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PALLETS\\\ The red revolution marches on


Perhaps because its bright red trucks are such a prominent feature of the country’s motorways, people don’t


always appreciate


the range and depth of services that Norbert Dentressangle offers these days. Also, despite the name, the company’s UK turnover is beginning to approach that in its home country, France. Among the portfolio of


services, which includes logistics, international groupage, air and sea forwarding, Norbert Dentressangle offers its UK customers two palletised freight options. There is a UK-wide network, aimed mainly though not exclusively at the manufacturing and chemical industries, plus an in-night delivery system for the automotive aſtermarket service. It’s not a network in the sense


that a shipper can ring up and have a pallet


collected immediately,


but it it does cater for customers shipping from a few thousands


pounds to several millions worth of business a year. There is a rate card for small volume customers but contracts are available for larger amounts. The service, which was


originally set up by Christian Salvesen, a company bought out by Norbert Dentressangle as part of its push into the UK which also saw it buy out TDG, operates via a hub at Rowley Regis near Birmingham. Unlike most of the other


pallet networks, the Norbert Dentressangle hub caters for heavy, ‘awkward’ cargo, including dangerous goods, explains Duncan Eyre, commercial director at Norbert Dentressangle Transport Services. “We do things that the others won’t do,” he explains. Then there is Red Europe,


the international pallet option available across the Norbert Dentressangle European network, including the UK. The company


Palletforce ties up Italian deal


Palletforce has signed its first direct network-to-network collaboration in Europe with Italy’s One Express. The tie-up with the Bologna-based operator went live on 1 November and offers a combined network of 174 depots handling 4 million pallets a year. Palletforce chief executive


Michael Conroy said the new deal would be a “blueprint” for future similar deals with networks in other countries and would


help the UK company create “a significant European footprint.”¬ Palletforce members in the UK


would be able to access services through the existing Alliance IT platform, he added. Palletforce can now offer day


definite delivery and daily direct departures to Italy. The moves follows the


appointment of John Mckail as European development director earlier this year.


Palletforce reaches the 16-million mark


Palletforce handled its 16 millionth pallet in December – 11 years aſter the network was launched in August 2001. Since its inception as a UK domestic operation, the company has added European services including a successful Italian operation. Chief executive Michael Conroy said: “This is a very proud moment for Palletforce and a credit to the consistent efforts of our members and staff to provide a quality service that retains customers and wins new business.”


Pall-Ex provides efficient and cost-effective palletised freight distribution services throughout the UK and Europe.


Call 0808 144 2808 www.pallex.com


170x270_advert_01.indd 1 07/01/2013 09:25 operates this through wholly-


owned domestic networks in the UK, France, Spain and Portugal and through partner networks elsewhere, taking the


total


number of countries served to around 30. Arguably one of the best-developed pan-European systems, it caters for anything from a half or single pallet, and offers


track and trace and automated proof of delivery. Red Europe is available on a turn up and go basis – there is no need to have a contract – and there is a published rate card. There is a regular timetable of shuttle services that operate through a series of hubs – Rochester in Kent being the main one for UK international traffic. However, unlike most of the other networks, Red Europe can be ‘optimised’


A network of opportunities


Issue 1 2013


for large, regular flows and direct trunk vehicle laid on where that is most effective from a cost or service point of view, points out Arron Kendall, head of account management. Like the domestic system, Red Europe will cater for heavy or dangerous goods, which again sets it apart from some of the other networks. The system already covers


central European countries like Poland and Romania, plus the


25


Baltic. Frequencies to some of the more remote parts of the network will also be increased, he predicts. Business has been growing


well, at around 10% a year and the system is now handling around 9,800 pallets a day. “It’s been a bit of a recession-buster,” Eyre says. Being able to offer UK customers


a single pick-up for domestic and international traffic, with one order and invoice has proved to be very popular he says.


Next day delivery


¼, ½ and full pallet options Full European coverage


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