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Waterline of Newport Pagnell has taken delivery of fifteen 12-tonne Volvo FL 4×2 rigids from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Milton Keynes.

The vehicles are the company’s first Volvo trucks and are being used for the nationwide distribution of kitchen components from worktops and units to appliances and even lighting.

Group Logistics Manager, Matt Elborough says: “Driver and road-user safety, environmental impact, fuel economy, driver comfort, reliability, usability and network support were all identified as prerequisites when it came to renewing what is essentially over one third of our entire 40-strong fleet of trucks and vans.”

“In choosing the new trucks we started with a blank sheet and looked at all the options. Through this exhaustive process it was the Volvo FL that stood out as the only truck that met all of the criteria we’d defined at the outset. Needless to say, I think the Volvo iron mark on the front also does wonders for our corporate image, which is an added bonus,” he adds.

For overnight accommodation the new trucks’ day cabs are fitted with Super Sky Cab conversions by Hatcher Components of Framlingham, Suffolk and bodywork is in the form of ‘Cheetah’ fast back bodies from Cartwright Group of Altrincham for enhanced aerodynamic performance.

“We take the environment extremely seriously,” explains Matt. “Everything about these new trucks, from the fuel saving curved roof through the highly responsive and effective 6-speed overdrive I-Sync automated mechanical gearbox to the high torque at low revs 210hp engines is about efficiency and limiting our impact on the environment. This attention to detail has already been borne out in fuel figures that show we’re returning over 16mpg. This has really impressed.”

Running a low chassis frame height of 850mm above ground and with two bag rear air suspension, the new Volvo FLs have been specified with safety and comfort very much in mind. “The Hatcher conversion is the most comfortable for our drivers,” says Matt, adding, “Air suspended and heated driver seats with additional lumbar support continue that comfort theme into the cab and our drivers appreciate it. I am positive this investment has boosted their morale.”

When it comes to safety the new Volvo FLs are bristling with features and technology designed to put well-being to the fore. ”Driver safety is massively important to us as is that of vulnerable road users,” says Matt. To these ends, the new trucks are specified to FORS and CLOCS standards and include forward, rear and nearside facing cameras. Additionally, we have supplementary lights fitted in the steps on the driver’s side as well as additional lighting at the top of the box body to illuminate the loading area plus a Dhollandia tuck-away tail-lift. Furthermore, the box has been specifically tailored to precisely meet our needs in respect of safe loading and fixing.”

Dealer support from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London at Tongwell in Milton Keynes has been pivotal in the realisation of the fleet renewal. ”The service from Tongwell has been excellent,” states Matt. ”The dealership really looked after our earlier non-Volvo trucks and I was keen to continue this relationship. Furthermore, when it came to specifying these new Volvo FLs, the dealer really helped us to arrive at something that is ideal for our needs. And with a 3-year Gold Repair & Maintenance contract I have confidence for the future.”

Uncategorised - May 27, 2016;

Logistics BusinessWaterline of Newport Pagnell has taken delivery of fifteen 12-tonne Volvo FL 4×2 rigids from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre London, Milton Keynes. <br src=

Legal & General Property (“LGP”), on behalf of its Life Fund, has begun a £25 million speculative warehouse development at Barclay Way, West Thurrock, south-east of London, in partnership with Graftongate Developments, who will deliver the scheme.

Construction is under way and completion is set for November 2016.

Named Thurrock 162, this new speculative high bay industrial / warehouse development will comprise a single Regional Distribution Centre of 162,508 sq ft (15,095 sq m) within a 7.6 acre secure site with the benefit of 13 m eaves height, cross loading, dock & level loading doors off a 53m deep yard. A 17 MVA power supply has been reserved for specialist users such as data centre or cold store occupiers.

The site is strategically located close to the Dartford Crossing and within one mile of Junction 31 of the M25 motorway. West Thurrock is a well-established distribution location and has attracted blue chip occupiers such as DHL, Wincanton, Procter & Gamble and Unilever Best Foods.

CBRE, GVA Bilfinger and Altus Group have been appointed letting agents.

