A regional logistics hub in Bristol, established a year ago by Palletways, Europe’s largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network, is celebrating a successful first year in business.
Fifteen regional companies within the 110-strong member network in the UK and their customers now benefit from using Palletways’ fifth hub, based in Avonmouth. Initially a £200,000 investment by Palletways, the South West hub processes 720 pallets per day through eighteen in-bound trunk movements a night. This has provided many new employment opportunities.
Paul Evans, general manager for Palletways Bristol, said: “The creation of the regional hub allows our members and customers in the South West and South Wales to benefit from competitive rates and a better service. It brings about a faster turnaround of goods for onward distribution to their delivery destination, as well as extended geographic coverage, operational efficiencies and state-of-the art technology. Since opening we’ve more than doubled our output, with our aim being to triple it in 2018.”
Palletways member, Frenni Transport, based in Port Talbot and Crymych, outlines its experience. Simon Parry says: “The South West hub is close at hand and gives us flexibility to add extra vehicles to meet customer demand throughout the year. We’ve seen our network grow regionally since it opened, as well as a definite reduction in delivery miles.”
Clive Hickey of Gregory Distribution, which operates four member depots across the South West, adds: “We receive freight into our depots much earlier now than before the hub opened. This means we can process and despatch freight more speedily to the benefit of our end customers.”
The regional distribution centre works with Palletways’ Lichfield and London hubs to deliver goods to 20 countries throughout Europe, including across the UK. Palletways’ estimates the number of HGV miles saved by the facility is in the region of 163,000 miles, an annual saving of 30 tonnes of carbon emissions.
