Frequently asked questions

The choice between the three freight types of rail, sea and air freight depends on various factors. These include the type of goods, delivery time requirements, cost restrictions and environmental impact. Our experts will be happy to advise you on the choice of freight type for your product. Rail freight is characterised by a mixture of speed and cost. At around 20 days, it is slower than air freight, but faster than road transport. The costs are between the prices of the other two freight types. Rail freight has a greater capacity than air freight and is often seen as a more environmentally friendly option. Sea freight is the most cost-effective option for the international transport of goods and is particularly suitable for bulk goods and long-distance transport. However, with a delivery time of around 5 to 6 weeks, it is the slowest of the three freight types and less suitable for urgent deliveries. With its enormous capacity, sea freight is ideal for transporting large quantities of goods, but it is susceptible to delays due to sea weather and port handling. Air freight is the fastest option for transporting goods at around 5 days and is best suited for urgent goods. However, it is also the most expensive and has limited capacity compared to rail and sea freight. Air freight also causes the highest greenhouse gas emissions per kilometre of transported goods.

Despite the great geographical distance, the direct procurement of products from Asia does not necessarily lead to higher CO2 emissions per product compared to locally produced goods. Line Up's strategy of sourcing products directly from Asia therefore often proves to be more climate-friendly compared to products that are manufactured via detours in other countries. Our customers can view the calculation of our CO2 emissions transparently in our Supply Chain Dashboard. We also provide a CO2 calculator that calculates the CO2 emissions for deliveries.

When it comes to customs clearance, Line Up takes over the entire coordination to ensure a smooth process for you. This includes the procurement and processing of all necessary documents and formalities for the import of your goods, such as certificates of origin and import licences. We also take care of communication with the customs authorities to ensure that all necessary authorisations and approvals are obtained correctly and on time. With our experienced team and comprehensive service, you can rest assured that your customs clearance will be handled professionally and efficiently.

We offer a direct exchange with a fixed contact person who will support you in global customs clearance. This person will keep you up to date on the current status of customs clearance. Our line-up team takes care of the entire coordination and realisation of customs clearance. You also have the option of viewing the current status of your order in our Line Up Supply Chain Dashboard. From preparation and documentation to the final follow-up check, we at Line Up offer a comprehensive outsourcing solution for export customs clearance, both nationally and worldwide.

Line Up is a family business and prioritises team building and fast communication channels. Our dynamic team consists of around 20 employees who specialise in various fields. Five of these employees belong to the expert team in China.

Line Up offers cross-industry procurement of products. This means that, in principle, you can purchase any product from us. Simply make an appointment with us so that we can find a customised solution to procure your product globally at the best quality and price.

No, we do not manufacture ourselves. We have a large network of suppliers and manufacturers in Asia and around the world that we have trusted for over 30 years. Long-term partnerships are particularly important to us, both externally with you and internally with our partners.

To help you overcome communication problems and cultural barriers, our team of experts from Mönchengladbach will support your procurement process. We will then liaise with our experts in China and pass on the information directly to you.

As a rule, you will receive a response from us on the same day. We expect to provide you with a specific quote and price within the next 48 hours.

Line Up Handels GmbH assumes the role of invoicing agent as part of our comprehensive range of services. This means that Line Up not only coordinates the procurement process, but is also responsible for correct and transparent invoicing. This considerably simplifies the process for you.

The Line Up team has industry-specific experts who will take care of your specific project. It is important to us that you have a fixed contact person and can reach them at our available times.

Line Up has been working with many different global companies, suppliers, manufacturers and partners for over 30 years. This large network enables us to guarantee cross-industry procurement and offer you a wide range of options.

We prioritise personality and individuality. You will receive personalised support from us and we will tailor the procurement process to your requirements. Thanks to our 30 years of experience, we have built up a broad and cross-sector expertise that enables us to provide you with individual and comprehensive support.

