4 April, 2023

Wooden Pallet Manufacturing and Re-use Uplift

Posted on 4 April, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Manufacturing and reuse of wooden pallets increased significantly according to the most recent survey commissioned by the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) and the research arm of the Forestry Commission, Forest Research.

The UK Wood Pallets & Packaging Market survey showed that UK manufacturers produced an estimated 48.6 million in 2021, up 8.3 per cent from 44.9m the previous year. These manufacturers repaired and sold on for reuse a further 16.2m pallets, up from 15.6m in 2020. Overall, pallet repair was down slightly, at 48.1m, compared with 49m the year before. The annual survey is based on a questionnaire answered by TIMCON members, who manufacture approximately 80 per cent of the 50 million new pallets produced in the UK every year.

Commenting on the figures, TIMCON President John Dye said: “It is encouraging to see that this report shows a substantial uplift in the number of new pallets manufactured. While there was a small drop in the reported number of pallets inspected and repaired, this number is still similar to the number of new pallets – and I would expect to see it start to rise again in the months ahead, and also be boosted by the formal implementation of the UK Government’s eagerly awaited reuse incentive in 2025.”

Dye added that the manufacturing increase has led to corresponding growth in sawmilling output into the pallet and packaging sector of around 13 per cent, to 1.61m3. He also noted that employment in the pallet and packaging industry had risen to 4,221, a year-on-year increase of 23 per cent.

The report was presented to TIMCON’s general meeting held in Manchester during March, which also heard updates on TIMCON’s work with the UK Government, including the recent consultation on the reform of existing Packaging Waste Regulations and the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging Waste, due to come into force in 2025. As a result of this work, said Dye, Defra announced earlier this year that it was still considering the recycling target for wooden packaging and, rather than setting recycling targets for wooden pallets, it is now considering options for reuse obligations before recycling.

Thomas Hare of environmental consultant Valpak gave a further update on the expected timeline for implementing the EPR for packaging, which he said would significantly increase admin and was expected to generate a £1.7 billion in total annual costs for obligated businesses.

FEFPEB President Rob van Hoesel and General Secretary Fons Ceelaert attended the meeting. Ceelaert gave an overview of the latest developments in European environment-focused legislation as part of the European Green Deal, including the EU Circular Economy Action plan to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. He said the wooden pallet and packaging industry was engaging with the review of packaging and packaging waste regulations (PPWR) and that FEFPEB now has an PPWR taskforce to manage the process and highlight the “unique contribution of the sector to a sustainable world.”

Charlie Law, Sustainability Director at Timber Development UK, presented the timber industry’s Net Zero Roadmap to the meeting. Timber Development UK signed up to the SME Climate Hub Commitment in January 2022, pledging to support its members in halving greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Law highlighted that timber related industries in the UK are responsible for around 1.58 million tonnes of territorial CO2 emissions annually, around 0.35 per cent of the country’s total. This, he added was ‘very low compared to other industries’, such as steel (12m t, 2.7 per cent of the total) or concrete (7.3m t, 1.5 per cent of the total). He said that it was essential to measure product flows in every timber industry in order to start reducing carbon emissions, something he added the pallet and packaging sector ‘has a really good handle on’.

The TIMCON meeting heard updates on the organisation’s other work, including its collaboration with the NWPCA in the US, and the Global Wood Packaging Forum and engaging with the UK government on issues such as sourcing workers from overseas and the post-Brexit Windsor Framework.

Dye was among the members of the pallet and packaging sector who said goodbye and thank you to TIMCON Past President Gil Covey, who is retiring from the industry at the end of April, after 33 years. Covey also served as FEFPEB President for more than 10 years before becoming Treasurer of the organisation, and is currently Non-Executive Director of James Jones & Sons (Pallets and Packaging) Ltd.

Leadership Transition for Lift Tables Supplier

Posted on 4 April, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Hymo VPG, lift tables manufacturer based in Sweden, is excited to announce a leadership transition within its EMEA team. Håkan Nilsson (pictured, right) has stepped down as the leader at the end of March and Pär Martinsson (left) assumed the role of leader and general manager, effective April 1st.