Uncategorised - April 20, 2016;

Logistics BusinessLegal & General Property (“LGP”), on behalf of its Life Fund, has begun a £25 million speculative warehouse development at Barclay Way, West Thurrock, south-east of London, in partnership with Graftongate Developments, who will deliver the scheme. <br src=

Alexey Isaykin, President of Volga-Dnepr Group, has been inducted to the TIACA Hall of Fame.

Isaykin has been President of Volga-Dnepr since 2002, during which time the organization has grown to a global group of more than 20 companies.

“Alexey is an inspiring individual who has made many great contributions to the air cargo industry, and we are pleased to be able to celebrate his work with this very deserving recognition,” said Doug Brittin, Secretary General, TIACA.

Isaykin graduated from the Irkutsk Institute of National Economy in 1976 before joining the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant as an Air Force economist with responsibility over aviation equipment.

During the late 1980s, Isaykin worked at the Ulyanovsk Aircraft Manufacturing Complex as an executive officer, managing the USSR Military Air Transportation Department contracts for AN-124 aircraft delivery.

In 1989, after having finished his military career, Isaykin headed a group of entrepreneurs and enthusiasts whose aim was to establish a new private air cargo company – Volga-Dnepr Airlines.

The company was the first private cargo airline in Russia and the first joint stock company in the Ulyanovsk region.

Between 1990 and 2002, Isaykin acted as the Chairman of the Board, Executive Director, and General Director of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, before becoming President.

Isaykin is actively involved in public work to strengthen the prestige of the Russian civil aviation industry both inside the country and globally, with his work having been honoured by international, national government and industry awards and medals.

The TIACA Hall of Fame honours air cargo professionals who have played a role in the progress of aviation and have helped to shape and grow the industry.

Past winners have included James ‘Jim’ Jackson, a driving force behind the standardization of Aircraft Unit Load Devices (ULD), and Sir Peter Masefield, the former Managing Director of British European Airways and Chairman of the British Airports Authority and London Transport.

“This is a great honour and I am very pleased to be recognised alongside so many outstanding individuals who have played a key role in shaping the aviation industry, like Oleg Antonov, the truly visionary of the industry, whose aircraft is the essential part of the global market and help customers from all over the world to deliver any kind of cargo in due time and place,” said Isaykin.

“Our industry plays a crucial role in the world today and being a part of the air cargo community has been a privilege.”

Isaykin will be formally inducted to the Hall of Fame at TIACA’s Executive Summit, taking place from 24th to 26th May in Hollywood Beach, Florida, USA at the Margaritaville Resort.

Uncategorised - April 18, 2016;

Logistics BusinessAlexey Isaykin, President of Volga-Dnepr Group, has been inducted to the TIACA Hall of Fame. <br src=

Ecocem Ireland has upped its export capacity with the launch of its first UK-based bulk import terminal along the Manchester Ship Canal.

The terminal which represents a £2million investment has been developed in partnership with Peel Ports, to help Ireland’s premier manufacturer of high performance, low carbon cement capitalise on the booming UK construction market.

A further £2million has already been committed to increase capacity at the Runcorn Docks site to meet the growing demands of the market.

The new bulk import facility will handle cement from Ecocem’s production facility in Dublin Port. From here it will be processed and transported direct to the heartland of the UK’s construction industry via road, rail and water.

Ecocem Ireland is the leading manufacturer of GGBS (Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag) which minimises the environmental impact of concrete, while maximising its technical performance.

It has already been used extensively in the UK including on projects such as the Olympic Stadium and The Shard in London.

This first ever UK-based investment forms part of Ecocem Ireland’s overall strategy to develop export markets from its existing facilities.

Construction has also started on a further UK import facility at Peel Ports Sheerness, giving access to the lucrative London and South East markets.

Uncategorised - April 18, 2016;

Logistics BusinessEcocem Ireland has upped its export capacity with the launch of its first UK-based bulk import terminal along the Manchester Ship Canal. <br src=

Leading mid-market private equity firm LDC has backed the £17million management buyout of Panther Logistics, the UK’s largest independent 2-man next day home delivery provider.

Panther, which is headquartered in Northampton, specialises in two-man and one-man assisted delivery services for major brands and retailers, including Dunelm, Silent Night and Bosch Siemens Group.

