New AC model - United Kingdom Warehousing Association

Warehouse 

Official Magazine of The United Kingdom Warehousing Association August 2008 Volume 17 No 7 

UKWA News 

New conference for 

warehouse owners 

and manager 

AGM 2008 

Meeting the 

challenges of a 

tough 12 months 

Annual Awards 2008 

Saluting excellencee 

at The Dorchester 

New ACA 

C model 

Aisle Master is building a new articulated forklift 

See page 38

Association News 3 

EDITORIAL 

Founded 1944 

The United Kingdom 

Warehousing 

Association, 

418-422 Strand, 

London WC2R 0PT. 

Tel: (020) 7836 5522 

Fax: (020) 7438 9379 

Web: www.ukwa.org.uk 

Mission Statement 

The UKWA provides a service 

to Logistics Service Providers 

by helping to establish a 

favourable operating 

environment, by providing a 

forum for discussion on 

non-competitive issues and by 

providing information to 

assist them in their 

businesses. 

Management Board 

Derrick Potter, Chairman 

John Batchelor 

Amanda Bennett 

Tim Carless 

Derek Cooper 

Douglas Fearnley 

Steve Francis 

Mike Hodge 

Bernard Howard 

Julia Lucas 

John Maguire 

Duncan Pannell, Vice President 

Michael Potts 

Ken Richards, Vice President 

Ralph Richards, Vice President 

Alan Sanders, Vice President 

Iain Speak 

Graham Wall, Vice Chairman 

Charles Watt 

For details about 

advertising in Warehouse 

contact Daren Thomas on 

Tel: 0771 974 0736 

Voice your concerns 

through UKWA 

We approach the busiest time of the year 

in our sector with worrying uncertainties in 

the economy and a lame-duck government. 

For many companies, survival of the business 

is the key objective. For the government, 

personal survival appears to be the 

key objective. Most observers of our industry 

know that the logistics sector has a good 

record of dealing with downturns in the 

economy. Although times are tough now, 

and although there will inevitably be casualties 

in the next year or so, we are a robust 

and agile industry that will emerge stronger 

as a result of the challenges being faced at 

the moment. I’m not sure I can be so confident 

about the future of the present government. 

The odds are that there will be an election 

at some stage next year. Now is the 

time that we ought to be engaging with the 

major opposition parties to establish their 

views on key issues affecting us, and to 

ensure they are fully aware of what matters 

to us. UKWA has not been active politically 

over the years, and even now there is no 

strong and organised lobby group within 

the association, but perhaps it is time for us 

to ‘put our heads above the parapet’. 

There are two ways we can do it. First, 

at the local level, and on a personal basis. 

From hereon in until the next general election 

you will find that all MPs and candidates 

will be increasingly ready to listen to 

you. No great surprise there! So write to 

them, visit their surgeries, and make a point 

of engaging with them when they show up 

for a local event. Secondly, and this is 

where UKWA can be effective, you can 

channel your concerns through UKWA. We 

will be playing our part in the engagement 

process with the probable winners of the 

next election, and our case will be strengthened, 

in any issue we raise, by evidence 

and views of the UKWA membership. 

Current issues that face us include the 

punitive tax being raised on empty warehouses; 

the change in the regulations that 

used to allow warehouse 

owners to write down the 

value of the warehouse 

annually; the tax on fuel, 

and the suffocating 

weight of red tape. 

There are many others 

that affect us, and UKWA 

is well placed to put forward 

the view of the 

warehouseman. 

The logistics 

sector has a 

good record of 

dealing with 

downturns in 

the economy 

To do so effectively we need to hear what 

your concerns are. Please let me know, or 

any of the Board members who are listed 

on this page. 

During the autumn we will be adding a 

Forum page to the UKWA web site. It is an 

exciting development technically, as it will 

allow for the use of video clips to brief and 

to discuss issues. More details will follow - 

when I can get my non-technical brain 

around the concept, but I am sure it will 

generate greater communications within the 

membership on issues that worry you. 

www.ukwa.org.uk August 2008

4 Association News 

CONFERENCE 

New conference for 

warehouse owners 

and managers 

Warehousing Futures 

2008 - a new conference, 

exhibition and networking 

event for warehouse owners 

and managers, takes 

place at the Hilton Hotel 

near Coventry, Junction 2 

of the M6, on Tuesday 9 

September and 

Wednesday 10 September 

2008. 

With Meeting the 

Challenges of the 

Changing Economic 

Climate as its main 

theme, the event has been 

tailored to meet warehouse 

owners’ and managers’ 

needs. 

“Warehousing Futures 

2008 is specifically 

designed to provide upto-date 

information on 

the ‘key-issues’, which 

affect the planning and 

running of a modern 

warehouse in the UK,” 

says Peter Acton of conference 

organisers Gyros 

Communications. 

Delegates will receive 

practical advice and better 

understanding of the 

needs of warehouse owners/managers 

from an 

impressive programme of 

highly regarded speakers 

from the industry, academia 

and consultancies. 

Each speaker will provide 

an informed insight on 

how managers and owners 

can maximise their 

‘bottom line’ and there 

will be an extended discussion 

period after each 

presentation for debate 

and audience participation. 

The event starts with a 

networking reception followed 

by dinner on the 

evening of 9 September. 

The conference takes 

place the following day. 

The full confernce programme 

is as follows: 

08.30 - 09.00 

Registration 

09.00 - 09.10 Welcome 

from Peter Acton, 

Managing Director, Gyros 

Communications and 

Roger Williams, Chief 

Executive, UKWA 

09.10 - 09.30 

Sustainability: The 

Department for Transport 

is developing a Green 

Paper on Sustainability. 

How will future potential 

legislation impact on 

warehouse owners and 

managers Will there be 

different approaches to 

green field and brown 

field developments A 

senior member of the 

DfT’s logistics team will 

explain their thinking and 

how it impacts on the 

warehouse sector. 

09.30 - 10.00 

Warehouse optimisation: 

One of the biggest 

challenges facing warehouse 

owners and managers 

is how to optimise 

storage space and maximise 

throughput, while 

keep operating costs 

under control. Bob 

Williams, Managing 

Director of LPC, a leading 

independent logistics consultancy, 

will use his 

extensive experience to 

identify the key issues that 

need to be addressed. 

10.00 - 10.30 Cutting 

down people costs: 

Dave Richardson, 

Managing Director of 

Driving Edge, leading 

warehousing resourcing 

specialist will highlight 

ways of mitigating the 

impact of the new Agency 

Workers Directive which 

will lead to a 10% 

increase in warehouse 

people costs. He will also 

identify strategic resourcing 

issues that need looking 

at NOW; especially as 

the Poles are going home! 

10.30 - 10.40 Questions 

and Answers 

10.40 - 11.00 Coffee 

11.00 - 11.30 

Minimising supply 

chain risk: Supply chain 

failure is the biggest cost 

and threat to a business. 

As supply chains become 

more global and complex, 

the need to have 

joined up thinking and 

accurate information 

flows between the planning 

and forecasting, 

inventory management, 

transportation and distribution 

management 

phases of any supply 

chain are critical. Allen 

Scott, UK Managing 

Director of Manhattan 

Associates explains how 

warehouse owners and 

managers can keep supply 

chain risk to a minimum. 

11.30 - 12.00 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk


Automation can save 

money: Warehouse owners 

have often seen 

automation as an all or 

nothing solution. SSI 

Shäfer have come up with 

a new automated solution 

for mixed cases. Seen in 

the UK for the very first 

time at Warehousing 

Futures, where they can 

demonstrate that productivity 

gains can run alongside 

reduced costs. 

12.00 - 12.30 Keeping 

down fork lift truck 

fleet costs: With energy 

and diesel prices set to 

stay high, warehouse 

owners and managers 

need to look at every way 

of improving efficiency 

and reducing costs. A 

major fork lift truck company 

has developed a 

new breed of truck that 

does just that, supported 

by software to optimise 

the use of the fleet. 

12.30 - 12.40 Questions 

and Answers 

12.40 - 1400 Lunch, 

exhibition visiting, 

delegate one-to-one 

sessions with sponsors 

The afternoon is taken up 

with practical issues that 

can make a real difference 

in warehouse operations. 

The programme 

starts with a case study 

and leads on to a series 

of interactive discussion 

sessions with individual 

panels of experts covering 

Property, Fire and Security 

and finally Asset 

Management. 

14.00 - 14.40 3663 

picks up real efficiency 

gains: Phil Oliver presents 

a case study of how 

picking efficiency gains in 

their busy, high sku warehouse 

have helped to 

improve customer service 

levels and reduce errors. 

99% reduction in picking 

errors: Does picking by 

voice have the ultimate 

say in warehouse efficiency 

Anton Du Preez of 

Vocollect, who have been 

implementing this technology 

for 20 years, will 

enlighten us on how they 

achieve a 99% reduction 

in errors and productivity 

gains of 25%. 

14.40 - 15.10 Fire, 

security and health 

and safety: A panel of 

experts led by UKWA honorary 

security adviser Paul 

Burton and TYCO ADT 

global leaders in fire and 

security systems will be on 

hand to answer your 

questions in key areas 

including sprinklers, CCTV 

remote guarding, diesel 

theft, stock shrinkage, 

protection of electronic 

information. 

15.10 - 15.30 Coffee 

15.30 - 16.00 Credit 

crunch and property 

issues: A panel of specialists 

will cover issues 

including business rates, 

valuations, rent reviews, 

lease renewals, disposal 

of empty warehouses, 

acquisitions, green versus 

SERVICES 

brown field sites and outsourced 

contracts. 

16.00 - 16.30 How to 

make the most of your 

biggest asset A panel 

of specialists will deal with 

issues as wide ranging as 

how to utilise spare 

capacity, identifying cost 

reduction opportunities, 

lowering warehouse 

maintenance, environmental 

investment programmes 

and refurbishment 

or new build 

16.30 - 16.45 

Conclusions 

Booking 

For UKWA members the 

cost of attending 

Warehousing Futures is: 

£195 plus VAT for the full 

delegate package while 

the day delegate rate is 

£120 plus VAT. The rates 

include all conference 

documentation, lunch, 

refreshments and accommodation 

with a place at 

the networking dinner 

only for full delegates. 

To reserve a place contact 

UKWA on 0207 836 

5522 or visit 

www.ukwa.org.uk 

UKWA 

EVENTS 

DIARY 

17 September 2008 

Venue: Inbev Brewery, 

Magor, near Newport, 

Wales 

8 October 2008 

Venue: Redirack, 

Mexborough, near 

Rotherham. 

23 October 2008 

Venue: Thwaites 

Brewery, Blackburn 

6 November 2008 

Venue: Asda RDC, 

Granghmouth 

UKWA Regional 

Meetings are free to 

attend and feature a 

programme of guests 

speakers. Further details 

are available from the 

UKWA website 

(www.ukwa.org.uk) or 

from Michael Davison on 

0207 836 5522. 

A range of member services 

Members are reminded 

that a broad range of 

business-related services 

is available through 

UKWA. Services available 

to member companies 

include: 

Human Resources 

UKWA has partnered the 

highly respected human 

resources consultancy 

group, BusinessHR, to 

offer members advice not 

only on employment law 

but on a full range of HRrelated 

issues. 

Storage space search 

facility 

UKWA has teamed up 

with Variation to create a 

Space marketing and 

search service where 

members can find and 

market warehouse space 

and resources 

Insurance 

In partnership with Willis 

Limited and Allianz 

Insurance UKWA recently 

launched an exclusive 

bespoke insurance package 

which is only available 

to members. 

