14 BULKDISTRIBUTOR Logistics
May/June 2020
Suttons aids
pandemic fight
Suttons Tankers has won two new
business contracts in the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic.
For Grace Overseas, Suttons is transporting
chemicals needed for hygiene products. The
logistics operator with strategically placed depots
and out-bases across the UK, was able to redeploy
resources and materials within 48 hours of the
request for transport.
Suttons’ urgency and ability to react to the
dramatic increase in demand for hygiene products
to support the NHS has also been recognised
through its work with UK Distilleries.
The scale of Suttons’ fleet, network and
resources enabled it to scale up at pace and
reassure both the collection distillery and Grace
Overseas that their systems, procedures and
equipment are capable of delivering.
Michael Cundy, managing director of Suttons
Tankers, said: “This significant contract win with
Grace Overseas sees the Suttons Tankers division
responding to, and being proactive in,
redistributing our materials and efforts where they
are needed most.
Grace Overseas managing director Sarah Taylor
added: “As we navigate through the pandemic,
the demand for hygiene products has increased
substantially. The capacity to deliver the chemicals
that go into these key products on time and within
the high quality control measures is critical and
Suttons proved that they are able to meet our
demands.”
Suttons Tankers is also distributing ethanol for
the production of hand sanitiser to UK healthcare
organisations and communities.
Suttons transports denatured spirit supplied by
famous whisky distiller William Grant & Sons and
co-ordinating tank collections and urgent deliveries
to manufacturers responding to the pandemic.
William Grant & Sons has adapted its distilling
technology and skills to produce about five million
litres of ethanol, equating to at least 13.5 million
500ml bottles of hand sanitiser.
In a separate contract, Suttons is now working
with hydrocarbon’s provider Haltermann Carless.
Suttons will be transporting gas condensate from
Spirit Energy’s Barrow Gas Terminal in Cumbria to
Haltermann Carless in Harwich.
The logistics provider advised Spirit Energy on
best practice with regards to vehicle equipment
and specification. With DGSA qualified experts
within the business, Suttons were able to support
in the writing of procedures and consulting with
engineers to ensure a safe working environment
for appropriate road loading.
Suttons’ network of depot locations supported a
solution of inter-depot night trunking, minimising
the requirement for resources while maximising
the use of equipment and speed of delivery.
Steve Richardson from Haltermann Carless said:
“We are delighted to be working with Suttons on
this contract. The safe delivery of our material is of
utmost importance to us and Suttons’ track record
and commitment to safety made them the ideal
partner for this contract.
“Due to the nature of Spirit Energy’s gas field
operation, reliability of the transport service is
crucial and the scale and infrastructure that
Suttons offers assures us that we can meet the
needs of the business.”
www.suttonsgroup.com
Suttons is transporting
chemicals needed for hygiene
products including ethanol
for the production of hand
sanitiser
Imperial provides free
transport for disinfectant
Imperial Logistics is providing free-of-charge
logistics and transport for a new
disinfectant production line set up by its
customer Albemarle.
The two will help bring vital supplies of hand
sanitiser to hospitals throughout Goslar, in
Germany’s Federal State of Lower Saxony.
The Goslar council asked Langelsheim-based
chemical company Albemarle if it could switch
from its normal production of substances such as
lithium, to the bulk manufacture of hand sanitiser,
which was urgently needed for local hospitals.
Albemarle accepted the challenge, offering its
services at no cost.
The formulation of the sanitiser was specified by
head pharmacist Mechthild Wenke of Asklepios
Clinic pharmacy. The council then arranged for
supplies of its basic ingredient, ethanol, from the
Wöltingerode Abbey Distillery. Finally, a project
group set to work to obtain permits, satisfy quality
and safety criteria and put in place the technical
requirements for producing around 17,000 litres of
hand-sanitiser.
When Imperial learned of the project, it willingly
joined its customer in also offering its services free
of charge. Imperial has now taken over collection
of the ethanol from the distillery in Wöltingerode;
the storage of the raw materials in its specialist
hazardous materials warehouse; the onward
transport of the ingredients to Albemarle in the
Langelsheim chemical park; and transport of the
finished hand sanitiser in 1,000 litre barrels and
IBCs from Albemarle’s plant to the hospital in
Goslar.
At the end of the production process, Asklepios
Clinic pharmacy decants the contents of the
barrels and IBC into 2.5 litre containers and smaller
units, for distribution to the various hospitals and
other healthcare facilities in the region. The first
deliveries have been made at the beginning of
May. The clinic is also providing its services free of
charge.
www.imperiallogistics.com
Specialist tanker operator Abbey Logistics
Group has secured a contract extension
with edible oils producer ADM UK to
distribute bulk oils throughout the UK.
Abbey has worked with ADM for more than 20
years providing bulk liquid transport to customers
throughout the UK and this latest extension sees
Abbey placing an even greater emphasis on service
and customer support.
Together, ADM and Abbey made significant
changes to the operation of the contract, using
vast amounts of data to understand where service
could be improved. Working side by side, the
teams developed a plan to drive industry leading
levels of service, quality and flexibility.
The new approach included increased use of live
data and management information, a new
regional manager and a restructured planning
team together with closer collaboration with ADM
on managing and co-ordinating loading from
ADM’s plant, to eliminate blockages and increase
efficiency.
Abbey’s liquids business unit director Dave Patten
said: “Our continued partnership with ADM is
Abbey extends edible oils contract
thanks to a collaborative approach, regular
dialogue and a great working relationship which
has allowed us to identify pinch points and take
action. Since we implemented changes to the
operation, we have consistently seen service levels
well above industry standards and we expect that
to continue.
“Despite being the largest edible oils road tanker
company in the UK, we are determined to prove to
customers that it is not just our scale that can
support them, it’s our willingness and ability to
understand the unique challenges each customer
Abbey has worked with
ADM for more than 20 years
providing bulk liquid transport
throughout the UK
Abbey’s new trucks feature Mercedes’ MirrorCam technology which
provides a significantly improved all-round view and consists of two
cameras mounted to the exterior of the vehicle and two 15ins displays
on the A-pillars inside the cab
faces and then building a solution tailored
specifically to their business.”
Fleet upgrade
Abbey has also added five latest generation
Mercedes Actros trucks to its fleet to support
growing demand in its liquid food business.
Fuel efficiency is improved with features that
include the new predictive powertrain control, an
intelligent satellite mapping system that reads the
road ahead, responding by managing speed,
braking and the transmission to maximise fuel
efficiency.
Dave Patten added: “Our drivers who have used
the new vehicles are very impressed with the
features especially MirrorCam. The increase in
visibility is impressive both from the reduction in
blind spots and also its ability to work flawlessly
even in direct sunlight.”
The new vehicles will join Abbey’s fleet of more
than 450 tractor units and help support additional
volumes in the edible oils sector.
www.abbeylogisticsgroup.com