It provides customers with next day deliveries and UK-wide coverage via a network of eight strategically located regional hubs* and employs 300 people, expanding to over 800 with additional temporary staff during peak periods. Its fleet comprises 300 fully-liveried vehicles, whilst its proprietary IT platform offers market-leading track and trace capabilities to its end customers.

Panther has more than doubled sales in the last two years to almost £30m, thanks to the continued growth of online shopping and its reputation for customer focus and service excellence. It was recently ranked amongst the UK’s fastest growing 100 firms**.

The buyout was led by the business’ Managing Director Colin McCarthy, alongside seven other members of the management team. As part of the deal, LDC has acquired a significant minority shareholding in the firm, enabling its founder, Wilson Barrett, to retire.

The firm has also appointed Greg Ball as a Non-Executive Chairman. Ball’s retail career includes senior positions with Littlewoods and Home Retail Group, where he was a main board director with responsibility for its home delivery operations.

Following the investment, Panther plans to continue to invest in its operations and develop new service innovations to support its customers.

In 2015, LDC invested £350m of equity in 14 businesses and generated exit proceeds of more than £500m. Earlier this year, it backed the secondary buyout of CitySprint, the UK’s leading technology driven same day distribution company.

LDC, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, has pledged to invest £1.2bn of equity into UK-based growth businesses over the next three years. Its 90-strong portfolio of companies includes online travel agent Iglu.com, lifestyle brand Joules and restaurant owner D&D London.

Uncategorised - April 13, 2016;

Logistics BusinessLeading mid-market private equity firm LDC has backed the £17million management buyout of Panther Logistics, the UK’s largest independent 2-man next day home delivery provider. <br src=

DB Cargo UK has signed a new contract with long-standing customer Tarmac. The contract will see DB Cargo UK continue to deliver aggregates by rail from Mountsorrel Quarry in Leicestershire, from April 2016.

Using DB Cargo UK’s freight services supports Tarmac’s ambitions to increase its rail freight capacity to aid delivery of the UK’s infrastructure and road ambitions and reduce transport CO2 levels by 10 per cent per tonne by 2020.

The contract has been secured for five years and was signed aboard DB Cargo UK’s company train as it travelled from St. Pancras to Birmingham International, stopping at Mountsorrel Quarry on route.

In January 2016, DB Cargo UK began two other five-year contracts with Tarmac to transport materials for Tarmac’s aggregates businesses in the West of England and London.

Uncategorised - April 11, 2016;

Logistics BusinessDB Cargo UK has signed a new contract with long-standing customer Tarmac. The contract will see DB Cargo UK continue to deliver aggregates by rail from Mountsorrel Quarry in Leicestershire, from April 2016. <br src=

As announced in November, Nick Ridehalgh, ABP Director Southampton, is stepping down from his role and from ABP, with his last day Friday, 8 April.

Alastair Welch, who has extensive experience of the transport sector, including Heathrow’s Terminal 4 and London Southend Airport, will shortly be joining ABP as Director, Southampton.

ABP Chief Executive James Cooper said: “I would like to thank Nick for his service to ABP and the Port of Southampton and wish him well for the future.

“Alastair brings extensive operational, business development and customer service skills and experience to ABP. I am confident that under his guidance the Port of Southampton will reach new heights.”

Alastair, who starts at ABP on Monday, 9 May, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues to build on Southampton’s track record of success.

“Southampton is a world renowned port that plays a vital role in the economy of the region and the UK as a whole. I feel enormously privileged to have been asked to lead the team here to ensure it continues to thrive.”

Nick, who has been with ABP since 1991 and was appointed Director, ABP Southampton, at the start of 2014, said: “There is a fantastic team at the port and I am proud of everything we have achieved together. I wish Alastair every success. I leave confident that the Port of Southampton is set for a bright future.”

ABP is the UK’s leading ports operator with 21 ports and other transport related businesses creating a unique national network capable of handling a vast array of cargo.