Recruitment 

The leading logistics industry 

recruitment solutions 

specialists The BJD Group 

work as UKWA's recruitment 

solutions partner. 

Healthcare 

In association with PHP a 

range of competitively 

priced private health 

insurance packages is 

available. 

See www.ukwa.org.uk 

for further information on 

the services available. 



NEW MEMBERS 

Pre-Retail Warehousing Ltd 

Ray Mill, 

Clarence Street, 

Stalybridge, Cheshire SK15 1QF 

Contact: Steve Jones 

Tel: 0161-339-9201 

E-Mail: Sales@preretail.co.uk 

www.preretail.co.uk 

Based in Stalybridge, Cheshire, Pre-Retail Warehousing 

Ltd can offer 150,000 sq ft of clean, dry, secure and 

sprinkled custom Bonded Warehousing. Situated close 

to the UK motorway network means that the company 

is ideally suited for distribution throughout the UK. 

With over 10 years’ experience in warehousing, 

Pre-Retail can provide anything from a complete third 

party logistics service to the short and long term storage 

of goods. 

The range of industries served includes: clothing, 

toys, sports goods, furniture and other specialised 

items, and the company’s client base includes several 

household names who are market leaders in their field. 

The Pre-Retail site is fully alarmed and linked to 

Chubb Alarm's 24 hour monitoring centre with an 

additional 24 hour digitally recorded CCTV system. The 

site has also been security cleared by a leading high 

street banking corporation. 

Nemesis GB Ltd 

11-14 Kempton Road 

Keytec 7 Business Park 

Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 2TA 

Contact: Tracy Venables 

Tel: 0870 777 5530 

E-mail: tracy.venables@nemesisgb.com 

www.nemesisgb.com 

Nemesis GB Ltd’s flexible solutions are backed by 

ISO9001 Quality Registration and, with over a 

20,000 square ft of warehouse space available, the 

company offers a seamless one-stop shop to enable 

businesses to release valuable office space , improve 

cash flow and allow their customers to receive ready 

to use, customised products. Jo Watson, Nemesis’s 

logistics business development manager, explains: 

"We aim to focus on the quality and flexibility that our 

organisation can really offer.” 

GAC Logistics (UK) Ltd 

Argonaut Park 

Galleymead Road 

Colnbrook, Slough SL3 0EN 

Contact: Peter Smith 

Tel: 01753 671 671 

Email: Peter.smith@gacworld.com 

www.gacworld.com/uklogistics 

GAC Logistics serves the worldwide needs of manufacturers, 

distributors and retailers with particular emphasis 

on fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), textiles, 

pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, electronics, entertainment 

and oil and gas sectors. It delivers a complete 

range of supply chain and logistics solutions, 

including air and sea freight, warehousing and distribution, 

road transportation, project logistics, ship spares 

logistics, international moving and courier services. 

GAC’s 8000 people are found in close to 300 offices 

worldwide and speak more than 100 languages. 

PA Packaging Solutions Ltd 

Benwick Road Industrial Estate 

Benwick Road, Whittlesey 

Peterborough PE7 2HD 

Contact: Andrew Armstrong 

Tel: 01733 200609 

Email: sales@pa-packaging-solutions.co.uk 

www.pa-packaging-solutions.com 

P A Packaging Solutions has over 25 years experience 

in contract packing and warehousing offering a professional 

service covering a wide cross section of industries 

including; toys, clothing, novelty goods, gift items and 

cosmetics. 

Located near Peterborough, with good road links for 

the whole country , the company has experience of 

delivering to most major high street stores. 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

• Capacities from 1,000 to 3,000kg 

• Pallet Trucks, Stackers, Order Pickers, 

Reach Trucks, Turret Trucks (VNA) 

• Lift heights up to17 metres 

• AC Technology throughout 

the range


NEW MEMBERS 

System Group Ltd 

Carlisle Airport Business Park 

Carlisle 

Cumbria 

CA6 4NW 

Contact: Faith Morrison 

Tel: 01228 574000 

Email: admin@system-group.com 

www.system-group.com 

System Group has worked with employers since 1988 

in order to develop and provide first class training solutions 

to a range of individual company requirements, specialising 

in the fields of transport and logistics. 

A holistic approach means companies can source 

many quality award winning services with ease from 

one central point. System Group make a commitment 

to add value to any requirement businesses may have, 

actively accessing support from Government funding 

wherever possible in order to enhance any service they 

offer. With an ever growing network of centres, System 

Group is continually enhancing local delivery of training 

services across the UK in order to accommodate the 

needs of business. 

System Group has national training agreements with 

major transport and logistics operators across the UK 

including Bibby Distribution, BRS, Co-Operative Retail 

Logistics, DHL, Eddie Stobart Ltd, Gist and Pirelli Ltd. 

ADT 

ADT EMEA Head Office 

Security House, The Summit 

Hanworth Road 

Sunbury-on-Thames 

Middlesex, TW16 5DB 

Contact: Robert Scott 

Tel: 01932 743 333 

Email: adtemeasales@tycoint.com 

www.adtemea.com 

ADT, part of Tyco International, is a global electronic 

electronic fire and security solutions provider. Using a 

combination of cutting edge products and expertise, 

ADT develops integrated solutions to help protect property 

and profit. 

ADT prides itself on understanding the different fire 

and security requirements of every business. The company 

has dedicated people throughout Europe with 

experience in key sectors, such as logistics, helping to 

ensure clients have the most qualified expertise at hand. 

ADT operates in 20 European countries and serves 

over 600,000 customers. For more information, visit 

www.adtemea.com or email 

adtemeasales@tycoint.com. 

ANNUAL AUDIT 

Annual Audit 2008: “Let’s get to 100 per cent” 

The Annual Audit scheme, 

which UKWA introduced 

in 2005, has been a great 

success since its launch. 

Approaching 80 per cent 

of members have completed 

the Audit in either 

2005, 2006 or 2007 or, 

in many cases, all three 

years. 

“For 2008 it would be 

nice to think that all members 

would participate 

and we could achieve 100 

per cent uptake of the 

scheme,” says Michael 

Davison, UKWA’s 

Membership Services 

Manager. 

Members are urged to 

complete and return their 

AA08 forms as soon as 

possible. Additional forms 

are available on request 

or from www.ukwa.org.uk. 

In previous years, the 

feedback from members 

who completed the audit 

has been extremely 

revealing. 

For instance, a recurring 

theme has been how 

undertaking the audit 

’focuses the mind’ and 

serves as a reminder to fix 

or change something that 

had either been overlooked 

or ‘shelved’. 

Other members have 

described the audit as a 

driving force behind an 

ongoing programme of 

improvement and a useful 

method for regularly 

reviewing operations and 

systems. 

“In previous years, 

some members told us 

about internal groups that 

had been set up specifically 

to deal with safety 

issues, and about contracts 

that have been 

negotiated with advisors 

or consultants,” reveals 

Michael Davison. 

“The response rate to 

the audit exercise is 

one of the best that we 

get from the membership 

and shows the 

importance that the 

majority of members 

attach to it,” he adds. 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

Which Materials 

Handling Company… 

• has a full range of Warehouse and Counterbalance equipment 

• provides a true Global solution 

• manufactures its products in European facilities 

• is one of the fastest-growing lift truck brands in Europe

10 Business News 

INBRIEF 

Warrington based 

3PL provider 3P 

Logistics Ltd has 

recently appointed 

John Scully as Sales 

& Marketing 

Manager. 

John, 48, brings over 

30 years experience 

of Logistics and 

third-party warehousing 

within the 

News International 

Group, to the role. 

STILL Materials 

Handling Limited, a 

wholly-owned subsidiary 

of STILL 

GmbH of Hamburg, 

Germany, 

announced that DAC 

Handling Solutions 

Limited, its largest 

UK distributor, will 

be incorporated into 

its UK business operation. 

The combined 

business will trade 

under the name of 

STILL Materials 

Handling Limited. 

Bibby Distribution’s 

Martin Pain has 

been voted 

"Employee of the 

Year" by members of 

a worldwide agency 

network of freight 

forwarders called 

UFO (Universal 

Freight 

Organisation) of 

which Bibby is a 

part. 

EXHIBITION AND SEMINAR 

Free seminars at 

new southern event 

EXHIBITION AND SEMINAR 

LOGISTICS LINK NORTH 

A series of free seminars 

delivered by leading 

members of UKWA, will 

be a feature of ShD 

South East – a brandnew 

storage and handling 

show from Quartz, the 

organisers of the hugely 

successful IMHX event and 

publishers of ShD magazine. 

Taking place on the 

17th September at the Kent 

Showground at Detling, 

near Maidstone, the seminars 

will cover a variety of 

issues including tackling inhouse 

theft, implementing 

energy-saving initiatives, 

strategies for avoiding the 

rate liability of empty warehouses, 

top tips for designing 

a successful warehouse 

and how to recruit the best 

logistics professionals. 

Lasting around 30 minutes, 

each seminar will also 

include time for a question 

and answer session. 

In addition to the seminars, 

there will be much 

for visitors to see and 

learn at ShD South East. 

The event will showcase a 

diverse range of materials 

handling equipment and 

services, including many 

innovative ideas to help 

reduce costs and maximise 

supply chain efficiency. 

Visitors wishing to preregister 

for ShD South 

East can do so by visiting 

www.shdregionalshows.biz 

UKWA pledges support for software group 

BASDA - the Business 

Application Software 

Developers’ Association - 

has launched Special 

Interest Group for 

Logistics & Supply Chain. 

Supported by UKWA 

and the CILT, the group 

has been launched in 

response to the need for 

more collaborative working 

practices and systems 

across the whole supply 

chain industry, particularly 

for the SME sector. 

Roger Williams, CEO 

Back a winner at Doncaster 

of UKWA, commented: “It 

is important that affiliations 

like UKWA, CILT and 

BASDA pull together and 

look for synergies that 

make us more effective 

for the benefit of all our 

members.” 

Logistics Link North 

takes place over 14-15 

October at Doncaster 

Racecourse. The organisers 

promise that visitors 

to the show will discover 

the suppliers who 

have the latest products 

and services in 

warehouse automation, 

storage and racking, 

health and safety, warehouse 

management software 

and much more for 

an efficient warehouse 

operation. 

A Live Demo Arena will 

provide an opportunity to 

see live demonstrations 

of logistics products 

and discuss with the 

exhibitors how to add 

value to supply chain 

operations. Meanwhile a 

FREE Seminar Programme 

will keep visitors up-todate 

with best industry 

practice. Case-study led 

sessions presented by 

leading experts in their 

respective fields will feature 

key topics including; 

Distribution Planning, The 

use of RFID Technology in 

logistics and industrial 

sectors and Order 

Fulfilments for the Modern 

Warehouse. 

www.logisticslink.co.uk 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

HOW DO PANDAS FLY TO SPAIN 

FIRST CLASS 

What do you do when you need to transport two pandas from China to 

Spain Simply give TNT Special Services a call. 

When Madrid Zoo asked us to take two panda bears from China to their 

new home in Spain, we jumped at the challenge. We sorted out every 

detail – even down to getting stamps in the pandas’ passports. And we 

didn’t rest until they were safely tucked up in their new pad. 

What if you don’t have a panda to move It doesn’t matter. Whatever has to 

be delivered, wherever it needs to go, whether you’re sending consignments 

across the UK or around the world, TNT Special Services can meet all 

your requirements. 

Whether you have a panda or a parcel, put us to the 

challenge, you can rely on us to get the job done. 

That’s what makes TNT Special Services - special. 

