Track & Trace
14 June 2021, Minworth UK: THE Pallet Network (TPN) has demonstrated its trademark agility by opening a second pop-up Hub at Coventry which was transformed from empty industrial unit to modern Hub space in only one week.
Key points include:
The Coventry Hub is in the Central City Industrial Estate and has 150,000 sq ft of space.
It will replace the pop-up facility the network opened in the unoccupied NEC during 2020. The NEC opportunity was identified, pursued and made operational in less than a week and, says TPN MD Mark Kendall, it also demonstrated one of TPN’s most important values: mutual benefit.
“I saw a news item one evening about the NEC’s lockdown losses and realised immediately that we could use the space while they couldn’t,” he said. “We contacted them, sent a team in, and had a fully functional Hub in former exhibition space within days. The NEC got a tenant and we got valuable extra space while we develop plans for our next Hub.”
TPN has done the same with the Coventry Hub, choosing a space which has been empty for some time. “We always look for the simplest and most beneficial solutions for all parties. We make things work,” says Mark.
A good relationship with Partners is an important part of the equation. “We consult our Partners, and keep them informed, and all those who use the NEC Hub were fully in agreement and aware of the switch to Coventry before it happened.
“We genuinely support and value our Partners and their response is to support us in return,” says Mark. “We are very grateful that the whole network is responsive and adaptable.”
The 'Pop-up' Model
The pop-up Hub model, which TPN invented, contributes to the network’s operational resilience. It means that any sudden or seasonal surge in volume can be rapidly met with extra Hub resource thus keeping vehicle turnaround times low for Partners.
“We have a long-term strategy for Hub development which includes new central Hub facilities,” says Mark. “However, large fixed assets will only ever be one part of a successful strategy.
“To have resilient service levels you need to plan well and react fast. The seasonal lulls in the market are gone, and volumes surges can be unpredictable, both in quantity and region.
“The pop-up Hubs are our fast-reaction mechanism and we’ve deployed it twice now with great success.”
TPN is very experienced at deploying its rapid response teams:
“Our teams are very practised and know their jobs. Whatever the network requires, we find an efficient, rapid solution,” says Group Transport Manager Lee Noble. “We can literally take sites from zero to hero in less than two weeks.”
Noble finds TPN’s directness refreshing. “There is no red tape. The senior management team is always talking to Partners and is very alive to any issue in the network.”
This same approach creates TPN’s first class on-boarding for new Partners, with specialist team members offering IT installation, training, and support in operations, marketing, sales and resource management.
“We invest in new Partners from the outset to set them up for success,” says Mark. “TPN is the ultimate can-do network.”
Information for editors
About TPN
THE Pallet Network (TPN) is the UK’s leading pallet network, comprising more than 119 of the top regional transport firms and circa 130 depot locations. In 2020 it shipped 4.6m pallets. TPN has sector-leading IT systems, a dedicated, daytime, out-of-gauge freight service, TPN XL and an enhanced international service TPN XPort. It believes in continual improvement and excellence, promoting both commercial and environmental sustainability. It is based at Prologis Park Midpoint, Sutton Coldfield and has two regional Hubs, one near Preston and the other in Northampton.
For further information on TPN, contact: Ian Large on 0121 313 4031/ 07585 975 766
or email Ian.Large@tpnmail.co.uk
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