North-West-Logistics

Lancashire’s Ainsworth & Martin has become North West Logistics, relocating from its Preston home to a new site in Accrington.

Fortec-member Ainsworth & Martin acquired North West Logistics some two years ago. The complementary businesses had been run separately, but after a £100,000 investment in the Accrington facility, Ainsworth & Martin joined its stablemate at Altham Business Estate this summer.

North West Logistics’ modern site contains a 25,000ft² warehouse with Comah-certified hazardous goods store.

Having both businesses on one site has already made a “tremendous difference” operationally as well as reducing overheads, according to MD Stephen Dunn.

Future hazard

Dunn, having brought the businesses together last week (1 November) as a single legal entity with an £8m annual turnover, told MT.co.uk:  “Our long-term strategy is to be in hazardous. It’s niche but where we have a lot of expertise and most of our drivers are now ADR trained."

The combined business with a staff of 75 has a fleet of 60 vehicles, from 26 tonne rigids to 44 tonne artics, split between Mercedez-Benz and Volvo units.

It recently added six new Euroliners from Schmitz-Cargobull to its 70-strong trailer fleet, refurbishing three others. It also has two standard-length double-deck trailer replacements on order from SDC for its pallet work, which contributes around 15% of annual turnover.

Before unification, North West Logistics specialised in UK ADR work for blue chip clients, while Ainsworth & Martin also carried out ADR jobs, but mainly to the continent.

As well as covering Preston, Fylde, Blackburn and Burnley for Fortec, Ainsworth & Martin also has a healthy contract logistics business serving high-end engineering clients.

Management

Aside from Dunn, the combined business's management comprises Chris Butler, logistics manager; John Walker, financial controller; Steve Hughes, UK transport manager; Warwick Marsland, European transport manager; and Rob Booth, sales manager.

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