If a mould is required for the manufacture of your product, please note that the time required may vary depending on the product. We generally allow around 2-3 weeks to manufacture, test and optimise the tool so that it can be used for series production.

We will endeavour to provide you with a suitable offer as quickly as possible. Our aim is to send you a suitable offer within 24-72 hours. Depending on the complexity of the product, it can sometimes take a little longer. We will keep you up to date during the entire process.

Documents such as technical drawings or rough sketches of your products are helpful to save time and costs during the consultation. Material information on the product, sample images or product references also speed up and simplify the procurement process. This enables our experts to better categorise your project directly and offer you more specific advice.

Line Up's procurement process usually starts with a product enquiry from you. The next step is a personal consultation with your dedicated contact person, during which we discuss your product idea and the process. We then have a sample or prototype made of your product in order to approve your product for series production. Your products then undergo quality control. We also handle the entire logistics and import process for you and offer attractive storage facilities at our site in Mönchengladbach if required.

Even without additional documents, you and your dedicated contact person can go into personal consultation and plan your customised project. You can then work out the additional documents together so that you can start production of your products.

We offer you access to our specially developed Line Up Supply Chain Dashboard, which allows you to transparently view all relevant data relating to your order. With this dashboard, you always have an overview of the current status of your order, delivery dates and other important information to help you keep track of your entire supply chain.

Of course - smaller order quantities are also relevant for us. We will be happy to get in touch with you, discuss your order and customise the order quantities. The minimum order quantity varies depending on the product.

The focus for our customers is on risk-free access to the Asian market. Our team in Mönchengladbach handles communication with our experts in Asia and other global market participants. We therefore guarantee you direct, fast communication with us, without communication problems and cultural barriers.

On site in Mönchengladbach, we take care of communication with our Chinese colleagues and have been doing so for over 30 years. We work exclusively with reliable partners and can therefore guarantee smooth procurement. In addition, you have a fixed contact person who you can turn to at any time.

We do not have a fixed minimum order quantity (MOQ) to initiate the procurement process. The minimum quantity required varies depending on the product. Our experts will be happy to advise you to determine the optimum order quantity for your needs.

The duration of the procurement process for Line Up varies depending on the product and type of transport. In general, however, it can be said that the procurement process for sea freight, for example, usually takes around 10 to 12 weeks from production.

When it comes to quality control, Line Up focuses on various factors to ensure that your products meet the highest standards. This includes random checks during the manufacturing process, adapting the checks to the respective product quantity and using AQL tables to assess quality. We also use production lists to ensure consistent quality, even for repeat orders. As proof of our quality standards, we are proud that Line Up is ISO 9001 certified. These methods ensure that your products always meet the expected quality requirements.

Line Up is proud to be ISO 9001 certified and has long-standing production partners who have been carefully selected. Our testing procedures are based on the use of AQL tables. Prior to series production, we carry out sampling to ensure that all requirements are met. This approval for series production is monitored and controlled by our experts on site to ensure that the highest quality standards are met. Our long-standing production partners bring extensive experience and expertise to ensure that your products meet the highest quality standards.

Line Up works closely with various globally recognised testing institutes to ensure that the products meet the specific requirements and standards you require. These include renowned institutions such as TÜV, Intertek, SGS, TÜV Rheinland, TÜV Nord and TÜV Süd. Through these partnerships, we can ensure that our products are comprehensively tested and certified to meet the highest quality standards.

Line Up guarantees that the products supplied by the manufacturers or distributors meet the specific requirements and characteristics defined for each product. These requirements are checked in advance by means of tests and reports. If required, CE markings can even be applied at the customer's request. As the products are manufactured individually for each customer, Line Up provides product-relevant tests and certificates either internally or in co-operation with third-party suppliers or test institutes.

For added security, we have samples or prototypes of your product made in Asia. These are manufactured under standardised conditions, resemble the final end product and are subject to quality tests. The products of the final series production are randomly tested according to the AQL system and various product certifications such as CE, TÜV and many more are produced if required, which underpin the quality and function of the products.