ArrowXL signing

Arrow XL has spent more than £1m on warehousing equipment to maximise its use of space and time during the peak season.

The two-man delivery operator has bought 53 pieces of equipment from UniCarriers, the majority of which are 13.8m high reach trucks which will be distributed between their five hubs and 18 satellite sites.

The reach trucks, said Arrow, will allow it to maximise capacity at its high bay warehouses.

The operator has put spacial efficiency at the heart of its warehousing operation; earlier this year, it installed a £1.7m high bay pallet racking system at its Wigan warehouse, doubling the hub's capacity.

The order from UniCarriers also includes a number of pedestrian-controlled low lifters with a two-tonne capacity.

Arrow XL chief operations officer and interim CEO Charlie Shiels said: "Whilst we continue to further strengthen our extensive network of hubs and depots across the UK, it is equally important that we utilise the latest and most sophisticated machinery on the market to maximise efficiency.

"The proficiency of the operation within our warehouses directly correlates with the level of service we can deliver on behalf of our retail clients, and we are therefore committed to constant improvement.”

Shiels stepped into the CEO role earlier this month after the departure of Ian Howell.