Palletforce_Michael Conroy

Palletforce is looking to take advantage of inevitable consolidation in the pallet sector with its new £50m hub, according to chief executive Michael Conroy.

The Burton-on-Trent site, which opened on 10 August, has the capacity to handle 30,000 pallets a night, with 450 HGV parking spaces across the 38-acre site. The 620,000ft2 facility, next to its existing 380,000ft2 hub, accounts for most of the £65m parent company EmergeVest has spent on Palletforce since it bought it for £30m in 2015.

Conroy said the hub gave Palletforce an edge on the competition. “No other UK pallet or distribution network has taken such a step to create capacity, facilitate growth and ensure the future success of its membership and network,” he said. “It also positions us perfectly to take advantage of market consolidation, which is inevitable in our sector.”

Earlier this year, Conroy told Motortransport.co.uk that the sector was ripe
for consolidation and Palletforce may play its part.

Palletforce said the site will create 70 jobs in the business, and an estimated 700 across its network.

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