Call TNT Special Services on 

08451 24 7 365 

Anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 

365 days a year. 

• Capacities from 1,000 to 16,000kg 

• Electric Rider – AC Technology 

throughout the range 

• Diesel, LP Gas and CNG 

• The world’s most advanced 

powershift transmission 

To find out more email info_ne@yale.com quoting WH1/YE or 

visit www.yale-europe.com to contact your authorised Yale Dealer.


UKWA’s AGM, Annual Luncheon and Awards for Warehousing ceremony is rightly 

regarded as one of the key dates in the logistics industry’s calendar and this 

year’s event drew a full house to London’s Dorchester hotel. Here and on the 

following pages we reproduce chief executive officer Roger Williams’ review to the 

AGM, while the 2008 Awards are reported on pages 20 and 21 

Meeting the challenges 

of a tough 12 months 

At this year’s United Kingdom 

Warehousing Association Annual 

General Meeting Roger Williams, 

chief executive of the association, delivered 

a review of UKWA’s year. The following 

is the text of his review. 

“ 

Membership remains the number 

one priority for the Walter House 

staff, but the challenges that we have 

to face and overcome to continue to 

achieve growth in membership numbers are 

growing. My comments last year on the 

effects of sector consolidation remain relevant, 

and we have seen an upturn during 

the year in the numbers of members who 

ceased trading. 

We lost over 50 companies last year and 

have managed to sustain our levels of 

membership of 680 plus only by the efforts 

of our recruitment and marketing manager 

– Sakina Cherwala. The challenging marketplace 

for recruiting new members will 

not become easier in the coming year or 

so, and we will have to continue to work 

hard to maintain high levels of membership, 

and to improve our retention rate. To 

that end we will be using more resources to 

raise the profile of the association in the 

core sector of our membership marketplace 

and in those other sectors (retail, manufacturing 

and wholesale) that are now eligible 

to join us.. 

The expanded circulation of Warehouse 

in both its hard copy and electronic form; 

the introduction of an e-newsletter, and the 

marketing boost we are getting indirectly 

through a number of commercial partnerships 

will pay dividends as far as recruitment 

and profile is concerned, but there is 

another valuable and largely dormant tool 

that I hope we may also be able to make 

use of. Recruiting members is most easily 

achieved by another member. I realise that 

there may, from time to time, be commercial 

reasons that prevent you from encouraging 

a competing company from joining, 

but I do urge you to be alert to any company 

operating in our sector that is not a current 

member. A call to Walter House will 

confirm the company’s status, and Sakina is 

poised to respond to any lead you may be 

able to give her. 

A further challenge we had during the 

course of last year was the turbulence 

caused by an unusually high churn rate 

among the Walter House staff. Sakina was 

absent on maternity leave for half the year, 

and returned in late October. The manpower 

review conducted last year recommended 

changes to the staff structure and 

resulted in the creation of a new post of 

Membership and Recruitment Executive. 

The initial consequences of that change 

was that Marion Payn was unfortunately 

made redundant after 14 years service with 

the association. The vacancy in the new 

ABOVE: Roger Williams 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk


Pictured at the Dorchester 

1 2 

PHOTO 1: John Cooper and Bob 

‘The Cat’ Bevan; 

PHOT0 2: Peter MacLeod, editor 

of SHD magazine; 

PHOTO 3 : Steve Richmond of 

Jungheinrich UK’s projects 

division and a guest; 

PHOTO 4: Derrick Potter and 

Lord Brabazon of Tara; 

PHOTO 5: John Batchelor (left) 

with Mel and Liz Grainger 

3 

4 5 



post was filled initially by Tim Kain in 

November 2007, but early in the New Year 

Tim decided to emigrate to Australia. His 

departure came at the same time as Steve 

McFarlane – the Membership Services 

Manager – decided that his long term 

ambitions lay elsewhere, and we faced the 

task of replacing 40 per cent of the staff at 

one time. That this staff movement coincided 

with the bedding-in of our new 

database software with the inevitable 

accompanying teething problems, only 

underlines how quickly and effectively the 

new staff have settled in. 

Our new Membership Services Manager 

– Mick Davison, and the new Recruitment 

and Marketing Executive – Christine Leitgeb 

have already made their energetic presence 

felt, and I believe the combination of a 

modern and more flexible database, and 

the combined talents of Mick and Christine 

will prove a valuable enhancement to the 

output of Walter House. 

“The challenging marketplace for recruiting new 

members will not become easier in the coming year or 

so, and we will have to continue to work hard to 

maintain high levels of membership, and to improve our 

retention rate. To that end we will be using more 

resources to raise the profile of the association in the 

core sector of our membership marketplace and in 

those other sectors that are now eligible to join us” 

The restructuring of the Walter House 

staff is not finished. Work is continuing on 

the review of functions presently conducted 

in-house to see if that remains the most cost 

effective way of using our resources, and at 

the same time we are reviewing our future 

need for office space in advance of negotiations 

to re-new our current lease, which 

runs until Spring 2009. 

There was one regrettable change to the 

Management Board during the year. Alan 

Grant resigned through ill health, and as 

many of you will have heard, he passed 

away on 19 June. Alan’s UKWA connections 

began in the early 1990s soon after 

his entry into the third party sector after a 

career in engineering, sales and marketing. 

His impact over the last 18 years has been 

substantial, serving on the executive council, 

and elected as Vice Chairman on two occasions. 

He has also served on the Ops and 

Safety committee and the Benchmarking 

sub group, but it was on training that he 

made his greatest contribution. He was 

Chairman of the Warehouse Industry 

Training Organisation for many years; he 

was our representative on the National 

Training Organisation, and latterly a Board 

member of our Sector Skills Sector. His 

work chairing steering groups to develop 

NVQ, and Modern Apprenticeships was 

immense. 

At this stage I should flag up a slight 

worry that is engaging the Board at the 

moment. It concerns the number of volunteers 

coming forward to serve on the Board, 

and who also aspire to the Chairmanship. It 

is not a new problem, but we are no 

closer to solving it. There are fewer 

good men and women who have the 

time and the inclination to help run 

trade associations. We all know the reasons; 

changes in culture; pressure of work 

and pressure of time. 

There was a time when the pursuit of 

the Chairman’s badge of office was a key 

element in a standard career. Nowadays I 

have great difficulty in even getting the 

Chairman to wear it! Yet, I am convinced, 

and I believe many of the current Board 

members are convinced also, that membership 

of the Board is not an expensive and 

unproductive use of their time. I am not so 

naïve as to believe that the main motive 

always in applying to join the Board is a 

benevolent desire to put something back. I 

recognise that, at times it is more a grasping 

of an opportunity to further one’s own 

company’s business objectives. And indeed 

it is those two apparent conflicting objectives 

are complementary it seems to me. 

The involvement of busy, professional and 

ambitious industry practitioners in the running 

of the association is good for the association, 

and good for those individuals and 

their companies. That is why I would urge 

members of the audience to consider offering 

themselves up in the future, or at least 

registering with me that they might be interested 

in the future. 

The Ops and Safety committee, chaired 

by Tim Carless, has a wide remit. It is the 

voice of the Association responding to 

Government consultation documents on all 

Operational and Safety matters; it is the 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk


forum through which UKWA standard publications 

are reviewed and amended. It is the 

custodian of best practice, which includes 

the ownership of the annual audit and the 

responsibility for recommending changes to 

our Standards of Warehousing. 

1 

PHOTO 1: Mike Kelly from 

Brother UK with Logistics 

Manager magazine’s Jessica 

Davies; PHOTO 2: Bob ‘The 

Cat’ entertains the guests; 

PHOT0 3: Hans’ Herbert 

Schultz (left), managing 

director of main Awards 

sponsor Jungheinrich UK, 

with other members of the 

company’s management 

team; 

PHOTO 4: Tony Rudd and 

Laura Cork from Works 

Management magazine 

3 

2 

Last year I reported that the Annual 

Audit was developing slowly. It remains a 

challenge to encourage members to submit 

their self assessed check list by the declared 

deadline but the Board is determined to persevere 

with the scheme. We will continue to 

use our powers of persuasion to encourage 

members to submit a completed check list 

as tangible proof that the audit has been 

carried out, and we are taking steps to offer 

companies independent audits where they 

require it. However, it will become a condition 

of membership that each Full member 

will be asked to declare annually that their 

company continues to meet the operational 

standards demanded by UKWA Standards of 

Warehousing. 

John Batchelor continues to be a fine 

advocate of the cause of the Bonded 

Warehouse operator. Not an advocate in the 

strict legal sense, because John does not list 

formal and disciplined advocacy skills as 

one of his characteristics. But as many of 

you will know, John has an uncomplicated, 

direct and passionate style of putting our 

point across to Her Majesty’s Revenue and 

Customs, which I am pleased to report 

remains very effective. 

During the year the Joint Warehouse 

Fraud Task Force (JWFTF) has bedded in following 

the signing of the MOU with HMRC. 

Work is continuing apace in the small working 

group that is designing a future excise 

system and we are positioned well to influence 

C&E proposals for change in this area. 

We continue to work closely with HMRC on 

the development of the new European computerised 

EMCS ( Excise Movement Control 

System) 

4 

UKWA remains supportive of The Skills 

for Logistics Sector Skills Council (SfL). Our 

place on the SfL’s Executive Board remains 

vacant at the moment, but it is very important 

that it should be filled without unnecessary 

delay, and I hope to be able to 

announce our new representative soon. 

Last year I reported that we had found a 



partner that would be able to provide the 

UKWA membership with training provision 

on a national basis and at attractive prices. 

I regret to report that the partnership was 

unproductive. In hindsight, our expectations 

were perhaps a little too high, and our 

partner’s ability to deliver somewhat over 

stated. The lack of success attracted no 

financial cost, and I am determined to seek 

a credible training partner who will be able 

to deliver comprehensive training to the 

membership throughout the country at competitive 

prices. 

For the first time we are outsourcing the 

administrative arrangements for our annual 

conference. Our partner in this event is 

Gyros Communications, which is run by 

Peter Acton, who many of you will know. 

Together we are creating a new event called 

Warehousing Futures 2008. It will take 

place at the Coventry Hilton Junction 2 of 

the M6 on the evening of Tuesday 9 

September and all day Wednesday 10 

September 

I am pleased to report that in many, but 

not all regions, attendance levels at regional 

meetings are increasing. In the Midlands 

we attracted over 40 to the meeting we 

held at the JCB headquarters at Rocester; 

we were oversubscribed for the Northern 

meeting that was held at the Bibby operation 

at Nisa Today’s ‘state of the art’ warehouse 

in Scunthorpe; and for the first time 

in a few years we generated enough interest 

within Scotland to have a useful gathering 

of the clan at Forth Ports in 

Grangemouth. 

No one doubts the value of these meetings, 

but it remains a difficult task to gather 

together a large attendance. Choice of 

venue is critical; relevant and interesting 

speakers are equally important. One area 

where we perhaps have not been too sharp 

in the past is in fixing these events far 

enough in advance. Our Autumn programme 

will be confirmed by the end of the 

month, and we will publish the dates in the 

July/August version of Warehouse, as well 

as posting them on the website 

In support of our marketing objectives 

UKWA has been prominent in the industry’s 

trade shows. During the year we have had 

a presence at Logistics Link South at 

Sandown Park, Logistics Link Live at 

Lutterworth, and Logistics Link North in 

Harrogate. In addition the association took 

a pavilion for members at the newly 

launched show – Multi Modal 2008. I consider 

that experiment as a success. The 

pavilion sold out and had to be expanded; 

and the association achieved the exposure it 

sought among members and potential 

members who visited the show. Overall the 

feedback for exhibiting members has been 

good. 

