 to boost its expansion.
AELER Technologies SA