The company statement read, “during his tenure, Håkan made significant contributions to our company and was an instrumental leader for our EMEA team. We want to express our gratitude for his outstanding leadership and dedication, which were pivotal to our success. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. We are delighted to welcome Pär Martinsson as our new leader. A long-time member of our team, Pär has a deep understanding of our business, people, and systems. His clear vision and enthusiasm make us confident that he will lead our EMEA team to even greater heights and achieve significant milestones.”

Lift tables going global

Martinsson says, “I am very excited to lead the EMEA team in these times. With a market that is becoming increasingly global, and valuing safety and efficiency more than ever, we are ideally positioned to increase value for our customers.”

Martinsson’s experience and accomplishments, such as enhancing supply chains as the Purchasing Manager and transforming and digitizing operations, demonstrate his ability to tackle challenges and drive change. Hymo VPG believe he is the perfect candidate to lead the EMEA team into the future.

New Levitator Ergonomic Working Platform Helps System Integrators Increase Sales and Create World-Class Pick and Pack Stations

Hymo VPG’s new Levitator height adjustable platform offers a range of benefits for system integrators working with design and layout of advanced distribution and logistics centres. The platform allows for completely new ways of designing world-class pick and pack stations, whilst also providing opportunities for cost and energy savings.

One of the key advantages of the Levitator is its design flexibility, as well as its unique oil-free design. “The project started initially with one of the global providers of warehouse automation who were designing a fully automated solution for a distribution centre, however, since the DC was to handle fresh food and other sensitive products, they needed an all oil-free solution in the pick and pack area. That is how the Levitator originated and the rest is history,” says Daniel Andersson, Strategic Key Account Manager at VPG, and the leader for the new Levitator.

The Levitator allows for new designs that were not previously possible. Its oil-free design means it can be placed in areas where oil is prohibited, but it also offers more flexibility than traditional scissor lifts. “Scissor lifts are great for working platforms, but their geometric construction is fixed and inflexible. Here the Levitator enables unique values, only the imagination sets the limits,” says Daniel. The Levitator’s innovative platform structure enables new designs, U- or V-shape, or with a minimal width. This means that every pick and pack station can be equipped with the ideal and perfectly fitting ergonomic Levitator.

The Levitator also offers significant cost savings. “A very important matter that is often overseen is the total costs to run a working platform over time. The Levitator enables significant economic values. Firstly, it has a low energy consumption. With today’s rising energy costs every kW saved, is money saved, and over the lifetime of a working platform we are talking a substantial amount of money,” says Daniel. Its electric drive allows for lower energy consumption, and also minimizes costs for service and maintenance, a quicker and easier installation. This, combined with its oil-free design, means that the number of service and repair occasions and requirement for spare parts is much lower. Additionally, the Levitator is a convenient plug and play solution that can be easily installed, eliminating the need for a certified hydraulic engineer therefore saving more valuable time, and in effect money.

In summary, the new Levitator offers increased possibilities for creating innovative warehouse automation solutions, whilst being cost effective. Overall, the New Levitator will provide long term cost savings alongside environmental benefits. It can be designed freely to fit in any space, and its oil-free, electric drive allows for lower energy consumption and minimal maintenance costs. This makes it an ideal solution for anyone looking to grow their sales and create world-class pick and pack stations.

Joloda Hydraroll Exhibiting at LogiMAT

Posted on 4 April, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Joloda Hydraroll is a world leader in loading and unloading solutions. At LogiMAT 2023, the team will be showcasing automated scale models of Joloda Hydraroll’s complete range of loading and unloading systems, including:
• Moving floor conveyor system
• Slipchain pallet loading system
• Trailerskate system

Automated loading systems are built to speed up a standard process that happens in every production and warehousing location, enabling the complete loading procedure to be de-manned – also known as 100% end-of-line automation.

The business case for automated loading systems

Automating the unloading and loading of trucks in the warehouse leads to faster and more reliable deliveries. Typically, the forklift process of loading a full trailer is around 30-45 minutes. Joloda Hydraroll’s automated loading systems can do it in less than two minutes.

