Atlantic Container Line, a Grimaldi Group company, was recognized as a top supplier by American Honda Motor Co. Inc. Executive Vice‐President & COO Takuji Yamada presented the company’s Premier Partner Award to ACL for excellence in International Transporting Services between North America and Europe. ACL was one of 15 award recipients selected from 46 suppliers nominated by American Honda associates out of more than 1,000 eligible companies nationwide.
William Kearns, Executive Vice President for ACL, stated: "It is once again an honour and a distinct privilege for ACL to be receiving Honda’s Premier Partner Award for the third time. We are very fortunate to have earned their trust and support for over 20 years in providing transportation services for their
transatlantic shipments."
The Premier Partner Awards were established in 1998 to recognize suppliers who embrace American Honda’s philosophy of exceeding customer expectations with quality and service. The 2013 Premier Partner Award winners represent multiple industries from varied aspects of Honda’s business ranging from software development and fleet management to design and marketing services. The recipients include seven winners returning from last year as well as four first‐time winners.
"The Premier Partner Awards highlight an outstanding group of suppliers that provide Honda with exceptional service each and every day," said Charles Harmon, American Honda’s senior manager of Corporate Procurement and Corporate Services. "Their support is critical to our ability to provide our
customers with quality customer service and products. We are proud to recognize them for their exceptional contributions."
Since 1967, ACL has been a specialized carrier of containers, project and oversized cargo, heavy equipment and vehicles with the world’s largest combination Container/RORO ships (CONROs). ACL is headquartered in Westfield, New Jersey with offices throughout Europe and North America. ACL offers five transatlantic sailings each week as well as container, RORO and Break‐bulk service between North America and West Africa and oversized service from North America to the Mediterranean, Middle East, Australia, South America, Far East, Russia, North, South & East Africa. In 2015, ACL’s five new G4 (Generation 4) vessels, will replace its existing fleet of G3 CONROs operating in the Company’s transatlantic service. ACL is a subsidiary of the Grimaldi Group of Naples, Italy.
Based on Honda’s longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda currently operates 14 manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and automatic transmissions, Honda all‐terrain vehicles, and Honda
power equipment products such as lawn mowers, mini‐tillers and general purpose engines, using domestic and globally‐sourced parts. Honda started local production in the U.S. with motorcycles in 1979. In 1982, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to produce passenger cars in the U.S. Honda has continued to expand its local production capabilities, and cumulative automobile production in North America surpassed 23 million units in 2011.