I am looking now at whether there would 

be support for a similar pavilion at other 

sector specific shows, and if so I will be 

keen to facilitate it. The UKWA pavilion this 

year provided an affordable opportunity for 

UKWA members who cannot normally justify 

the expense of taking a stand for themselves. 

“We are creating a new conference event called 

Warehousing Futures 2008. It will take place at the 

Coventry Hilton, which is off Junction 2 of the M6 on the 

evening of Tuesday 9 September and all day on 

Wednesday 10 September of this year” 

Since last year, we launched a partnership 

with Willis – our insurance Honorary 

advisers. The membership now have available 

to it a bespoke and comprehensive 

insurance service at a very competitive price. 

If I share with you that one of our category 

B members invited Willis to review their 

insurance cover, and as a result changed to 

them and saved themselves 50 per cent of 

their premiums, you might be persuaded to 

give them a chance when your insurance 

comes up for renewal. More recently we 

have entered into an agreement with BJD - 

one of the leading companies providing 

recruitment and other manpower resource 

services. The partnership has been 

announced in Warehouse and is up on the 

UKWA web site. In addition to the discounted 

and free services that the membership 

will enjoy, the association will benefit 

also from the access that we will get from 

BJD’s huge customer base that covers the 

entire logistics sector. 

We will continue to look for ways to provide 

the membership with relevant cost 

attractive services that help to reduce our 

reliance on subscription income. 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk


Chairman describes how Government 

is adding to 3PL sector’s burden 

The UK logistics industry is faced with 

a number of challenges – not the 

least of which are the current world 

financial climate and the escalating 

price of fuel – but the Government’s 

recent moves to scrap rate relief on 

empty industrial property and phase 

out the Industrial Buildings Allowance 

(IBA) are likely to prove especially 

damaging to the sector. 

That was the message from Derrick 

Potter, National Chairman of UKWA 

in his address to members at the 

AGM. 

Derrick Potter said: “The Empty 

Property Rate Rules which came into 

effect on 1st April this year, changed 

the tax position of empty warehouses 

substantially: empty warehouses are 

now liable after a six month holiday 

for empty property rates at the same 

rate as they would pay if they were 

occupied. 

“Ministers justified this new tax on 

the grounds that these reforms will 

provide an incentive for owners to reuse, 

re-let or re-develop their empty 

properties and will increase the supply 

of commercial property available 

to new and existing businesses, 

thereby helping to reduce rent levels 

which burden the competitiveness of 

the UK. 

“The government considers that 

the reforms will provide a strong 

incentive for owners to bring empty 

shops, offices and warehouse buildings 

back into use, and so improve 

access to property and reduce rents 

for businesses. 

“One doesn’t have to be too cynical 

to view this as simply another tax 

raising move. 

“On a typical empty 10,000 square 

metre warehouse, the potential rates 

bill could reach £1/4m each year. 

Now, if a third party warehousing 

company loses a client, it not only has 

“With the global economic situation and the high price 

of fuel, these are difficult times for our industry. The 

Government has only added to our problems with its 

moves to scrap the IBA and reform the empty property 

rate rules” 

ABOVE: Derrick Potter 

to contend with lost revenue but also 

from an additional tax burden – a 

‘double whammy’”. 

Derrick Potter added that UKWA 

members have access to the 

Association’s property advisers who 

can help reduce the impact of the new 

rating scheme on their business. 

Derrick Potter went on to criticise 

the Government’s decision to remove 

the Industrial Buildings Allowance. 

“In his last Budget as Chancellor, 

Gordon Brown announced a phased 

removal of the industrial buildings 

allowance (IBA) from April of this 

year,” he explained. “Up until this 

time, anyone building an industrial 

building such as a warehouse, could 

get an allowance of four per cent on 

the cost of construction.” 

Derrick Potter continued: “The four 

per cent allowance is being racheted 

down by one per cent a year over the 

next four years. A great many warehouse 

operators will have factored the 

IBA into their costings when pitching 

for contracts and the decision to phase 

out the allowance will have a direct 

impact on their bottom line profitability.” 

“With the global economic situation 

and the high price of fuel, these are 

difficult times for our industry. The 

Government has only added to our 

problems with its moves to scrap the 

IBA and reform the empty property 

rate rules.” 

Derrick Potter is now in his second 

year as UKWA National Chairman. 



UKWA continues to play a prominent 

role in the International Federation of 

Warehousing and Logistics Associations 

(IFWLA). The IFWLA’s International convention 

took place in Yokohama in April. The 

UK delegation comprised Derrick Potter, 

Douglas Fearnley, John Cooper and me. At 

the convention Mr Andreas Meletiou was 

elected President, and it was confirmed that 

the convention for 2009 would be held in 

Limassol, Cyprus in May 2009. It was also 

decided that future conventions would take 

place as follows: Vancouver 2010, and 

Taipei in 2011. 

Observers of the International scene will 

know that the rate of change within IFWLA 

is slow. I reported last year that authority 

had been given to develop a web site and 

produce a International Directory. Both 

these projects are complete, but the plan to 

hold a six month meeting of representatives 

to take forward other work did not take 

place. Nevertheless there is a growing 

acceptance with in the IFWLA membership 

that the administrative structure of the 

Federation must be placed on a more professional 

basis if IFWLA is to grow. Work 

will take place this summer to produce a 

way forward, and it is intended to hold a 

meeting of IFWLA delegates in London in 

October. 

PR and marketing continues to be an 

area where we are enjoying success. 

Warehouse is established as a respected 

trade publication, and has continued its 

commercial success. The second Logistics 

Services Provider’s Compendium was published 

in January 2008, and has proven to 

be a valuable marketing tool at all the trade 

shows mentioned earlier, and the very large 

manufacturing show held at NEC in April. 

It also provided a welcome surplus from 

advertising income. And our biennial 

Members Services Directory is due to be 

published later this year. 

I end my report by thanking you for your 

attention, thanking our President for his 

benevolent influence over our affairs for 16 

years, thanking the staff of Walter House for 

responding to the changes in the last year 

so well, and finally to the 

” 

Chairman and the Board for 

their guidance and support 

throughout the year. 

PD Ports’ Graham Wall is our new Vice Chairman 

At UKWA’s AGM Graham Wall, 

Commercial Director of PD 

Ports’ rapidly expanding 

Teesport facility, was unanimously 

voted Vice Chairman of 

the Association. He will work 

closely with the Association’s 

current National Chairman, 

Derrick Potter, for the next 

year and, in keeping with 

UKWA’s tradition, Graham 

Wall will succeed Derrick Potter 

as UKWA’s National Chairman 

in 2009. 

Graham Wall commented: 

“UKWA has a long and proud 

history and I am honoured and 

excited to be given the chance 

to contribute to the UK logistics 

industry’s most influential 

trade association.” 

Roger Williams, Chief 

Executive Officer of UKWA, 

commented: “There are fewer 

and fewer good men and 

women who 

are prepared 

to give the 

time to help 

run trade associations, 

so we 

are delighted 

to be able to 

draw upon the 

services of 

someone of 

Graham’s caliber. 

I am sure 

he will be a 

tremendous 

asset to our organisation. 

Graham Wall joined PD 

Ports in June 2006 as 

Commercial Director - 

Containers and since his 

appointment he has been 

closely involved in working 

with retailers and industrial 

importers to secure alternative 

supply chain solutions using 

Northern ports operated by PD 

Ports. He has worked to 

establish the idea of port-centric 

logistics within PD Ports’ 

business, and has played a 

pivotal role in the development 

of the port in line with 

the approved Northern 

Gateway Container Terminal 

project at Teesport. 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

20 Annual Awards 

Saluting excellence 

The achievement 

of both 

companies and 

individuals across 

the warehousing 

and third party 

logistics sectors 

were recognised 

at UKWA’s 9th 

Annual Awards for 

Warehousing 

ceremony at the 

Dorchester Hotel 

The achievement of both companies 

and individuals across the warehousing 

and third party logistics (3PL) sectors 

were recognised at the United Kingdom 

Warehousing Association’s (UKWA’s) ninth 

Annual Awards for Warehousing ceremony. 

Held recently at London’s Dorchester 

Hotel, a total of seven awards were presented 

and this year the Association 

received a record number of entries in all 

categories. The winners were chosen by 

UKWA’s Awards Committee, which comprised 

of Phil Culling, Managing Director of 

storage systems specialist Redirack; Mel 

Grainger, a past chairman of UKWA; and 

Roger Williams, the association’s Chief 

Executive Officer. 

Roger Williams commented: “Since their 

launch the Awards have become established 

as symbols of achievement in the 3PL 

sector and emphasise the importance of 

logistics within today’s economy. The high 

number and quality of the entries made 

selecting the winners extremely difficult for 

our Awards Committee. The high standard 

underlines the professionalism that runs 

through the modern logistics industry.” 

The winners of the 2008 UKWA Annual 

Awards for Warehousing were: 

Best New Member 

Sponsored by Dexion Comino Ltd 

Winner: Michael Brannigan & Son 

Ltd, Ireland 

Michael Brannigan and Son is one of the 

leading Irish road freight logistics service 

providers. The company’s warehousing 

operation covers 120,000sq ft of modern 

storage space. The site was inspected by 

UKWA’s Vice President, Ken Richards, who 

commented: “This is 

an excellently maintained 

and very well 

run warehouse. It is 

rare that I am at a 

loss to find at least 

one aspect of the 

inspection needing 

further attention, but 

this was the case with Michael Brannigan & 

Son’s thoroughly professional operation.” 

Technology and Innovation 

Sponsored by Redirack Ltd 

Winner: CEVA Logistics 

CEVA ‘s challenge 

was to provide a 

company wide 

information system 

in 120 operational 

bases to deliver all 

analogue and digital 

tachographs. 

Their solution, 

which involved 

combining internal 

skills with external specialists in the area of 

domaine expertise, resulted in a system that 

has subsequently been taken to the open 

market. It was delivered to CEVA last summer. 

Training Award 

Sponsored by The Burton Agency 

Winner: The Bibby Academy 

The Bibby 

Academy is central 

to Bibby 

Distribution’s 

objective to provide 

training 

and development 

for all staff from basic to degree level 

education. In the last year Driver and 

Warehouse Apprentice schemes were introduced 

to complement the ongoing NVQ 

training for the existing workforce. So far 

300 have signed up to the programme with 

over 150 achieving a full Level Two qualification 

to date. Over 100 members of the 

Bibby workforce are also engaged in 

improving communications skills. 

Warehouse Person of the Year 

Sponsored by Linde Materials 

Handling (UK) Ltd 

Winner: John Tombs, iForce Ltd 

Operating independently from his peers, 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

Annual Awards 21 

John Tombs had the 

daunting task of setting 

up - at very short 

notice - a new John 

Lewis fulfilment centre 

prior to Christmas as 

a satellite site in 

response to a massive 

sales uplift. His 

involvement involved 

being instrumental in 

drawing up the business 

plan and forecasting for the new site, 

working with the contractors, and working 

with the client. As the project came closer 

to completion, he had to revert to a more 

operational role as he staffed the 232,000 

sq ft warehouse ready to fulfil the 300,000 

customer orders from mid October 2007 to 

March 2008, and then he was instrumental 

in the planning and execution of the 

remaining migration of the 250,000 units 

of stock from the old site. 

