PLS INVESTS IN THE POPULARITY OF PLASTIC
26 September 2011
Packaging rental and management specialist, PLS Ltd, is set to transform operations at itsUKpallet washing facility with a £100K investment in technology which will expand its service portfolio and increase production capacity.
The company – now a wholly owned subsidiary of Bibby Distribution following the acquisition of TM Logistics – says the investment in its Swadlincote depot in Derbyshire, is in-line with the growing popularity of plastic pallets and its commitment to meet customers’ changing requirements.
PLS offers services including pallet rental, washing, repair and asset tracking.
“The move to plastic pallets over timber, certainly in food production areas, has been on the hygiene agenda for some time,” said Jon Graves, General Manager of PLS. “Not only can they be sanitised and re-used many times over – giving a longer asset life – but due to their light weight, they can also offer payload advantages together with reduced fuel costs.
“We identified an opportunity to significantly increase the throughput of our wash facilities which will, in turn, offer further benefits to us and our customers. As part of Bibby Distribution we have far more scope to invest in the business and grow accordingly,” he added.
The technology will increase the capacity of the company’s existing automated wash facilities from 95 to 150 pallets per hour, significantly reducing lead times for customers. In addition, the equipment will also be able to manage a wider range of pallet sizes which was previously restricted by older technology.
“The market is rapidly developing, and towards that end we anticipate announcing further significant developments in the near future. This includes a new approach to revolutionising the way assets are tracked and managed,” addedGraves.
PLS operates across the food manufacturing, beverage, retail and automotive sectors offering a total asset management programme. This is tailored to individual customers and can include supply of ready-to-use packaging, recovery of packaging from end users, inspection, cleaning, maintenance and bespoke product design and development.
ends
BIB/032/11
Notes to editors:
As one of the top ten logistics providers in theUK, Bibby Distribution exists to enable other companies to drive value from their supply chain activities. The company specialises in providing contract logistics, warehousing, distribution, systems integration and added value services to a wide range of customers.
Bibby Distribution operates from 105 locations across theUK, employs 2,500 people and manages 2 million ft² of warehousing space.
The majority of Bibby Distribution’s business is based on long-term partnerships. Its diverse capability also means it can share best practice across the various industry sectors it operates in, from Automotive to FMCG.
The company is part of the £1bn-turnover Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, a 200 year old family owned business-to-business services specialist. It is involved in ship-owning and operation, shallow water accommodation, offshore oil and gas services, contract logistics, financial services, memorial parks, employment law, health & safety advisory services, specialist plant & equipment hire and retail.
www.bibbydist.co.uk
www.bibbygroup.co.uk
PLS operates from a network of sites acrossEurope providing comprehensive returnable packaging solutions. The company utilises high quality equipment which is designed to optimise today’s fast moving supply chains and automated production lines. Its dedicated team works across a wide range of sectors including food manufacture, beverage, automotive and retail.
Additionally, PLS can integrate its services with those of its parent company, Bibby Distribution and provide its customers with a more wide-ranging supply chain solution.
All operations are ISO accredited and PLS utilises industry leading track and trace management systems to maximise the control and utilisation of pooled equipment.
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