Welcome to the 15 March Warehouse & Logistics News. With just a few days left until IMHX 2013 opens for business at the NEC, Birmingham, if you’re planning to visit or you’re exhibiting, we’d like to wish you a safe journey to the Show. We’re printing 5,000 extra copies of this issue to give out on our stand, 20G122, and we look forward to seeing you there!
[button color=”red” link=”” target=””]*** READ THE March 15th ISSUE ***[/button]
We’re also mailing copies of our IMHX Preview Supplement with this edition. Make sure you get your copy – don’t let anyone else take it. In this issue we have a feature on Doors & Curtains, including industrial doors, curtains and roller-shutters.
We also have a corporate profile on Atlet, one of Europe’s leading truck manufacturers and materials handling experts, and an exclusive interview with Kevin Buchanan, MD of Palletline, the original UK pallet network, whose initial success triggered the birth of the palletised delivery networks as we know them.
It’s been an eventful few years for Swedish-based forklift truck maker Atlet. Six years ago they became part of Nissan Motor Company, and last August, Nissan Forklift became part of the UniCarriers Group. Today Atlet is an integral part of Nissan Forklift, and as far as the market is concerned the Atlet brand remains undiminished. Its proposition has been strengthened with a new range of counterbalance machines under the Atlet name, plus a suite of in-house developed battery changing systems and the facility to offer 3D warehouse layouts. Incidentally, you won’t find Atlet at IMHX – as Chris Bates, UK National Sales Manager, explains, “our involvement with our market extends beyond the presentation of shiny trucks. We want to do things differently to improve our offer to our customers.” You tell ‘em, Christopher.
Featured in our other interview, Palletline may not have a glamorous CEO who appears regularly on our TV screens, but they still stand out. Palletline continues leading the pallet networks forward with investment in technology, driving service and efficiency and generating benefits for members and customers alike. Their business strategy is different as well. Palletline MD Kevin Buchanan points out that “a number of operators put too much emphasis on recovering profits at the hub, to the detriment of the member companies.” The proof of the pudding – in 2012, despite the difficult climate, Palletline won the Motor Transport Award for Network of the Year. They had their highest ever dividends and service levels, and growth well above forecast at 10%.
Happy reading, and see you at IMHX on stand 20G122.
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