Not just a European network, a dedicated team ............... Quality & efficiency through information and communication ............... Safety and Quality before profitability ............... Customer care is not just a statement but a department ............... Not just an average transport company ............... Just-in-time works fine with tankcontainers ............... We keep trying harder ...

 

history
Huktra NV was established in 1976 as a small forwarding company, located in the port of Zeebrugge (Belgium). It remains a private company to this day, with additional offices in Novara (Italy), Manchester (UK) and Tarragona (Spain). The company now owns and operates an ever-growing fleet of tank containers, and is involved in transport of chemicals as well as edibles (liquid and powder form).
Founded in 1976, Huktra's core business at that time was international forwarding.  During those initial years, Huktra acquired some tank containers.  This type of equipment was new and unique at the time.  Tank containers formed an interesting alternative towards sending driver accompanied vehicles across the channel. They were ideal in size and weight for both liquid and powder products, allowing new increased net weights to be carried.
The office was (and still is) situated in Zeebrugge, a modern, dynamic European port with fluent Intermodal connections between rail and shipping systems.  The outer port, partially built on land gained from the sea, is round the clock accessible to all modes of modern and fast traffic. Zeebrugge's swift cross channel operations prove to be an asset for Huktra's transport operations.
From 1982 on, Huktra started building and buying new containers for the further expansion of their tank container fleet. During the mid-eighties, Huktra targeted its efforts mainly on  Benelux. In 1989, the company experienced an explosive growth when Huktra bought large amounts of tank containers and  expanded its activities to mainland Europe. In correlation with this expansion, Huktra started using the then developing Intermodal rail network to improve the level of quality service towards its customers.
  Very quickly, Huktra developed a regular transport system between the Benelux and Italy, carrying all types of chemicals and edibles back and forth. The combination of the rail advantages with the Huktra system produced a successful business, and resulted in the founding of Huktra's first subsidiary in Novara, Italy.
In mid 1992, Huktra moved into a new office complex, located in the Transportzone of Zeebrugge. The complex is owned by Huktra, and expresses the ambition of further growth, through an always improving service-package and a distinctive quality approach.
Managed from its new office-building, Huktra continued its successful business with Italy, and started a similar system towards Spain. It allowed Huktra once again to widen its service to multinational chemical customers and traders in the edible market. The system developed gradually and showed the same success as the Italian route. As a next logical step, by 1994, Huktra established an office in Tarragona, Spain.
  In 1996, Huktra reorganized its activities in the UK. The unavoidable separation with Huktra UK Ltd in Widnes gave the company the opportunity to set up its own office in Manchester. These changes made it possible for Huktra to provide the same high quality and reliable service to customers all over Europe. At the same time, on the operational side, Huktra engaged into two long-term partnerships with high-quality local hauliers, who both carry the ISO 9002 certification, similar to Huktra's own certification standard.
 

future

Huktra NV plans further development in Europe, based upon the quality of its equipment and systems, and the commitment of its people.

The fleet size has reached 550 units and is still growing.  Consequent investments in computer technology and implementation of quality orientated audit programs protect the existing high-quality and cost-effective service level.  These efforts have been rewarded with the ISO 9002 certificate in 1992, and by passing the SQAS audit in 2002 with excellent results.   Huktra is also the first intermodal tank container operator to obtain the GMP certificate.

Early February 2001, Huktra acquired a site of 20000 mē, adjacent to our office building.  The purpose is to develop a new modern maintenance depot.  The construction will take place during 2002. 

Prime attention is, and will always be given to quality and open communication with the customer at all levels.  Safety before profitability - always!   As a transport company, nobody can ever offer the perfect, never failing service package.  Huktra isn't able to make trains run faster, or avoid unexpected traffic jams, but in return puts all its efforts into offering quick and quality communication, and fulfilling customer's requirements.