Effective construction logistics improves safety and efficiency

Construction sites place high demands on effective logistics: building materials must be transported to the site, and waste must be removed from it. Materials must be available at the right place and time for staff to work efficiently; at the same time, there is often limited space for storage over extended periods. There is also the risk of items being stolen or damaged by weather conditions.

Storage, loading, unloading, and congestion also pose risks of personal injuries. Each lorry contributes to emissions, noise, and traffic congestion. By setting requirements and standards for various aspects, the Construction Consolidation Centre plays a crucial role in Stockholm Royal Seaport's sustainability efforts and is an essential component in the development of fossil-free construction sites.

To reduce construction transports and increase loading capacity, the first environmental and sustainability programme of Stockholm Royal Seaport in 2010 aimed to establish a construction consolidation centre for building materials. The purpose was to minimise negative consequences of transport due to construction and increase resource efficiency. In 2013, the Stockholm Royal Seaport Construction Consolidation Centre was opened, serving as a hub for construction logistics throughout the urban development area, to which all construction stakeholders and developers are affiliated. The goal is for the Construction Consolidation Centre to be a competent service organisation in construction and civil engineering production and to promote research, development, and innovation.

The City of Stockholm owns the facility, and an operator is responsible for running it. The business is financed through affiliation fees, congestion charges, and payments for work done. For infrastructure projects, the fee is a percentage of the contract sum. For residential and commercial spaces, it is linked to the square footage. A so-called congestion charge also applies for direct transports to the work site. Work involving logistics co-ordination, cleaning, transportation, and waste management is carried out on an ongoing basis and charged for according to a price list. The business model aims to create incentives to increase co-loading and collective efficiency. One example is that a shuttle load service is free of charge while there is a site access fee. The transport booking system is open to other logistics systems and compatible with industry standards.

All transports with a fill rate below 50 per cent go to the Construction Consolidation Centre. Lorries with a higher fill rate can drive directly to the construction site. The Construction Consolidation Centre temporarily stores the materials and can then transport them using a shuttle vehicle. The shuttle vehicle serves multiple worksites, can be fully loaded, and delivers materials at the right time for each project. Transports from the Construction Consolidation Centre arrive within a two-hour time frame.

By receiving, temporarily storing, and coordinating the transport of materials to construction sites, and managing the recycling of waste, the number of heavy transports can be halved. There is also collaboration with the Ports of Stockholm to enable more construction elements and materials to be transported by sea.

Tests are underway with delivery containers that make it possible to deliver building materials outside normal opening hours, reducing transportation during peak hours and allowing for more flexible working hours in the transport industry. The Construction Consolidation Centre is also evaluating new types of construction fencing and lighting solutions. Experiences gained are shared with other construction projects in Stockholm and the rest of the country. In 2023 the Construction Consolidation Centre was complemented with a reuse centre for building materials.

In 2019, the Construction Consolidation Centre moved from Ropsten to the container port, deemed to be a more strategic location closer to the expansion of Värtahamnen, Frihamnen, and Loudden. The Construction Consolidation Centre plays a crucial role in co-ordination and safety work in the expansion, primarily in Ropsten and Värtahamnen, as well as in Loudden, as these are small worksites with limited storage space or managing building materials on-site.

The Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) from 2023 shows that 78 per cent of customers are satisfied.

Construction Consolidation Centre’s work towards a fossil-free construction site

In addition to minimising the number of transports, requirements are placed on the types of fuel used. All transports and services carried out by the Construction Consolidation Centre must be fossil fuel-free. The shuttle truck is electrically-powered and is part of the 'With a view from the driver's seat – how do electric vehicles function in the system?' innovation project. One of the main aims of the project is to test energy storage systems in conjunction with an electric truck and solar panels, as well as how charging infrastructure can optimise electricity usage for construction machinery and vehicles on a construction sites.

In order to have fossil fuel-free diesel available for the machinery involved in constructing Stockholm Royal Seaport, two HVO100 filling stations have been procured. One is located in Frihamnen, the other in Värtahamnen, and both are open to all. A third smaller station, for excavators, is also planned on the construction site itself.

The Construction Consolidation Centre also has cargo bikes for short supplementary transports where cars would have otherwise been used.

Article Published: 17/04/2022 Updated: 07/06/2024