A breakthrough in the relocation of logistics relay workshops!
Tent Warehouse (WS)” was adopted as a general handling facility for hazardous materials!
｜Interview with Osaka Petroleum Transport Co.

From the trend of cost reduction to the trend of logistics cost reduction. It has been a long time since the last logistics company was established in Japan, but petrochemical products are not an easy thing to handle. Osaka Petroleum & Chemical Transportation has been specializing in the transportation of petrochemical products for 130 years. Ltd. chose Taiyo Kogyo’s “Tent Warehouse (WS*)” for the relocation of its logistics relay workshop. We interviewed President Yui to find out why he chose Taiyo Kogyo from among a number of manufacturers and what were the deciding factors. Abbreviation for workstation

Please tell us about your company's business and what makes it unique.

Ltd. specializes in the transportation of petrochemical products. It collects petrochemical products from refineries in Wakayama, Mizushima, and Yokohama, brings them to a distribution relay yard in Takaishi City, Osaka, and delivers them to manufacturers, automobile repair shops, and gas stations in the Kinki area. The products we handle range from 2,000 to 3,000 brands, of which our main product, lubricating oil, is an important one that is connected to all industries. This may sound like a stable business, but in fact it is not. And this reality is related to the story of the relocation of the logistics relay workshop.

How did you relocate the logistics relay workshop?

In the past, refineries have been greatly affected by government policies, but the recent trend toward carbon neutrality has led to the consolidation and elimination of refineries in one fell swoop. However, for those of us who have been operating our businesses in tandem with refineries, there is nothing more difficult than this. This is because the consolidation will require us to close the logistics relay workshop that we had been operating in the corner of the refinery’s fuel oil filling station and find a new location for it. However, since we handle hazardous materials, it is not so easy to find a new location. I had tried to contact various parties but could not get a good response, but finally we were able to rent the current location under various conditions, such as a period of time.

Please tell us how you came to work with us.

As you know, a so-called hazardous materials warehouse must have a slate roof like a gas station, walls on all four sides, explosion-proof lighting, and sprinklers. However, this would be an expensive construction cost, and a walled facility would limit the location and scope of loading and unloading operations, making it difficult to respond flexibly according to the volume of cargo, and thus, inefficient. Besides, what is needed for the work is not a “hazardous materials warehouse,” but only a “logistics relay workshop. Unlike a hazardous materials warehouse, a “storage fee” cannot be added to the cargo handling fee, making it impossible to meet the high cost of construction and maintenance. It was at this time, when we were having trouble wrapping our heads around the situation, that we happened to come across Taiyo Kogyo’s “Tent Warehouse (WS)”. From there, we conducted repeated negotiations with the fire department in our area of jurisdiction, and after reaching a point where we said, “There is room to consider a tent warehouse,” we called them.

Why did you choose us?

The fact that Taiyo Kogyo is a company based in the Kansai region and has a proven track record of developing markets both domestically and globally. Above all, the deciding factor for us was that we learned that Taiyo Kogyo’s “Membrane Structural Building” would be used in the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025. First, we told them that most of the products we handle are lubricants for industrial use, and only a small percentage of them are highly flammable petroleum No. 1 products. We also wanted a fully open membrane roof structure with no walls.

Please tell us about the process of completion.

Finally, regarding the fully open membrane roof structure, we were able to obtain permission from the fire department because it would facilitate firefighting in the event of a fire. Taiyo Kogyo suggested that 14 pillars would be necessary for the 987.5 m2 cargo handling area to ensure safety, and that grounding be installed there to allow lightning to escape to the ground. On the other hand, we also expressed our requests that the pillars not be placed in the center because they would interfere with the line of flow, that eaves be provided so that cargo can be loaded and unloaded without getting wet in the rain, and that light be secured under the eaves so that work can be done safely even early in the morning. We are truly grateful to Taiyo Kogyo for fulfilling these requests and meeting our tight schedule.

What are your impressions of the new logistics relay work area?

Compared to the environment we had been accustomed to, the work space itself is now smaller, so it is difficult to move around in some areas, and it is not as if work efficiency has dramatically improved. However, we were able to ship without delay from the first day. The membrane roof also allows natural light to enter the space, making it brighter, and we expect that this will prevent human error due to misreading of part numbers. Above all, we are pleased with the increased safety of our workers. I am proud to hear comments from my colleagues in the Sakai City Land Transport Association, to which I belong, such as, “We never thought of a tent warehouse,” and “Osaka Petroleum Transport has done a good job.

Any last words?

There must be other companies in the same industry in other prefectures that are facing the same problems as we are. Ultimately, we have no choice but to leave the decision to the fire department of each municipality, so we do not know if Taiyo Kogyo’s “Tent Warehouse (WS)” can be adopted in all cases. However, we hope that our company’s experience this time will be an opportunity to break out of a difficult situation. Taiyo Kogyo is definitely a “hero” for our company. The fire department must have approved our request because they knew that we would ask Taiyo Kogyo, which boasts a wealth of experience both in Japan and overseas. The image of our company has also been improved by having something made just as we had wished. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the good encounter.

Thank you, President Yui.