In a typical business case, a warehouse or factory might produce 928 pallets per day, shuttling 32 pallets each time across a 27 km/ 16-mile journey. To do so would require 12 HGV drivers (sharing 3 x 8-hour shifts in 24 hours), as well as three forklift drivers. By automating the loading process, thereby speeding up the turnaround time of each trailer, the company would stand to halve the number of shifts required, saving 12,350 hours of HGV driver waiting time in just one year – a reduction of 85%.

The need for forklifts is removed from the process entirely, reducing the site’s overall number of forklift driven kilometres per year by 2,642km. In addition to reducing thousands of arduous man hours and reduces the risk of an accident or damage to pallets.

Joloda Hydraroll has also acquired the specialist automotive trailer unloading/ loading MAP division of French company, Legras Industries. Legras is well-respected with an established customer base in France. It, therefore, plays an important role in strengthening the local presence and expertise of Joloda Hydraroll – which has also announced the opening of a commercial office in Paris – to better serve the French logistics market.

New Logistics Park: East Midlands Gateway

Posted on 4 April, 2023 by Keith McKinley

SEGRO has completed a pre-let deal with Maersk, which will see the Danish shipping and logistics company establish a new centre of excellence at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway (SLPEMG).

Maersk will occupy a new 685,000 sq ft warehouse, designed specifically for them, which will complete in June 2023. In alignment with SEGRO’s net-zero 2030 and Maersk’s net-zero 2040 commitments, the unit is being constructed to be net-zero for both embodied and operational carbon. It will incorporate a full roof mounted PV array and extensive use of recycled construction materials. Provisions will also be made for the operation of a fully electric fleet of HGV vehicles in the future. The development expands Maersk’s offering of end-to-end logistics in the UK significantly and is the first bespoke pre-let logistics unit that the company will operate in the country.

SLPEMG is SEGRO’s flagship national big box scheme, a 700-acre development that has delivered over 4.5 million sq.ft. of sustainable logistics workspace. As part of the UK’s only inland freeport, the site incorporates a 50-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI). Maersk selected SLPEMG as the site most capable of delivering operational excellence for their customers’ needs, with its central strategic location and on-site rail freight terminal providing a direct link to the seaports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton, amongst others, in order to minimise logistics emissions and significantly reduce on-road freight mileage. The benefits afforded to Maersk’s operation by the East Midlands Freeport further helped the case for choosing SLPEMG.

SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway started construction in 2017. The site was initially anticipated to be a 10-year programme, however, occupier demand and leasing success has exceeded expectations, as the last big box plot now been leased.

Andrew Pilsworth, Managing Director, National Logistics, SEGRO, said: “SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway is especially attractive to customers like Maersk due to the development’s scale, connectivity and our determination to develop to the highest quality and sustainability standards. The extraordinary pace at which we have delivered this scheme illustrates this. We are very excited to welcome Maersk to SLPEMG and as a new customer. We also welcome the additional employment and economic activity it will bring to the East Midlands, building on the 6,000 jobs already created at SLPEMG.”

Paul Woolass, Head of Logistics and Services Products UK & Ireland, Maersk said: “SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway is very much the perfect blueprint for optimising connectivity and flexibility within supply chains. Not only is it ideally positioned in the UK, but the vast infrastructure and cutting-edge technology across the site means operations on UK shores can be done from one place in the most sustainable way possible. It is the epitome of two of Maersk’s key visions for the future: integrating logistics and reaching net-zero emissions by 2040.”

In November, SEGRO launched its Community Investment Plan in the East Midlands, supporting local people with skills, employment, environment and economic investment. The plan is being delivered with its construction partner, customers, suppliers and four local charity partners to undertake a range of projects with the aim of achieving the following outcomes by the end of 2025:

• 5,250 young people will be engaged through a Schools Work Programme
• 300 unemployed people will participate in bespoke skills, and training programmes
• 6 outdoor spaces will be reinvigorated to improve biodiversity and support community wellbeing

The East Midlands Community Investment Plan is a key element of the company’s commitments to boost skills, training and employment in the communities where it operates across the UK and Continental Europe. Already home to a diverse range of customers including Kuehne+Nagel, ShopDirect, Games Workshop, Arvato and DHL, SLPEMG is in proximity to the major cities of Leicester, Derby and Nottingham and other local towns ensuring the park’s customers have access to a strong labour pool.

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