Coventry pallet pooling company expands into Essex

One of Europe’s leading poolers of sustainable wooden pallets has opened a new service centre as it continues to add customers to its business, especially in the south-east.

Coventry-based IPP has taken over a facility in Grays, Essex which will process more than half a million reusable pallets within the first year.

The new facility is in addition to IPP’s existing network which includes its £2.5 million fully-automated repair and repatriation centre at Bardon Hill, Leicestershire which processes in excess of 700 pallets per hour –  six million each year.

The new pallet inspection and repair service centre, which went live in the Summer, is operated by S&R Smith and Son Logistics, a south-east distribution specialist and transport partner for IPP.

The service centre will support IPP’s growth, having  the capacity to inspect and repair more than 1.3 million pallets per year.

Phil Storer, UK & Ireland director of IPP, said: “Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do and this move illustrates our commitment to increasing re-use and efficiency as well as reducing waste.

“With the ability to process well over a million pallets per year, we can increasingly use this facility to apply our popular circular economy model to even greater effect across the supply chain.

“This location is perfectly located for south-east users and represents a major investment in IPP’s future growth,” he added.

Lee Smith, the third generation owner of S&R Smith and Son Logistics added: “Our history is in the London area, launching in 1949 with just two ridged flat back vehicles, and we have grown from a small family-owned start-up to an established and reputable logistics firm.

“Working alongside IPP will be a unique opportunity for both businesses, as we work together to deliver top-level supply chain management solutions. Similarly to IPP, we are a business which strives for true efficiency across the board, and operating this service centre  enables us to make the best use of our resources.

“We’re always eager to continue evolving as a business and I’m looking forward to seeing our professional relationship flourish over the coming years.”