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Truck and Track Summer 2019 44
PORTS
Multi-million pound warehouse expansion
bolsters PD Ports’ market leading role in
the UK steel industry
PD Ports has announced a multi-million pound investment at
Groveport in partnership with one of Europe’s fastest growing
international steel traders and long-standing customer, All
Steels Trading.
This new long-term contract represents the largest single
investment in the last decade at Groveport and signifies the next
step in PD Ports’ growth strategy as the Port gears up for further
expansion to support its growing reputation as the UK’s market
leader for handling long steel products.
Construction on the new six-month build programme, which offers
direct quay access, started in March and will see All Steels Trading’s
footprint at Groveport expand from 166,000 sq. ft to more than
300,000 sq. ft.
Once operational, PD Ports’ skilled and experienced team will
handle, store and prepare the steel traders’ products ensuring they
are available on demand; bolstering All Steels Trading’s customer
commitment to short delivery lead-times and value for money.
Laurence McDougall, All Steels Trading Managing Director believes
the partnership with PD Ports is successful because of the unique
working relationship.
“PD Ports understands what we need
to keep our customers on track, it’s an
invaluablepartnership.Havingtheabilityto
centralise all of our operations at Groveport
enables us to deliver an unrivalled service
for our customers, reaffirming our market
position as the number one choice for long
steel products in the UK.
“There is no other port in the UK that can
offer the unique combination of capacity,
infrastructure and exceptional service
levels that we require. This new facility will
streamline our entire business model.
“We often have to respond quickly to
fluctuations in demand and knowing
we can rely on PD Ports to handle, store
and have our steel products available on
demand adds real strength to our customer
offer in terms of efficiency and value for
money.”
Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports’ Group Business Development Director, sees
this new contract as a further testament to the Company’s steel
handling expertise and highly regarded reputation for deliverable
logistics services.
“We are incredibly proud to have further strengthened our long-
standing relationship with All Steels Trading as UK port of choice
beyond 2035.
“The length of the contract with All Steels Trading shows a
true partnership and demonstrates the trust and confidence
the Company has in our market knowledge and our ability to
understand as well as respond to their needs.
“Our skills and experience complemented by our central UK
location for transport distribution to key UK steel processing sites
and backed by a dedicated haulage fleet has positioned Groveport
as the UK’s market leader for handling long steel products.
“We have seen transformational change in the global steel
industry in recent years which has brought challenges but also real
opportunity for some of our customers and we are continuing to
invest and support that customer growth.”
(L-R) Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports Group Business Development Director and Laurence McDougall,
All Steels Trading Managing Director
(L-R) Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports Group Business Development Director and Laurence McDougall,
All Steels Trading Managing Director
(L-R) Laurence McDougall, All Steels Trading Managing Director, Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports’ Group Business Development Director
and members of the All Steels Trading team
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