Team of the Year 

Sponsored by Translift Bendi Ltd 

Winner: Simarco International 

Simarco International has been involved in 

warehousing for only seven years. In 2007 

they secured a new site and embarked on a 

new pick and pack 

venture. Although 

their research had 

been thorough, the 

company had no experience 

in this type of 

operation before but 

within weeks they had 

secured enough business to fill the warehouse 

floor, the open mezzanine and half 

the office space. The challenge then was 

keeping the 12 different clients satisfied. By 

the second month, two of their largest 

clients had their busiest month ever, yet the 

new and inexperienced team picked to 100 

per cent accuracy and on time. 

Journalist of 

the Year 

Sponsored by 

Schmitz 

Cargobull 

Winner: Peter 

Rowlands, 

e-fulfilment 

magazine 

The judges considered that Peter Rowlands’ 

understanding of the subject on which he 

writes and the clarity with which he expresses 

his ideas and communicates industry 

developments made him this year's outstanding 

candidate for the UKWA Journalist 

of the Year Award 

Chairman’s Award 

Sponsored by Bibby Distribution 

Ltd 

Winner: Andrew Malcolm, Chief 

Executive, The Malcolm Group 

The Malcolm Group originated in the 

1940’s and is now a leading UK provider 

of logistics services. The Group employs 

1600 people, operates 450 trucks, 1000 

trailers and has some 3,000,000 sq ft of 

warehousing space at 10 locations in 

Central Scotland, Lancashire, North 

Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and 

Northamptonshire. 

Andrew 

Malcolm’s experience 

has covered 

every 

practical and 

managerial 

aspect of the 

company. He 

started from school in the repair workshops 

and progressed to driving general haulage 

vehicles, became road foreman and then 

depot manager. In 1989 he took over the 

running of the Logistics Services Division 

and was the driving force behind its transformation 

into a major countrywide player 

in the logistics sector. In 1994 he became 

Chief Executive of both divisions. 

Over 400 UKWA members and their 

guests together with suppliers to the warehousing 

industry attended the Awards ceremony. 

The event was hosted by Bob ‘The 

Cat’ Bevan, and sponsored by materials 

handling equipment manufacturer and supplier 

Jungheinrich. 

“Since their 

launch the 

Awards have 

become 

established as 

symbols of 

achievement in 

the 3PL sector 

and emphasise 

the importance 

of logistics 

within today’s 

economy. The 

high number 

and quality of 

the entries 

made selecting 

the winners 

extremely 

difficult for our 

Awards 

Committee. The 

high standard 

underlines the 

professionalism 

that runs 

through the 

modern 

logistics 

industry” 


22 Health & Safety 

Workers make 

a stink over 

loo breaks 

A meat company supplying 

Tesco has been 

accused of 'Dickensian 

employment practices' 

by making workers 

clock off when they go 

to the toilet. The union 

Unite is now calling on 

Tesco to intervene to 

stamp out the practise 

at Dumfriesshire-based 

Brown Brothers. 

The firm's toilet 

break policy was highlighted 

in 2003 by the 

trade union health and 

safety magazine 

Hazards, which reported 

the staff motto of 

'Have a break - have a 

quick c**p.' 

In the latest reports, 

an unnamed worker 

told the BBC: “We have 

to clock out, take off our 

wellies, overalls and 

hairnets, we have to 

run up stairs, have to 

come back in get 

dressed again.” 

Brown Brothers' 

managing director 

Martin Godfrey agreed 

that staff were not paid 

for toilet breaks, but 

said unscheduled toilet 

breaks could cause significant 

disruption, 

especially as staff wore 

protective clothes. “Is it 

not better to come up 

with a deal to discourage 

that from happening”, 

he said. 

LEGISLATION 

Tougher penalties for 

breaching safety laws 

RESEARCH 

At least twice as many 

people die from fatal 

injuries at work than are 

victims of homicide, a new 

report has revealed. 

Academics Professor Steve 

Tombs and Dr Dave 

Whyte found that at least 

1,300 people died as a 

result of fatal occupational 

injuries in 2005-06 in 

England and Wales, compared 

with 765 homicide 

deaths. Non-fatal workplace 

injuries requiring 

hospitalisation were also 

likely to be greater that 

year than those needing 

such treatment following 

the violent offences formally 

recorded as crimes. 

The Centre for Crime 

and Justice Studies report 

The House of Lords is 

to look at tougher 

penalties for those who 

breach health and 

safety laws after proposals 

were passed by 

MPs. The Health and 

Safety (Offences) Bill 

put forward by Labour 

MP Keith Hill cleared 

the Commons after 

being given an unopposed 

third reading. 

Under the Bill, the 

maximum fine in magistrates' 

courts will be raised 

to £20,000 for most 

offences and imprisonment 

will be made an 

option for a wider range 

of breaches. 

Mr Hill said his aim 

was to “punish the criminally 

negligent who put 

life and limb in danger in 

the workplace, and to 

deter those who are 

tempted to cut costs by 

breaking the law.” 

Junior work and 

pensions minister Anne 

McGuire welcomed the 

Bill, saying it was 

important that penalties 

“fully reflected the 

seriousness of 

offences” and deterred 

irresponsible behaviour. 

Ray Hurst, president of 

safety professionals' 

organisation IOSH, commented: 

“We hope this 

bill will become law soon 

and help provide a safety 

boost for Britain.” 

The TUC, while welcoming 

the Bill, called on 

the government to ensure 

that it was given sufficient 

time to progress. It said it 

was concerned that similar 

Bills had fallen due to 

a lack of parliamentary 

time. 

More work deaths than murders 

'A crisis of enforcement', 

argues that the recent 

trend towards 'light touch' 

regulation of business has 

in effect 'decriminalised' 

death and injury at work. 

Serious incidents are significantly 

under-reported, 

the research found. 

Professor Steve Tombs 

said: “Violent street crime 

consumes enormous political, 

media and academic 

energy. But, as hundreds 

of thousands of workers 

and their families know, it 

is working for a living that 

is most likely to kill and 

hospitalise.” 

Co-author Dr David 

Whyte was critical of the 

Health and Safety 

Executive's (HSE) enforcement 

record. He said: 

“HSE enforcement notices 

fell by 40 per cent and 

prosecutions fell by 49 per 

cent between 2001/02 

and 2005/06. The collapse 

in HSE enforcement 

and prosecution sends a 

clear message that the 

government is prepared to 

let employers kill and 

maim with impunity.” 

The report was welcomed 

by unions. Alan 

Ritchie, general secretary 

of construction union 

UCATT, said: “This report 

must serve as a wake up 

call for the HSE. Their 

obsession with the policies 

of self-regulation mean 

that many workers are 

killed every year. 

August 2008 


November/December2006

Peugeot Celebrates 100 Years with a 

new name, new site….and a little help 

from SSI Schaefer 

SSI Schaefer has enabled Robins and Day, the retail 

trading name of Peugeot, to relocate its parts 

storage area from one site to another with ease, ontime 

and without having to cease trading. 

Tom Garner Motors, now re-named Robins and Day 

Manchester, is one of the longest established motor 

dealers in the country. Located in the heart of Manchester, 

Robins and Day is this year celebrating its 

centenary, having catered for the North West’s motoring 

public since 1908. 

SSI Schaefer has built up quite a fruitful relationship 

with Tom Garner Peugeot having previously completed 

a number of first class jobs for the group, 

which is why they were invited in to tender by parts 

manager, Mark Baddeley, and successfully won the 

relocation project of their stores operation as part of 

a wider move to new premises in Manchester Industrial 

Estate. 

The company had been on the old site for nearly 

100 years, in which time the parts storage area had 

evolved but unfortunately required a much needed 

efficiency boost by installing a new materials handling 

system that would be more user-friendly, economical, 

productive and dynamic, ultimately 

improving the delivery time to the end customer. 

The new stores operation now includes a number of 

products from the SSI Schaefer range, including; 

184 bays of R4000 autoparts shelving including 52 

bays complete with RK containers and dividers for 

small parts storage, 72 bays of R3000 large parts 

storage, all level chipboard clad and complete with 

body panel dividers, two bays of PR600 pallet racking 

with four beam levels per bay for large items in 

the goods in / out area and one drawer cabinet 

complete with counter top, metal and plastics inserts 

and dividers for use at the front counter. 

SSI Schaefer ensured that the move went smoothly, 

the timeliness and delivery of the installation meant 

that Robins and Day were able to keep trading 

throughout the move. 

Mark Baddeley said: “We are delighted with the new 

Parts operation that SSI Schaefer has provided us 

with. The warehouse operation is now far more efficient 

with a well planned racking system, the accuracy 

and speed of picking has dramatically 

increased and we now need less warehouse staff to 

achieve the same results.” 

Further information: SSI Schaefer - 01264 386600 

Email: Solutions@ssi-schaefer.co.uk 

www.ssi-schaefer.co.uk

24 Security 

Paul Burton, UKWA’s honorary adviser on security matters, continues his series 

of thoughts on security issues that impact on the warehousing and logistics sectors 

Are your staff looking 

for revenge 

The so called ‘revenge syndrome’ was 

identified in the 1970s and explains how, in 

times of economic hardship, management’s 

attempts at saving money by such means as 

reducing staff levels and cutting bonus payments 

can be negated by the impact these 

steps can have on the attitude of the workforce. 

For instance, it is argued, staff who 

feel that their jobs are threatened or who 

have just been asked to take a pay cut, are 

more likely to take more sick leave, fiddle, 

steal and generally underperform during 

their daily routine. 

In my experience it is certianly the case 

that a lot of workers will look to make up 

any shortfall in their remuneration by stealing 

what they can from their employer - be 

it time or goods. So, with talk of recession 

growing, we in the security industry wait for 

the inevitable backlash against companies 

who are forced to make reductions in staff 

levels or to announce that there will be no 

bonuses paid this year. 

I am reminded of a company where - 

with Christmas looming - staff were asked 

to increase production and promised a 

£5,000 bonus in return. The company was 

a distiller producing Vodka and, with Vodka 

becoming more popular than Scotch with 

Britain’s boozers, the pressure was on to 

meet the upsurge in demand that the onset 

of the drinking season would bring. 

Signs were placed all over the factory 

and within the warehouse to highlight the 

new target figures and the workforce really 

go their backs in to the job in hand. 

Everything was going well until someone 

from the office pointed out that the £5,000 

bonus was, of course, to be divided 

between the entire workforce – not, as 

many had been allowed to believe, an 

amount that each individual would receive 

for their extra efforts. 

For achieving record production levels 

and output from the warehouse, staff would 

receive an extra one hundred quid each in 

their pay packet – before tax. This was 

clearly a significant drop from the five thousand 

smackers many had been expecting. 

Needless to say, workers felt rather short 

changed and wanted revenge on the company. 

It wasn’t long before they got it. 

The workers at the distillery hit upon the 

idea of replacing the contents of some of 

the Vodka bottles with 100 per cent water 

and my company was called in to review 

the size of the problem and, indeed to try 

and stop the water bottles getting in to the 

company’s downward supply chain. We 

were partially successful – but failed to halt 

deliveries of the rogue ‘Vodka’ ending up in 

a number of pubs. 

Interestingly, although their Bloody Marys 

and Vodka and tonics contained absolutely 

no Vodka, drinkers at the pubs where the 

water made it on to the optics still showed 

signs of being tipsy – although none had 

hangovers the next day. 

This month’s top tip: If you store fuel on 

site pay extra attention to signs of shrinkage. 

