PD Ports secures deal to handle Gulf State steel
COMPANY WILL STORE AND HANDLE UP TO 16,000 TONNES OF STEEL PILES
PD Ports has secured a major long-term deal to handle Gulf state steel at Immingham. The stevedoring specialist has signed up with Sheet Piling UK Ltd, the exclusive strategic partner of Emirates Steel, to serve the needs of the construction industry in the UK and Ireland.
It will store and handle up to 16,000 tonnes of piles while also bringing added-value services such as clutch sealing, cutting and welding to the port-centric location. This work had previously been carried out at a secondary distribution point since Immingham was first used in 2016. Dedicated PD Ports staff will also be allocated to the contract for pick and pack, via a central point of contact. Chief commercial officer Geoff Lippitt said this was key to securing the deal. “We are thrilled that our commitment to our customers has once again enabled us to secure a long-term deal with valued partners Sheet Piling UK Limited, to continue their operations at Immingham,” he said.
“At PD Ports we pride ourselves on exceeding customer expectations. By offering added-value services, we can save Sheet Piling UK valuable time in administrative processing, provide a single, reliable point of contact and improve the sustainability of the supply chain. We very much look forward to continuing this relationship going forward.”
The Preston-based company’s imports and supply chain was unaffected by both Covid-19 and Brexit, due to its unique position with the Abu Dhabi manufacturer. Managing director Andrew Cotton said the stability had enabled Sheet Piling UK to extend its storage arrangements, “maximising the benefits of its strong and secure supply chain relationships”.
The new arrangement also saves the need for the double-handling of cargo and provides a truly consolidated, sustainable solution, in keeping with both companies’ sustainability practices. “This new stage of the relationship with PD Ports will strengthen our commitment to provide a flexible stockholding of steel sheet piles within the UK construction sector and make the supply of steel sheet piles to customers even more seamless and swift,” Mr Cotton said.
“We are proud of how resilient our supply chain has been during Covid-19 and Brexit but are not resting on our laurels.
“This new arrangement is a sign of our looking to the future and further growth and influence within our sector.”