Hanson Logistics launch global freight forwarding arm

May 29 2009 By Henryk Zientek

Hanson, which has about 100 employees, has appointed Adam Wheeler as forwarding manager to lead the new division.

Mr Wheeler said the new division would use the firm’s existing facilities to package or re-package chemical products before taking them to their final destination.

Mr Roe said Hanson also planned to build additional storage and packaging facilities on the site of some of its old buildings.

The new premises will duplicate Hanson’s 100,000sq ft warehouse, built in 1999, which has space for more than 100,000 pallet loads of goods.

Despite the global recession, Hanson is optimistic about its new target market.

“It is still a very vibrant market,” said Mr Roe. “We already have existing customers in India and China.

“But we can differentiate ourselves from the competition by being able to offer a one-stop service – from collection in Asia to delivery in Halifax.

“We can re-package the goods and deliver via our own fleet, making it easier for the customer who only has to deal with an invoice and make one phone call.”

Hanson Logistics traces its origins to 1848 when farmer’s wife ,Mary Hanson, commandeered some of her husband’s horses to provide a regular transport service taking wool from Huddersfield to the local cottage weavers and their finished textiles back to Huddersfield.