August 2008 


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26 Legal 

Vikki Woodfine, a Health & Safety expert at Aaron & 

Partners LLP, considers the case of the owner of a scaffolding 

company who was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment 

after failing to ensure that one of his employees had 

completed the necessary training to legally and safely 

dismantle scaffolding. The very same issues apply to the 

warehousing industry 

Sent to jail 

for ignoring 

the HSE 

The owner of a scaffolding company, 

A1 Access Scaffolding in Rotherham, 

Philip Wolstenholme, was sentenced to 

three months’ imprisonment on 23 June 

2008 after failing to ensure that one of his 

employees had completed the necessary 

training to legally and safely dismantle 

scaffolding. 

The employee, a labourer, fell six metres 

to the ground from scaffolding and fractured 

two vertebrae and shattered his lower 

leg and heel, when a badly supported scaffold 

board gave way, leaving him in hospital 

for nearly three months. The injured 

employee had not been following the correct 

procedures and was not wearing the 

required harness for the job. 

Mr Wolstenholme had pleaded guilty to 

failing to ensure the safety at work of his 

employees and breaching a prohibition 

order, which had been served on him the 

previous year, preventing him from using 

any untrained scaffolders to erect or dismantle 

scaffolding (issued following two 

other similar incidents where he had 

already been fined £7,500). 

Due to the serious nature of the offences 

in this matter, the Magistrates referred this 

case to the Crown Court for sentencing. 

This case was treated with such severity 

due to the Defendant “willfully disregarding” 

advice given to him by HSE and the 

requirements of an improvement notice and 

then a prohibition notice, which had been 

served on him. 

Previous history with the HSE 

In November 2005, the HSE had served Mr 

Wolstenholme with an Improvement Notice 

after a scaffold he provided for a roofing 

contractor at a house in Rotherham collapsed. 

The roofer fell to the ground, suffering 

ankle and shoulder injuries. The notice 

required Mr Wolstenholme to ensure workers 

were competent to do the job and that 

scaffolding was properly inspected. Then in 

March 2006, after the investigation of a 

complaint about poor scaffolding, the HSE 

served Mr Wolstenholme with a Prohibition 

Notice requiring him to properly train 

employees before allowing them to assemble 

or dismantle scaffolding. Mr 

Wolstenholme’s imprisonment was undoubtedly 

a result of his disregard for these 

notices. 

Learning Points 

The case highlights the need for employers 

to ensure that their staff are properly trained 

in all aspects of their work, particularly in 

high risk areas. This case reiterates the 

potential consequences for individuals 

breaching health and safety laws. 

On 30 June 2008 the HSE released provisional 

figures for work-related fatalities in 

2007-2008, which revealed that 228 workers 

lost their lives as a result of workplace 

accidents. Although this is down by 19, 

from the 226 who died in 2006-2007, it is 

still not at its lowest level (recorded in 2005- 

2006). These figures should serve as an 

important reminder to employers that it is 

imperative that they are continually addressing 

health and safety matters within their 

business, particularly as the Corporate 

Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 

2007 is now in force. 

When considering the Corporate 

Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 

2007, it is crucial that businesses are continually 

looking at their health and safety 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk April 2008

Legal 27 

Can a business use somebody 

else’s trade mark to compare its 

goods or services with its 

competitors 

Top marks 

O2 has for many years used 

images of bubbles as part of its 

branding. It has registered pictures 

of bubbles as trade marks. 

O2 could show that UK consumers 

associated images of bubbles in 

water with O2, especially when set 

against a blue sea-like background, 

writes William Williams. 

H3G launched its pay-as-yougo 

mobile service called 

‘Threepay’. As part of the launch, 

they began an advertising campaign, 

including TV advertisements. 

In this campaign, they compared 

their prices with O2’s prices. 

To do this, they used pictures of 

bubbles that were similar, but not 

identical, to the bubbles registered 

by O2. O2 sued alleging infringement 

of its trade marks. 

The fact that the trade marks 

were not identical is significant, 

where identical marks are used, 

there is infringement regardless of 

whether there is any risk of anyone 

being confused. Where they 

are only similar, a risk of confusion 

in the minds of the public 

must be proved. 

Even where there is, on the face 

of it, a trade mark infringement, 

the law permits rivals’ trade 

marks to be used in advertisements 

if the EC directive on misleading 

advertising is satisfied. 

Under the Directive, comparative 

advertising is permitted if, in 

particular, the advertising: 

• is not misleading; 

• compares goods or services 

meeting the same needs or 

intended for the same purpose; 

• objectively compares one or 

more material, relevant, verifiable 

and representative features, which 

may include price; 

• does not create confusion 

between the advertiser and a competitor; 

• does not discredit or denigrate 

the competitor; 

• does not take unfair advantage 

of a trade mark of a competitor. 

In this case, the High Court 

found that O2’s marks had been 

infringed because the use of the 

bubbles, although not identical, 

gave rise to a risk of confusion. It 

is hard to see how the court came 

to this view, because, “confusion” 

in this context means confusion as 

to origin and O2 accepted that the 

advertisement did not suggest any 

trade connection between H3G 

and O2. 

However, the High Court found 

that H3G had a defence in any 

event because they satisfied the 

conditions of directive. 

O2 appealed. As trade marks 

law is a creature of European law, 

the Court of Appeal decided to 

refer the key issues to the 

European Court of Justice (ECJ), 

including: 

(1) where a rival’s mark is used in 

a comparative advertisement, but 

the use is not confusing or otherwise 

the main function of the mark 

as a badge of origin, is the use 

capable of constituting trade mark 

infringement in any event 

(2) must use of the competitor’s 

mark be ‘indispensable’ to the 

comparison – i.e. in this case, why 

didn’t H3G just use the O2 name 

and omit the bubbles; 

The ECJ confirmed that where 

the provisions of the directive are 

complied with, a trade mark 

owner cannot prevent use of his 

trade mark. It was not necessary 

to go on to consider whether use 

of the mark must be ‘indispensable’. 

Where the marks concerned are 

only similar, and their use does 

not give rise to a likelihood of confusion 

on the part of the public as 

to the origin of the relevant goods 

or services, then there is no 

infringement in any event, so it 

does not matter whether or not the 

comparative advertisement satisfies 

all the conditions laid down in 

the comparative advertising directive. 

In determining whether there is 

confusion, the Court looks at use of 

the mark in the advertisement as 

a whole. Here, there was no confusion. 

As mentioned earlier, O2 

accepted that the advertisement 

did not suggest any connection 

between H3G and O2. 

Technically, the matter is not at 

an end – it now goes back to the 

Court of Appeal to apply the ruling. 

However, it is likely that the 

Court of Appeal will find in favour 

of H3G. 

Aaron & Partners Comment 

If a business wishes to mention a 

competitor’s name or use their logo 

or other trade mark to compare features 

of their goods or services with 

those of competitors, it is best to 

tread carefully and take proper 

advice before doing so. 

Contact William Williams on 

01244 405589 

compliance systems and ensuring that their 

systems, activities and general attitudes 

towards health and safety are correct, upto-date 

and enforced. 

Employers should ask themselves, would 

their business currently withstand a HSE 

investigation and sustained probing by a 

legal prosecution team if one of their 

employees suffered a fatal accident 

Should you require any further advice on 

health and safety law, please contact Vikki 

Woodfine at Aaron & Partners LLP on 01244 

405554. 


28 Property 

In Association with 

On the market 

WEST THURROCK 

Modern warehouse units with secure yards to let 

From 8,500 Sq ft to 21,700 Sq ft 

8, 9 and 11 Eurocourt, West Thurrock, Essex 

Contact: Stuart Mowle 

Email: chelmsford@lsh.co.uk 

GUILDFORD 

Warehouse, yard and 15 loading doors to let 

70,000 sq ft (may divide) 

Moorfield Road, Slyfield Industrial Estate, Guildford, 

Surrey 

Contact: Charles Wood 

Email: cwood@lsh.co.uk 

BEDFORD 

Industrial/warehouse property with secure yard to let 

69,000 sq ft 

Caxton Road, Bedford 

Contact: Peter Molloy 

Email: pmolloy@lsh.co.uk 

BEDFORDSHIRE 

Industrial/warehouse property to let 

Sunderland Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire 

40,000 sq ft Substantial frontage and secure 

rear yard/loading area 

Contact: Peter Molloy 

Email: pmolloy@lsh.co.uk 

BARDON 

Industrial For Sale/To Let 

Bardon 22 – Unit A. Leicestershire 

J22 M12 

30,758 sq.ft. new unit 

Contact: Geoff Gibson Tel: 0116 255 2694 

Email: ggibson@lsh.co.uk 

NOTTINGHAM 

Unit 5B Little Oak Drive, Sherwood Park, Annesley, 

Nottingham NG15 0DR 

3,301 sq.m (35,519 sq.ft.) 

Contact: Sean Bremner Tel: 0115 9766604 

Email: sbremner@lsh.co.uk 

BEDFORD 

Caxton Road, Bedford 

Circa 70,000 sq ft 

To Let 

Contact: Peter Molloy MRICS, 

LSH Bedfordshire Office 

Tel: 01234 341122 

Graham Webb MSc MRICS, a 

surveyor in Lambert Smith Hampton’s 

valuation department, reflects on the 

diverse reasons why a warehouse 

operator might need to undertake a 

property valuation survey 

Looking 

for 

value 

Warehouse clients of mine often ring 

me up to ask for a valuation of 

their property. Before I can deal 

with the more mundane matters relating to 

the request such as the location of the property, 

whether it is owned freehold or leasehold 

as well as matters relating to planning 

etc, I have to ask a more fundamental 

question which is why does s/he need this 

valuation It is clear that many warehouse 

operators do not appreciate that valuations 

are required for diverse reasons and the 

type of valuation will determine the 

approach and skill required to prepare it. I 

thought it would be helpful to set out some 

of the more common reasons why Lambert 

Smith Hampton is asked to prepare valuations 

together with a brief explanation of 

their purpose. 

Acquisition/Disposals 

The motive for requesting a valuation may 

well be to provide support for the acquisition 

or disposal of a property. It is clearly 

important that the client, be s/he a buyer or 

seller, knows that he is getting value for 

money and essentially this type of valuation 

aims to achieve just this. My client may 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

Property 29 

require advice on how much to bid for a 

property at auction or on the appropriate 

reserve value below which the auctioneer 

will not be selling the property. A valuation 

of this nature provides the client with confidence 

that he is getting value for money in 

his forthcoming transaction. 

Loan security 

Banks often require valuations for loan 

security purposes. The purpose of this valuation 

is to enable the bank to make an 

informed decision on the amount it is prepared 

to lend to a warehouse operator 

against the security of the property. It is 

normal in this case for the valuation to be 

addressed to the bank but to be paid for by 

the client 

Financial accounts 

Warehouse operators in common with most 

businesses are required to show a fair representation 

of their property assets in their 

statutory accounts or a note explaining the 

reason for their derogation from this standard. 

A valuation for accounting purposes 

may also include a valuation of the warehouse 

in its existing use, as well as a valuation 

of the property in an alternative use. 

Fire insurance 

Clients often ask for advice on the value at 

which they should be insuring their property. 

This is often referred to as a reinstatement 

valuation and is essentially the cost of re-constructing 

the building in the event of a fire. 

Rating 

I am frequently asked to provide a valuation 

for rating purposes. What the client wants 

to know is whether the value at which the 

Valuation Officer or the Assessor has 

assessed the premises is correct or could be 

reduced. A rating valuation is carried out, 

on a statutory basis, at a fixed Antecedent 

(or retrospective) valuation date; currently 

1st April 2003. 

Redevelopment 

Warehouses, in common with property generally, 

wear out or become obsolete over 

time and clients frequently ask me to provide 

a valuation of their property in an 

alternative use. This valuation may involve 

the demolition of the existing property or its 

conversion for a different function. 

