WEC Lines upgrades Bilbao/UK service

Date: October 6, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

WEC Lines will improve transit times and add new ports of call on its service between Bilbao and the United Kingdom and Ireland

Starting on 27 September, WEC Lines is revamping its containerised freight service between Bilbao and the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the addition of a second vessel that will enable a faster weekly route and new ports of call, offering an important alternative to road transport from Spain.

The new service, renamed NWC Spain, departs from Bilbao on Fridays and arrives in Liverpool on Mondays and Dublin on Wednesdays. With the addition of new ports of call, the service rotation will be Antwerp, Le Havre, Montoir-de-Bretagne, Bilbao, Gijón, Liverpool and Dublin, forming a well-connected bridge.

In addition, short transit times are offered from Antwerp and Montoir-de-Bretagne to Bilbao, 7 and 2 days respectively, facilitating rail connections to Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Zaragoza and Agoncillo (La Rioja). From Liverpool, fast rail connections are offered to Belfast, Mossend and Greenock.

The new weekly service will be operated by two 812 and 822 TEU vessels on a weekly fixed-day rotation, providing customers with greater flexibility and efficiency.

Jack Baxter joins Europa board

Date: October 6, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

Europa Worldwide Group has announced that Jack Baxter (right) will become Operations Director from 1 January 2026, joining the company’s board. He succeeds Dan Cook (centre), who is leaving the business at year-end after more than three decades in logistics.

Cook joined Europa shortly after Andrew Baxter (left) acquired the firm in 2013 and helped to reshape it into a £300m-plus operator with 1,300 employees. He was instrumental in the design and rollout of Europa’s Dartford transit hub, now the UK’s largest European groupage facility, and oversaw key service innovations to smooth cross-Channel trade post-Brexit.

Jack Baxter, Andrew’s eldest son, has been with Europa for seven years, working across sales and operations in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. Most recently General Manager Haulage in Dartford, he now takes responsibility for guiding Europa’s road freight operation into its next phase of growth.

ReFuels enters into a fixed price Bio-CNG agreement with a major UK logistics operator

Date: October 6, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

ReFuels N.V., one of Europe’s leading suppliers of renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG) for the decarbonisation of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), has entered into a fixed price Bio-CNG agreement for one of Britain’s largest logistics operators.

The agreement is a multi-year contract signed by CNG Fuels (40% owned by ReFuels), which locks in a fixed price at the fuel dispensers across CNG Fuels’ Bio-CNG station network, providing fuel cost visibility and enabling the customer to accelerate its transition from diesel to running its fleet of HGVs on 100% renewable and sustainable biomethane.

“CNG Fuels’ first Bio-CNG hedging agreement demonstrates the confidence the logistics industry has in Bio-CNG as a lasting decarbonisation solution. It offers our customers price certainty while providing us with visibility on stable, low-risk multi-year cash flows. We see strong interest from other fleet operators, and over time, such agreements could account for a material share of our annual volumes,” said Philip Fjeld, CEO and co-founder of ReFuels.

The current CNG Fuels network of 16 public-access stations in the UK can refuel more than 10,500 HGVs daily, equivalent to an annual dispensing capacity of over 340 million kg of biomethane. The company has a clear path to double the capacity to 20,000 vehicles by the end of 2028, reaching an annual dispensing capacity of over 780 million kilograms of biomethane. This is equivalent to 2 million tonnes of CO₂ savings per year compared to diesel.

Katoen Natie acquires

Date: October 6, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

South Coast Logistics has announced that it has been acquired by Katoen Natie, a global leader in integrated logistics and port operations.

Both South Coast Logistics and Katoen Natie are proud family-owned companies, each with a long-standing tradition of excellence and commitment to their people and clients.

South Coast Logistics, under the stewardship of the O’Flynn family for 50 years, has become a trusted partner in the Irish logistics sector, serving the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and food manufacturing industries.

Katoen Natie, also family-owned and headquartered in Belgium, operates in over 35 countries and is recognized for its innovative, asset-based approach and long-term partnerships.

This acquisition marks an important milestone for both organizations and will enable South Coast Logistics to benefit from Katoen Natie’s global expertise and resources.

The existing management team at South Coast Logistics will remain in place, ensuring continuity and stability for all stakeholders.

PD Ports launches jumbo train service connecting Teesport and Scotland

Date: October 10, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

For more than 15 years, PD Ports has recognised the importance of connecting Teesport’s shipping lines with Scotland’s industrial heartlands. Distilleries, retailers, manufacturers and chemical producers depend on smooth, reliable supply chains – and Teesport has been their gateway.

Until now, separate services ran to Mossend and Grangemouth. But with demand consistently filling wagons, PD Ports worked with Network Rail and DB Cargo to trial and approve a longer service. The result? A new 16-wagon jumbo train – two wagons longer than before – offering 40 additional slots per week.

