Pall-Ex Group is now moving more pallets by volume through its partners in continental Europe than in the UK, according to its boss.
Speaking to MT, group MD Kevin Buchanan said approximately 60% of overall group volume is accounted for by its European partners.
“We move more pallets through Europe than the UK. It makes us the second-largest group in Europe,” Buchanan said, adding that Pall-Ex is moving an average of 24,000 pallets a night as a group.
Pall-Ex will shortly introduce a successor to its IT system TWINE, called NEXUS, which will connect all the networks – currently they have the same, standalone software – under a unified system.
Pall-Ex signed its first European partner in Italy in 2009, and announced a plan to significantly expand its continental footprint in 2011.
Through a mixture of franchise agreements and joint-ventures it now has networks in Portugal and Spain (as Pall-Ex Iberia), Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Benelux region and France.
Poland goes live later this month under a joint partnership with PKS and Axell Logistics from a hub in ŁódŽ. The network is also in advanced talks in the Czech Republic and Germany. Hungary is contracted for early next year.
Buchanan said that after a period of reorganisation at the group, it felt like the good times had returned with a Motor Transport Team of the Year award in July and a “unique” new service set to be announced later this month.