Inheritance tax 

Sadly I am approached from time to time 

with a request to value a property for 

Inheritance tax purpose, following the death 

of a client. The warehouse has to be valued 

at its open market value at the date of death 

and subject to certain exemptions. If the 

clients assets exceed £312,000 (2008/09) 

the balance in excess of this figure is subject 

to tax at 40%. 

Capital Gains Tax 

It is not unusual for me to be asked to value 

a warehouse for Capital Gains Tax purposes. 

The need for these valuations can arise 

for a number of reasons including a 

deemed disposal or if the premises have 

been continuously owned for a long time 

and a base value is required as at 31st 

March 1982. A valuation for CGT is based 

on Market Value. 

Compulsory Purchase 

Occasionally I am contacted by a warehouse 

operator whose premises are the subject 

of a Compulsory Purchase Order. The 

owner is required to submit a value as part 

of his statement of claim. A valuation for 

CPO purposes has to be carried out on certain 

statutory assumptions as at a specified 

date. 

This brief overview of the more common 

reasons why a warehouse operator might 

require a valuation of his premises, demonstrates 

the variety of assumptions upon 

which the valuation has to be carried out. It 

follows that it is most important that the 

client fully briefs me on the reasons why 

s/he needs his or her valuation. 

It is clear 

that many 

warehouse 

operators 

do not 

appreciate 

that valuations 

are required 

for diverse 

reasons and 

the type of 

valuation 

will determine 

the approach 

and skill 

required to 

prepare it 


Environment 31 

In Association with 

Steve Lamb from warehousing and distribution property specialist sbh looks at 

what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint and save money 

Green warehouses 

mean keen business 

The modern distribution 

centre servicing 

Internet and catalogue 

sales can consume 

a great deal of energy in 

ensuring that the delivery 

service matches customer 

expectations. Everyone 

thinks first about heating 

and lighting, but there are 

a great many other services 

that are just as important 

to the smooth running 

of any distribution 

centre. Materials handling 

equipment such as conveyors 

and lifts, IT order 

preparation and management 

systems, traction 

battery charging stations 

and security systems all depend on electricity 

– not forgetting vital catering and canteen 

facilities. 

The demand for more energy-efficient 

warehouses has gone from being the 

exception to the norm over the past couple 

of years, with companies increasingly placing 

environmental issues and performance 

as key criteria. Our experience shows that 

there are three major driving forces behind 

this trend – the need to keep costs under 

control, market pressures and legislation. 

While the current economic environment is 

adding greater urgency to manage operating 

costs, there is little doubt that this will be 

a feature of business for years to come as 

the global economy struggles to adjust to 

rising demand. Add in EU legislation to 

encourage or even force companies to 

reduce their carbon footprint, and energy 

efficiency is certain to be high on the business 

agenda for the foreseeable future. 

Building to save energy 

For those planning a new 

distribution centre – or 

extending an existing facility 

– the opportunities to cut 

future energy costs are 

obviously greater than for 

existing occupiers. Modern 

construction and cladding 

materials have made great 

advances in insulation levels 

to ensure the minimum 

heat loss. Recent developments 

in building materials 

are making great strides in 

improving insulation levels, 

cutting significantly the 

amount of heat lost 

through the roof, walls and 

even the floor. The latest 

materials are able to achieve thermal conductivity 

levels as low as 0.021 W/mK and 

also Class 0 / Low Risk fire rating to the 

Building Regulations. 

Constructing a warehouse with carefully 

sited rooflights is a simple way to provide 

additional free daylight, reducing the 

demand for electric lighting. Also a new 

building project allows the company more 

freedom to specify the most effective systems 

and technologies to control energy 

costs in the long term. 

Existing buildings 

For most occupiers however the key question 

is what can be done to control costs 

today and in the immediate future. The first 

stage of any strategy should be to reduce or 

eliminate wastage, and there is a great deal 

in most businesses. This is a matter of both 

using modern technology and putting in 

Continued on page 32 

Making 

light work 

Lighting can 

account for 50 - 

60 per cent of 

the electrical 

energy costs of 

warehouses and 

distribution 

centres. Somar 

has now 

introduced an 

intelligent 

lighting fixture 

which can 

deliver savings 

in the region of 

70 per cent. 

Not only is this 

a highly efficient 

luminaire, 

it also takes 

account of the 

fact that at most 

times, lighting 

is left on in all 

areas of a 

warehouse even 

when no one is 

working there. 

Additionally, in 

many 

warehouses 

although natural 

light is present 

through 

roof lights, 

lights are often 

fully on. 

Powerboss 

Eluma 

intelligently 

senses 

occupancy in 

each area 

and/or the 

change in 

natural light 

and adjusts the 

light level and 

electrical energy 

usage 

accordingly. 

www.somar.co.uk 


32 Environment 

However the 

most significant 

savings will 

come from 

the use of 

established 

Building 

Management 

Systems (BMS) 

technology, 

which can be 

designed to 

monitor and 

control almost 

every energyconsuming 

device on the 

premises 

Continued from page 31 

place sound management disciplines. 

Encouraging staff to turn lights and equipment 

off when not required, making sure 

all exterior doors and other have automatic 

closures to stop heat escaping and other 

simple steps need not cost anything, but 

can make a significant difference. 

Established technologies such as daylight 

dimming or motion detectors can be 

installed to ensure that lights only operate 

when needed, which in many cases is only 

a fraction of the time they would normally 

be on. 

However the most significant savings will 

come from the use of established Building 

Management Systems (BMS) technology, 

which can be designed to monitor and control 

almost every energy-consuming device 

on the premises. BMSs are able to control 

and monitor the building’s mechanical and 

electrical equipment such as air handling 

and cooling plant systems, lighting, power 

systems, fire and security systems. 

As well as providing invaluable and 

detailed information on all systems that will 

help management understand better just 

where costs are occuring, the BMS can control 

and activate functions in a variety of ways 

to further cut costs. Time based controls 

ensure that heating, lighting and other services 

are only activated when required, and 

using optimising parameters, operating services 

at the minimum level to meet a specified 

need. As examples, BMSs can control flow 

temperature in the heating circuit relative to 

external temperature: operate thermostatic 

radiator valves that sense space temperature 

in a room and control the flow accordingly; 

and use occupancy sensing passive 

infra-red sensors to only activate services 

when movement is detected. 

Light relief 

According to Richard Sweet from warehousing 

Mechanical and Electrical Services specialist 

PWP, selecting the most suitable lighting 

can bring savings of as much as 80% of 

overall site electricity consumption, and can 

provide capital and installation payback of 

12-24 months, compared to a facility with 

no automatic controls. He commented: 

“Although more expensive to start with, 

some of the largest savings are made from 

applying motion and dimming controls to 

individual fittings. In most warehouses light 

is only needed some of the time in areas of 

activity. An operator – either on foot or on 

a fork truck may only travel a few yards 

down the aisle so why light up the whole 

length It’s easy to replace a standard 

SON (Sodium) fitting in the high bay and 

low bay with a fluorescent light with a builtin 

photocell, microwave and dimmers (dimming 

solves the problem of excessive 

restriking, which reduces lamp life). The 

combined performance is ideal for today’s 

big sheds.” 

New technologies 

There are a number of new and emerging 

technologies that industry is being urged to 

adopt. However while their ability to 

Continued on page 34 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

34 Environment 

Continued from page 32 

reduce or even eliminate energy costs is not 

in doubt, their high capital cost and long 

payback period has up to now been a 

deterrent. But with fuel costs set to rise 

beyond inflation into the forseeable future, 

their appeal will increase as payback periods 

shorten. 

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has 

been widely used for housing since the 

1980s but has made few inroads into the 

commercial sector. However a CHP system 

has recently been selected to heat the 

London Olympic Park and is now powering 

Waitrose’s recently opened Rickmansworth 

store, showing that it has a stronger case to 

offer to industry and distribution in today’s 

economic climate. 

The Waitrose store is even being heated 

by materials from two local tomato farms, a 

fine example of resourceful thinking. CHP 

systems have been operating successfully in 

mainland Europe and Scandinavia for 

decades, and while the UK has been slow 

to adopt such systems, the time for CHP 

may now have arrived. 

Solar Energy systems have been widely 

promoted for heating and hot water systems 

but high capital costs and lengthy 

payback periods have deterred many 

would-be converts. However rising fuel 

costs may well shorten the amortization 

timescale to one more acceptable to businesses, 

and with possibly warmer, sunnier 

summers, solar energy systems now merit 

far closer attention. 

The use of ground heat pumps is a more 

Solar Energy 

systems have 

been widely 

promoted for 

heating and hot 

water systems but 

high capital costs 

and lengthy 

payback periods 

have deterred 

many would-be 

converts. 

However rising 

fuel costs may 

well shorten the 

amortization 

timescale to one 

more acceptable 

to businesses, 

and with possibly 

warmer, sunnier 

summers, solar 

energy systems 

now merit far 

closer attention 

recent concept that uses a buried loop to 

provide heat from the ground. This technology 

may well be more suited to warehousing 

than to many other sectors, as it 

requires a large area of ground to deliver 

maximum potential, which most warehouses 

and parking areas have in abundance. 

Increasing legislation 

The past couple of years have seen a flurry 

of EU-driven building legislation such as 

Part L2A to the Building Regulations 

“Conservation of fuel and power in buildings 

other than dwellings” which came into 

effect in April 2006. Other more stringent 

requirements are in the pipeline and they 

will ensure that Local Government planners 

will impose higher standards to reflect current 

and anticipated regulations to reduce 

their local carbon footprint. 

As an example of the effect legislation 

may have, sbh was recently involved in a 

project for an existing client – a leading 

European distributor of paper, packaging 

and promotional products – who was planning 

to extend the existing warehouse and 

office premises. As the current building 

covered more than 1,000square metre, the 

Building Regulations 2000, Part 2LB, 

required the client to ensure that both the 

extension and the current facility comply 

with the latest energy efficiency requirements 

under the Act. 

A survey in line with CIBSE (Chartered 

Institute of Building Services Engineers) and 

Building Regulations revealed immediate 

opportunities to make major savings with 

minimal expenditure. The latest software to 

update their existing BMS was available on 

free download and a system upgrade including 

a new PC meant that the BMS would be 

able to carry out its original mission for both 

the existing premises and the planned extension. 

The total investment including staff 

training amounted to no more than a few 

hundred pounds – a pittance against the 

expected energy savings from a more efficient 

BMS of up to £30,000 pa. 

This is an encouraging example of the 

type of immediate savings that can be 

made using outside expertise and experience 

from a consultancy such as sbh. And 

as world oil prices seem to be settled at 

above $140 a barrel, the potential savings 

– or penalties – can only increase in the 

coming years. 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

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36 Warehouse Trucks 

REACH TRUCKS 

Operators looking up 

as land values rise 

The dramatic increase in 

land values – both in the 

UK and throughout most 

of mainland Europe – has 

resulted in a significant 

upsurge in demand for 

reach trucks that can lift 

safely and economically to 

ever greater heights, 

writes Craig Johnson, marketing 

manager, 

Jungheinrich UK Ltd. 

At Jungheinrich we are 

supplying reach trucks 

capable of lifting to 12 

metres and above to more 

and more clients. In fact 

a large retailer recently 

ordered more than 100, 

12 metre reach trucks 

while a major player in 

the 3PL sector took 

delivery of over 40, 

12.5 metre machines 

from us. 

