Pallet network Fortec has said its members will benefit from the opening of parent group Geodis’ hub in Northampton.
The new hub, which opened earlier this year, is part of French logisitic giant Geodis’ wider strategy to centralise its European network operations. It sees all import/export line haul activities at the company’s High Wycombe, Birmingham and Lutterworth depots transferred to the Northampton hub, as well as the transfer of the Lutterworth network branch.
Geodis said members of the Fortec will also benefit from the move, with the new Northampton hub offering quicker transit times from the Fortec hub, which is just 10 miles away.
The new 50,000ft² site on Lodge Farm Industrial Estate in Northampton, spans four acres and will serve as a cross dock facility for all European activity with all European exports and imports directed to the site.
Geodis said the hub is aimed at reducing trunking and handling of export and import goods to create greater efficiencies and reduce the risk of damage.
No changes are planned for the other Geodis network sites around the country which the company said will continue to serve their areas to ensure customer service and collection and delivery services remain local. It added that the Geodis full load and logistics business lines will also remain the same.
Jamie Cuthbert, MD of Geodis UK, said: “The operational efficiencies this move presents us with are significant, and we look forward to passing these onto our customers."