UK’s First Fully-Automated Steel Terminal Opens

The UK’s first fully-automated steel terminal is now open at the Port of Liverpool following a £9m ($13m) upgrade.

The investment is a response to increasing customer demand for shipping via Liverpool and to provide both increased capacity and improved handling facilities at the existing terminal. Liverpool is the closest deep sea port to the West Midlands, where approximately half of the UK’s steel is consumed.

Located at the Port of Liverpool’s Canada dock, the terminal features a fully automated warehouse and interactive customer web portal, which mean customers will have round-the-clock instant access to the ordering process. Real time stock availability, precision coil selection and a vehicle booking system will give customers best value by minimising back office processing and paperwork, handling, and haulier turn-around time. The terminal also includes an automatic weighing facility and instant customer reporting means that customers will be able to track their order real-time from ship to door.

David Huck, Port Director of Peel Ports said: “This puts us at the leading edge of steel storage and distribution. The facility will revolutionise the efficiency of the UK steel supply chain as no other port in the UK is currently able to offer a comparable service. Along with our close location to UK manufacturing bases we believe this investment will provide significant cost and other supply chain benefits to our customers.”

Supporting the investment is a new partnership with major logistics company Denholm Handling.

Its Commercial Director Kieran Hall said: “The inevitable rise in steel imports means there will be increased demand for both space and efficiency which this new terminal will offer.”

A similar development is also confirmed for Peel Ports’ other steel terminal at the port of Sheerness in South-east England.