New £7m bulk handling facility to support strategic growth for Newport Industries

Newport Industries – sponsor of Glass Focus 2016 – is set to invest £7m in the creation of a new bulk handling facility at the Port of Liverpool, to service increased demand from its North West customer base.  

The facility at Canada Branch Dock will allow the global firm – which specialises in importing dry bulk chemicals to the glass, adhesive, detergents, chemicals and feed industries – to meet increasing demand.

Newport Industries partnership with Peel Ports has seen the company grow bulk volumes handled through the Runcorn Docks site by 200% in five years.

The new Liverpool-based facility will provide a purpose built facility with direct deep water access. Combined with continued operation from its existing site at Runcorn Docks, it will create an all water ‘highway’ into the manufacturing heartland of the UK, via the Manchester Ship Canal – reducing costs and CO2 emissions.

When Peel Ports’ £300m deep water container terminal Liverpool2 is completed later this year, it will open future opportunities for Newport Industries to tap into far eastern markets. Liverpool2 will enable the port to handle the largest container ships in the global fleet, while at the same time doubling its container capacity to 1milllion TEU.

Raj Patel, Managing Director of Newport Industries, said:

“Canada Dock, a state of the art facility, will combine our technical expertise of the products we supply, with a 24 hour supply chain for all our consumers in the North of England.

Newport Industries has also signed up to Peel Ports’ major carbon emission initiative, Cargo200, which aims to reduce UK freight mileage by 200million miles over the next five years.

Peel Ports aims to recruit up to 200 cargo owners, importers and exporters to support the campaign, by switching current delivery of ocean freight from south east ports to the centrally-located Port of Liverpool, if their goods start or end their journey in the north of the UK.

Andrew Martin, Group Land and Property Director at Peel Ports, said:

“Looking at the geographical demands of the UK, 50% of the demand for cargo comes from the northern half of the country – which makes the Port of Liverpool strategically important as the most centrally located port in the UK.

“In reality though, only 8% of goods arrive in the UK through this route. That means the majority of cargo destined for the north currently has to be transported via road or rail, incurring hundreds of additional miles, burning fuel, creating road congestion and adding to carbon emissions and costs.

“Peel Ports’ network of terminals in the North West, including Liverpool2, opens up a viable and cost effective alternative which we are urging cargo owners and logistics operators such as Newport Industries to consider.”

Work on the first phase of construction will begin February 2016.

Dave Dalton, CEO of British Glass, said:

“We’re delighted to have Newport Industries as a sponsor of Glass Focus 2016. It’s companies like Newport, and initiatives like this, that are fundamental to the glass industry being in a great position to adapt and thrive. Working across the supply chain to reduce environmental impact, and working flexibly and efficiently, is vital for the manufacturing sector to help it meet the challenges of the coming decades. That’s precisely why we welcome all parts of the supply chain into our membership and are so excited to bring together such a range of players at Glass Focus 2016 to collectively help shape a vision for the future of glass manufacturing.”

Find out more from Newport Industries and Peel Ports.

Find out more about Glass Focus 2016.