Uncategorised - April 6, 2016;

Logistics BusinessAs announced in November, Nick Ridehalgh, ABP Director Southampton, is stepping down from his role and from ABP, with his last day Friday, 8 April. <br src=

Aerospace logistics provider B&H Worldwide has been appointed by Ontic, a wholly owned subsidiary of BBA Aviation plc, as its specialist warehouse and inventory management company for worldwide Ontic-owned AOG support assets.

A B&H dedicated, climate-controlled facility at Heathrow will act as principal service centre with a central store providing a 24/7/365 operation. All items that form part of the inventory are produced by Ontic, a leading manufacturer or OEM-licenced parts, which also provides MRO services for legacy aerospace platforms from facilities around the globe.

The facility’s close proximity to London Heathrow with its unparalleled range of international destinations makes it an ideal place to locate the centre.

All shipments from Heathrow will be coordinated through B&H’s unique OnTrack web portal where customers can login to have their parts despatched – with full instructions – at any hour of the day or night. Parts are received at B&H’s Heathrow facility from all over the world with many being integral elements of the exchange programme Ontic operates with its customers. From there the logged-in customer has a choice of how the items are received, can see where the stock is, what the stock levels are and see photos of it. Once the required item is selected he can complete the whole process via OnTrack.

In addition to providing the global inventory service B&H is also able to act as a fulfilment centre for delivery of AOG freight shipments where required by Ontic.

Established in 1988 in the UK, B&H Worldwide is a market leader in the highly specialist aerospace parts industry.

ONTIC is a wholly owned subsidiary of BBA Aviation plc, with over 40 years of aerospace product manufacturing and aftermarket support experience. Ontic provides FAA, CAAS, CAAC, EASA part 21 and 145 OEM support, including new and serviceable spares and repairs for over 4,500 maturing aircraft parts.

Uncategorised - April 6, 2016;

Logistics BusinessAerospace logistics provider B&H Worldwide has been appointed by Ontic, a wholly owned subsidiary of BBA Aviation plc, as its specialist warehouse and inventory management company for worldwide Ontic-owned AOG support assets. <br src=

Sentinel Systems is offering its customers the chance to experience its range of vehicle and camera safety solutions with a no-obligation trial of its systems.

The company says it has received some extremely successful orders as a result of its customers trialling the systems, which allows drivers and fleet operators the time to assess and evaluate each system effectively to find the right solution for their safety requirements.

Sentinel offers a wide range of vehicle safety and camera systems suitable for all heavy goods vehicles, including its award-winning Bike Hotspot cyclist detection system, auto-braking radar systems and many forward, side and rear facing cameras to enhance the visibility and safety awareness for vehicle drivers.

David Paulson, Managing Director of Sentinel Systems commented, “We have found that the trials we offer to customers are invaluable as they allow them the time to find the right package for their fleet. We work closely with each customer to set up the trial, sometimes on two vehicles, adapting the system to help them find exactly the right solution. From these trials we have been able to provide bespoke camera system packages, confident in the knowledge that the chosen solution is the most effective for their specific requirements. By working in this way customers come to understand our commitment to quality and engineering standards, which they experience first-hand.”

In the past, Sentinel Systems has worked with a number for fleet operators to supply a trial which has resulted in its systems being installed across more of the fleet. London-based civil engineering contractor, J B Riney & Co., is just one example of companies that have continued to use Sentinel Systems’ equipment following a successful trial.

Barry Parker, Head of Fleet at J B Riney & Co. commented, “We have been using Sentinel’s safety systems on our vehicles for several years since we were given the opportunity to trial their cyclists safety equipment. This system was presented to us as a particularly important solution for our vehicles as we operate daily in Central London and the surrounding boroughs. In trialling this system we were able to see how much this can improve the safety of our vehicles for both our drivers and pedestrians and cyclists, and we were overall very pleased with what the system offered.”

The company’s overall service extends beyond the installation as it offers comprehensive technical support from their experienced nationwide engineers. The team will also be on hand to provide all aftersales support via telephone and email regardless of the date of installation.

Uncategorised - April 1, 2016;

Logistics BusinessSentinel Systems is offering its customers the chance to experience its range of vehicle and camera safety solutions with a no-obligation trial of its systems. <br src=