Forwarder Davies Turner acquires 7,000-square metre cross dock warehouse

BRITISH independent forwarder Davies Turner has increased capacity to handle its growing European and ocean freight consolidation services with the acquisition of a 7,000-square-metre cross dock warehouse within walking distance of its existing distribution centre at Coleshill, Birmingham.

The new platform has 40 loading doors, similar to the Phase 1 warehouse at the company's Dartford freight hub, but has more floor space and greater eaves height to facilitate the construction of a mezzanine floor to double the present operational area, according to company chairman Philip Stephenson.

"The mezzanine would also enable us to handle fast-moving Internet fulfilment for which the central Midlands location is ideal. The new terminal is close to our existing Coleshill premises, which will now be free to concentrate entirely on logistics, supply chain management and project forwarding. Such is the growth in customer demand that I can see all our warehouses soon being quite full again despite this new freehold acquisition," he said.

Mr Stephenson said the 2.55 hectare site enables future expansion and is conveniently situated within a few hundred metres of the Hams Hall Rail Terminal, which the company has used for moving deep-sea containers to and from the ports, a release said.

Said Mr Stephenson: "We also need the new depot to handle our fast-growing European groupage traffic, even though our Dartford gateway hub is already working 24/7. Our sales effort is gearing up for another increase in throughput, which we anticipate in markets such as Germany and Central Europe."

The company pointed out that the cross dock is purpose-built to handle fast-moving consignments for its daily services to continental markets. It is also well placed to operate the company's ocean freight consolidations for North America and Asia, as well as Southern Africa and the Middle/Far East.

The new premises will be fully commissioned and open for business by the end of July, said Mr Stephenson.