We need to get to know each other better
From May 10 to June 22, thanks to the logistical involvement of Schenker, the Castle Square in Warsaw hosted the unique United Buddy Bears exhibition. 138 figures, each designed by an artist from one of the countries belonging to the United Nations. The project is guided by the motto: “We have to get to know each other better… this will allow us to understand each other better, trust each other more, and live together in peace.” The exhibition is enriched by 4 special figures: Einstein, the Global Ethics Bear, the Golden Rule Bear, and the Bear of Respect for All Life.
So far, the project has visited major metropolises on 4 continents and has been seen by over 17 million people. Buddy Bears have promoted the idea of tolerance, understanding between nations and cultures, including in Berlin, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tokyo, Seoul, Cairo, Vienna, Sydney, and Jerusalem. The Polish edition of the event was held under the patronage of the Mayor of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, and the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit. Janusz Górski, CEO of DB Schenker in Poland, also took part in the ceremonial opening of the exhibition.
– Social commitment is part of the DB Schenker strategy. The Buddy Bears exhibition is a special project for us because it combines global logistics – our core business – with the idea of tolerance, cultural diversity, and charitable activities. DB Schenker is the logistics partner for this project in Poland, just as, for example, DB Schenker from Australia or Austria handled exhibitions in their respective capitals – said Janusz Górski, CEO of DB Schenker in Poland.
Many stages – logistical challenges
Organizing an exhibition located in one of the central points of the city is a major logistical challenge. Before tourists and residents of the capital could admire these colorful and extraordinary works of art, the logistics operator had many tasks to complete. DB Schenker was responsible for transporting the exhibits from Berlin to the warehouse in Teresin and for storage before the exhibition. A major operational challenge was the delivery of the figures and other exhibition elements from the warehouse to Castle Square. The next stage of implementation was the unloading and assembly of the exhibition elements.
The logistics of this project also included storing the packaging for the exhibition elements during its duration. Upon the conclusion of the exhibition, DB Schenker was also responsible for dismantling the exhibition and storing the exhibits until the return transport.
Transport of exhibits
The transport from Germany to Poland consisted of 142 exhibits, packed in crates over 2 meters long, previously specially designed and manufactured by DB Schenker in Germany. Each crate weighed 135 kg. A 140-kg base accompanied each individual figure. The total delivery included 33 pallets with bases and Buddy Bears figures with a total weight of 42 tons.
– The collection of the Bears took place in Berlin at the end of April. The average loading time for one vehicle was 2 hours. The goods were delivered to the Schenker warehouse in Teresin in two stages. Since we covered the Berlin – Teresin route, which is approx. 550 km, in 1 day, the Buddy Bears quickly arrived in Teresin – said Tomasz Schmidt, a forwarder from PU Poznań, responsible for the transport of the Bears on the Berlin – Teresin route.
Storage
One of the important elements of the DB Schenker offer is warehouse logistics, which also proved very helpful in the implementation of the United Buddy Bears project. It was in one of the DB Schenker logistics centers in Teresin that the Buddy Bears were stored before the exhibition.
– To receive seven semi-trailers, we prepared an area of approx. 200 m2, which involved consolidating space and goods in the warehouse. Two weeks before the exhibition, we opened two crates with exhibits. We tested moving the bases and assembling the Bears, measuring the approximate assembly time. Proper preparation and training of employees allowed us to efficiently complete the entire project – said Tomasz Ołubek, Logistics Service Coordinator at DB Schenker.
The warehouse in Teresin is the place where, during the exhibition, the wooden crates used to transport the Buddy Bears and the pallets for the bases were stored. Here, too, after the project was completed, the figures were stored before the return transport.
Delivery of figures to Castle Square and unloading
Transporting the Buddy Bears from Teresin to Castle Square was a complex undertaking, requiring Schenker to obtain special C4 and C16 permits from the Warsaw city authorities. Without these permits, vehicles with individual exhibition elements could not enter the Old Town area – under the Sigismund’s Column. The transport itself, due to traffic restrictions in the capital, could only be carried out between 8:00 PM – 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The first batch of the delivery – the bases for the exhibits – took place on May 8 before 6:00 AM, and the vehicles left the city before 7:00 AM. On that day, 70 crates with Bears arrived at Castle Square, and the next batch arrived the following day in accordance with the hours specified in the traffic regulations in Warsaw.
– Three curtain-sided semi-trailers and two 24-pallet trucks were allocated to handle the Buddy Bears project. Such efficient delivery of the figures was possible thanks to the minimization of so-called empty runs. The trucks carried goods in both directions: Bears in crates from the warehouse and empty crates on the way back. Both in the warehouse and at Castle Square, we naturally used forklifts, which arrived in the first transport – explains Przemysław Sulej, Production Organization Coordinator at the DB Schenker Warsaw branch.
Exhibition assembly
DB Schenker, known for comprehensive logistics solutions and a wide range of additional services, was also responsible for the assembly and disassembly of the exhibition as part of the United Buddy Bears project. 16 DB Schenker employees from various branches took part in preparing the exhibition, including from the warehouse in Teresin, from Młochów – the headquarters of the company’s Warsaw branch, Łódź, Lublin, and Kraków.
– The assembly of the Bears lasted two days (May 8 and 9) and started with laying out the platforms. The next stage was setting up the Buddy Bears figures. Finally, we mounted the plaques with descriptions of specific figures and two large information boards. Thanks to the efficiency of the team and excellent cooperation with the department responsible for transport, we managed to break a record, and the United Buddy Bears exhibition in Poland was set up the fastest – said Agnieszka Cinkowska, Logistics Solutions Sales Specialist at DB Schenker.
The DB Schenker team was also responsible for dismantling the exhibition.
Z for Conclusion
The United Buddy Bears exhibition allowed visitors to see elements characteristic of the individual cultures of UN member countries. Thanks to the involvement of DB Schenker and the comprehensive offer of logistics solutions for the exhibition, one can take a joyful trip around the world together with the Buddy Bears.