A regional logistics depot in Milton Keynes established by Palletways UK, Europe’s largest and fastest-growing express palletised freight network and part of Imperial Logistics, is celebrating two years in business. Its success and resilience are a result of the hard work and commitment of its local management team and staff as the business opened just a week before the nationwide lockdown in 2020.
Terry Fouracre, general manager for Palletways Milton Keynes, says:
“It’s been a challenging time for us and for our customers, but we’re looking positively ahead to a new financial year of trading having overcome operational headaches created by Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, the current fuel price rises and the price increases for goods and services generally. The network is strong enough to take on whatever pallet volumes our customers want to move, even at the busiest times of year.
The creation of the regional depot allows Palletways customers and other regional network members to benefit from competitive rates and a better service for pallet delivery. It brings about a faster turnaround of goods for onward distribution to delivery destinations, as well as extended geographic coverage, operational efficiencies and state-of-the art technology.”
Based in the Kiln Farm area of Milton Keynes, the business employs 35 people, in office and sales positions as well as in the depot including forklift truck drivers and day and night HGV drivers.
Many regional companies are now benefiting from Palletways’ sixth Owned Operations depot, which was established in March 2020 and is some 28,000 sq. ft in size. The regional depot acts as a pan-European gateway to deliver goods to 20 countries throughout Europe, including across the UK. It processes on average 340-400 pallets per day through the site for customers in Buckinghamshire and beyond, mainly located in Milton Keynes, Luton, Dunstable, and Leighton Buzzard.
Bedford-based customer, Jamie Davidson, Senior Operations Manager for Carlton Packaging, outlines his experience. Jamie says:
“Our business has grown substantially and this could not have been achieved without a key business partner like Palletways Milton Keynes. We constantly place demands upon the team and each time they rise to the challenge of meeting our requirements, finding innovative solutions for storage, full load transport and fleet support.”
Tony Evans of Fronius Milton Keynes adds:
“We see many benefits working with Palletways Milton Keynes including improved customer service, faster response times and good communication. We always get regular updates regarding our shipments through its web portal system which is essential to us so we can keep our customers updated too.”
