MENZIES Distribution has been serving customers in the UK print media since 1833.
The business is responsible for delivering some seven million newspapers every day from its 50 depots strategically placed across the UK and Ireland. Menzies receives press products in bulk from its publishing customers which are picked and packed into plastic tote boxes at its main packing hubs, including one in Paisley.
Previously the company used wooden pallets to move the press products internally. However, when Menzies introduced automated palletisers, they reportedly started to experience problems with inconsistency – since wood swells when wet – and stacking.
Menzies’ project management team visited Goplasticpallets.com at a trade show in Birmingham and talked through their requirements. The upshot of that was that Goplasticpallets.com recommended Menzies use its APB 1210 Pool Perforated 5R pallet – described as a heavy duty, full perimeter design which can also save storage space.
The pallets were integrated into Menzies’ internal supply chain.
A statement from Goplasticpallets.com said, “On arrival at the packing hubs the press products are packed into plastic tote boxes which are automatically stacked onto the plastic pallets by a robot. The full pallets are then loaded onto Menzies’ transhipment vehicles and sent to its 36 distribution sites across the UK. Here the plastic pallets are then unloaded and returned on the next available vehicle to the hub.”
Goplasticpallets.com delivered 4,680 of the pallets, which were all screen printed with ‘Property of Menzies Distribution’.
Although the plastic pallets aren’t currently being used externally, Menzies wanted to future-proof the pallets should they consider using them outside their internal supply chain.
Andrew Poskitt, project manager – strategic development at Menzies Distribution, said,”The plastic pallets work seamlessly with our totes – we’ve not had any issues with them. There is also a lot less mess, as there’s no wood chip in and around the operation. As the plastic pallets have a long life span, we hope to be still using them in five, maybe even 10 years’ time. We’ve been particularly pleased with the advice given at the time of purchase, which helped us solve several issues and reduce costs in the process.”