With the trend for 

higher lifting reach 

trucks Jungheinrich 

has introduced a 

number of new 

design functions 

that not only 

increase throughput 

and productivity 

but also have a significant 

effect on 

safety within the 

warehouse or distribution 

centre. 

For example, one of 

the most dangerous accidents 

within a warehouse 

can occur when the forks 

of a truck catch the underside 

of a pallet, forcing it 

into the racking cube. If 

another, perhaps lighter 

pallet is being 

stored on the 

other side of the 

rack face, the 

force of the pallet 

being pushed into 

it could be enough 

to nudge it out of 

its place in the 

racking and 

down onto the 

floor and the 

workers below. 

To counter this 

potentially serious 

problem 

– which is 

clearly exacerbated the 

higher a pallet is stored - 

Jungheinrich has introduced 

optional fork-tilt 

leveling on its reach 

trucks. The tilt leveling 

switch adjusts the angle of 

the truck’s forks so 

that they are flat - 

not tipped backwards 

- when entering the 

pallet position within 

the racking thereby making 

accidents significantly 

less likely. 

Productivity and safety 

are further enhanced by 

Jungheinrich’s patented 

reach truck mast damping 

system which speeds lifting 

cycles by up to 10 seconds. 

Essentially when 

working at great height, 

forklift truck masts sway 

back and forth. For health 

and safety reasons it is 

important for truck operators 

to wait for the swaying 

to stop before 

attempting to deliver the 

MFTUK-Electric-420x134-UKWA 30/1/08 15:28 Page 1 

Only forklifts this reliable...

Warehouse Trucks 37 

pallet into the racking. 

Tests have shown that 

Jungheinrich’s reach 

trucks fitted with the mast 

damping system take up 

to 10 seconds fewer for 

an elevated load to stop 

swaying than some competitive 

models. This has 

important productivity and 

safety benefits. 

In fact, the strength 

and reliability of the mast 

should be a key consideration 

for anyone 

specifying reach trucks. 

Users should ensure 

that their reach truck 

mast offers good forward 

visibility while 

manufacturing quality 

should also be checked to 

ensure that all of the 

mast’s sections are produced 

to the highest standards. 

www.jungheinrich.co.uk 

ARTICULATED TRUCK 

Compact 

model 

Narrow Aisle Ltd has 

announced the introduction 

of a new addition to 

its Flexi range of articulated 

trucks. 

The new Flexi EURO is 

a compact four wheel 

articulated forklift truck, 

ideally suited to low bay 

warehouses, where high 

lift performance is not 

required but where space 

is at a premium. 

The Flexi EURO has 

been designed to provide 

the maximum storage 

density and thanks to its 

compact 1060mm wide 

chassis and narrow front 

axle it is perfectly suited to 

stacking narrower conti- 

nental Euro pallets. The 

Flexi EURO is capable of 

working in aisles as narrow 

as 1642mm wide 

(with a Euro pallet) 

or 1762mm 

wide (with an ISO 

pallet) and, 

importantly, the 

fact that the truck 

has a traditional 

four wheel configuration 

means 

that stability is not 

compromised. 

With the ability to lift 

1500kg loads to heights 

of over 7 metres, the Flexi 

EURO features all the 

design characteristics that 

have made the Flexi range 

of articulated forklifts the 

biggest selling articulated 

trucks in Europe. Like all 

models in the Flexi range, 

the Flexi EURO is equally 

at home inside and outside 

the warehouse facility 

and can load and unload 

lorries and deliver pallets 

directly to the racking in a 

single operation. 

Despite its 

small dimensions, 

the Flexi EURO’s 

operator compartment 

remains 

deceptively spacious 

and has 

been developed to 

ensure maximum 

greater comfort 

throughout even toughest 

shifts. 

The new Flexi EURO is 

particularly suitable for 

smaller warehouse operations 

and cold stores and 

is ideally suited to applications 

where block stacking 

is undertaken or where 

drive-in racking is a feature 

of the storage system. 

www.flexi.co.uk 

...come with a warranty this good 

peace of mind 

guaranteed 

As robust and dependable as a Mitsubishi truck, 

this unique warranty offers you low operating 

costs and long-term protection against 

unexpected repairs. 

As a Mitsubishi customer, you’ll immediately 

benefit from working with a world-leading global 

company and friendly, expert local support. 

Call your local authorised Mitsubishi dealership 

for full details. 

call the 

Greenline 

0845 371 3048 

local call local support 

Offer applies to UK only and is subject to Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks terms and conditions of EW and EPW warranty. 

J

38 Cover Story 

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

Aisle-Master Ltd launched its new AC powered articulated truck model 

onto the international market at this year’s CeMat in Hanover 

New AC model 

Aisle-Master Ltd, the Irish specialist designer and manufacturer of 

the Aisle-Master range of articulated forklifts, launched its new AC 

powered model onto the international market at this year’s CeMat 

in Hanover. Already acknowledged as the pioneer of LPG in articulated 

forklifts, this latest development puts the company at the forefront 

of battery powered technology in the articulated sector. 

“This technology 

has been trialed on a 

number of models 

over the last couple of 

years,” says company 

MD Gerry McHugh; 

“and trucks have also 

undergone rigorous 

testing at customers’ 

premises, with very 

positive feedback. We 

are way past the prototype 

stage and are 

now fitting AC as standard 

on all our electric 

models.” 

The AC truck naturally 

shares all the 

space-saving and versatile 

qualities of its 

predecessor and the 

company’s LPG model 

range, with some of 

the main benefits of 

AC summed up as follows: 

• Enhanced performance 

levels 

• Increased pallet movements for greater productivity 

• Improved acceleration and gradability 

• Fewer wearable parts resulting in low maintenance and reduced 

downtime 

• Reduced energy consumption 

Aisle-Masters can work in aisles of just 1.75m, with capacities of 

up to 2.5 tonnes and lift heights of up to 12.5 metres. The 3rd 

party logistics, DIY, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and food and 

beverage industries are just some of the sectors in countries around 

the world which are enjoying the benefits of the Aisle-Master 

range. All Aisle-Masters are designed and built at the company’s 

dedicated production facility in Monaghan, Ireland, ensuring a top 

quality and extremely reliable product. 

www.aisle-master.com 

Mike Potts, director of Gatwick-based 

UKWA member Flightstore Ltd, has 

learnt about the importance of having a 

powerful website and what it takes to 

design and build one. 

Using the 

power of 

the web 

Our old website had been chugging 

along for a few years but it was 

only when took a long hard look at 

it with a view to starting again, that we 

realised that although our business had 

grown in leaps and bounds from the early 

days, our website had stayed the same. 

So, it was still portraying a business in its 

early months of existence yet our business 

had since changed beyond recognition. 

When we revisited our website with this in 

mind, we could see that it was now underselling 

our services, our capabilities and 

our people. 

But, before the process of developing 

and building began, we sat downand took 

a long hard look at what we wanted our 

website to deliver, what the content was 

going to be and the services we were going 

to promote. I hope these following tips 

help you as they certainly helped me. 

1. You need to decide who your website 

is aimed at and why. For example, 

should it appeal to potential clients so they 

can get to know you How about your 

existing clients A brand new all singing all 

dancing website is a great way to communicate 

with cold prospects, existing clients, 

the media, your suppliers and dare I say 

even your competitors. As for why, well your 

website should tell prospects and customers 

that you’re professional, customer focused, 

accessible and of course that you’re in a 

August 2008 

www.ukwa.org.uk

Marketing 39 

league of your own! 

2. Now you have to decide on the 

content of your website. Simply plonking 

your sales material online is not good 

enough. Your website has to be an information 

hub that really gives a great first 

impression. It's not as hard as you think. 

Here is a general rule of thumb guideline, 

that hopefully you will see translated into 

action on our website. 

Home Page -the aim here is to welcome 

the visitor to your website and showcase 

what is happening elsewhere on the website. 

Include your name, a brief guide of 

what's on your website and how they can 

contact you. If you have a news page, then 

the home page is a great way to signpost 

your latest news. Click throughs from the 

homepage to key pages are a great way of 

maintaining interest and enabling people to 

select where they want to go to next. 

About Us - here you need to communicate 

why the visitor should be putting you at the 

top of their list. So, include your experience, 

your vision, your values, anything that 

is unique and benefit driven about your 

business (for example your long opening 

hours, your well qualified and well-trained 

team, your specialist areas of skill, the 

guarantees that you give on your work and 

your strong partnerships) Never make flash 

statements that sound like a copywriter has 

gone overboard with their creative pen! 

Your Services - separate pages for your 

services enables you to go beyond simply 

writing a few brief lines. The 3PL sector is 

not the simplest one to explain and trying 

to cram everything into one page may not 

give a potential customer enough information 

to be able to form a positive impression 

about your business and their needs 

for your services. 

Press and News Page - this is a great 

page where you can communicate all of 

the positive things that are happening in 

your business: from new services and products 

to any awards you have won, any partnerships 

you have formed. Adding to it on 

a regular basis helps build your Google 

profile and provides additional reasons for 

people to revisit. 

Contact Form – do you want people to be 

able to contact you with a clear message 

If so contact pages are really helpful in 

capturing interest and information. 

Finally, the Devil Is in the Detail! 

• Don't save money by using fuzzy images 

taken with your digital camera. A good 

photographer is essential. Make sure that 

you have plenty of photographs taken so 

that you also have some in hand for 

refreshing your website in the future. 

• f you can't write the words, get someone 

in to do it for you. I am not a wordsmith so 

our Chartered Marketer took this job on 

and in my own unbiased opinion I think she 

did a brilliant job! Outsourcing the job of 

copywriting also means that it gets done 

within a tight timeframe as opposed to the 

alternative, which is that it sits on your desk 

for weeks or months on end! 

• Choose a content managed system so 

that you can make ongoing changes to your 

website but make sure that you can operate 

the content management system. 

When I asked our Web developer for his 

take on the Flightstore website project and 

any tips he could offer in general, he said 

and I quote: "Working on the Flightstore 

website offered several challenges. With the 

diversity of potential clients, from one-man 

companies through to PLCs, it was important 

to have a professional look that had 

broad appeal. High quality images are 

vital, something that Flightstore had already 

taken on board. 

With any website you should always 

ensure that it’s clear what you’re offering to 

the visitor. We ensured that the Flightstore 

website has clear navigation and when visitors 

come to the home page that they can 

immediately see the wide range of services, 

clearly laid out with a brief description of 

each. Every page also has a prominent call 

to action to make sure that enquiries are 

maximised. 

The final and perhaps most important 

challenge is getting high on the search 

engines. Achieving results takes time, but by 

researching the keywords used for people 

looking for storage and 3PL services and 

including these within your website, you 

should see a growth in visitors." 

We've just gone live and now begins the 

process of using our off line marketing to 

generate online traffic as well as online pay 

per click campaigns. Watch this space! 

UKWA members can get hold of a great free 

guide: The Secrets of Getting on Page One 

of Google at www.profitablewebsites.co.uk 


In a modern warehouse or distribution facility a forklift truck or any 

other vehicle collision can so easily result in costly damage. 

Whether it is to stock, racking systems, structural damage, vehicles 

and barriers or even serious injury to personnel. 

The simple way to avoid this is to install the correct type of flexible 

barrier from our revolutionary range. They are designed and built to 

minimise damage by absorbing impact before regaining their original 

shape. 

They are highly visible, enhancing the workplace environment, virtually 

maintenance free, quick and simple to install. All A-Safe Barriers are 

tested, certified and built to relevant Safety Standards and Regulations.

New AC model - United Kingdom Warehousing Association

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