• Daily services, more flexibility – No more waiting for the right day to move cargo. With trains running to both Mossend and Grangemouth every day, businesses can “drip feed” volume without reverting to road
• Sustainability built in – Rail cuts congestion, reduces reliance on HGVs, and helps companies hit carbon reduction targets
• Seamless global connections – Services are timed to align with ferry and container ship arrivals at Teesport, ensuring fast onward movement of imports and exports
• Capacity where you need it – From supermarket distribution centres to chemical production at Grangemouth, the jumbo train keeps supply chains moving with consistency and confidence

Jo Edmenson, Business Development Manager, PD Ports, said: “We’ve listened to our customers, and this service is designed around their needs – reliable, sustainable and flexible enough to handle volumes daily. It’s about making the journey from A to B as efficient as possible.”

Businesses are increasingly focused on greener supply chains, and PD Ports’ rail network offers a proven alternative to long-haul road transport. By choosing rail, companies reduce their carbon footprint while avoiding motorway congestion – and with Teesport’s international connections, they can compete globally while keeping sustainability front of mind.

• Mossend (near Glasgow central belt): Central hub for retail and distribution
• Grangemouth: Key site for chemical and manufacturing industries
• Teesport: A deep-water port on England’s north-east coast, already handling global trade for household names including Tesco, Asda and KP Snacks

Together, these hubs form a powerful logistics triangle, and the new jumbo service ensures Scottish businesses stay at the centre of it.

Carousel Logistics launches nationwide pick-up drop-off network across the UK

Date: October 10, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

Carousel Logistics has launched a Pick-Up Drop-Off (PUDO) network across the UK and Ireland with over 100 staffed locations now live and plans for further expansion.

The service gives businesses with field-based staff and engineers the flexibility to send and return freight, parcels, or repair items at convenient collection points, with deliveries made before 08:00 by Carousel’s network.

Unlike locker-based options, staffed PUDO sites can handle a wide range of sizes and weights, supporting engineers with bulkier or more complex shipments.

Engineers can also use Carousel’s app to return items directly via PUDO sites, even without pre-printed labels, and redirect shipments to different sites if repair work is reassigned.

“This network is about solving real challenges for our customers,” said Andrew Whitehead, Head of Network Development, UK and Ireland, Carousel Logistics.

“By giving engineers early and reliable access to the parts they need, and a simple way to return items without labels, we’re creating a service that directly improves efficiency in the field.”

Whitehead, who brings over 30 years’ experience in the logistics industry, joined Carousel at the end of last year to develop the new PUDO network, as well as several other critical logistics networks.

Extended across the UK after a successful pilot, the network is integrated with those operated by DANX in the Nordic region and the Baltics, and Carousel’s Iberia region, as well as those operated by LPR Group in Germany.

Unipart partners with Volklec to optimise EV battery cell logistics

Date: October 10, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

Unipart has announced a strategic collaboration with Volklec, a UK-based battery cell manufacturer. This partnership will see Unipart providing comprehensive logistics and management services for Volklec’s EV battery cells, encompassing transport, storage, testing, and triage, with a focus on state of charge and temperature monitoring.

Volklec is a UK battery cell manufacturer focused on developing and producing advanced high-energy and high-power lithium-ion cells for the high-value manufacturing sector, including specialist applications in automotive, aerospace, marine, and off-highway industries.

This follows Unipart recently launching to the market its unique end-to-end electric vehicle supply chain offer, covering integrated manufacturing, logistics and lifecycle management of EV battery services.

Unipart will handle Volklec’s battery cell logistics, including global transport via certified carriers for timely and safe delivery. At Unipart’s 610,000 sq. ft. Honeybourne specialist warehouse, Unipart will manage storage with intelligent charging for state of charge (SoC), reducing degradation and ensuring air freight compliance. Unipart will also perform testing and triage, including state-of-health checks, capacity assessments, and maintenance.

Lucie Dobeer, Unipart Head of Automotive Business Development, said:

“We are incredibly excited to embark on this partnership with Volklec, a key player in the UK’s battery cell manufacturing landscape. Our robust capabilities in EV battery cell transport, advanced storage solutions with meticulous state of charge and temperature monitoring, and comprehensive testing and triage services will provide Volklec with a seamless and compliant supply chain.”

Darren Leigh, Unipart Chief Executive, said:

“This collaboration further solidifies Unipart’s role as a driving force behind efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains in the evolving electric vehicle industry, ultimately contributing to reduced waste and lower total cost of ownership. Our commitment is to deliver cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable solutions that empower companies like Volklec to navigate the UK’s electrification transition seamlessly.”

Junaid Mujaver, Volklec Chief Operating Officer, said:

“Partnering with Unipart is a landmark step for Volklec. As we build our sovereign UK battery cell manufacturing capability, it is essential to work with partners that share our commitment to quality, resilience and sustainability. Unipart’s proven expertise in complex logistics and its advanced capabilities in EV battery storage and testing make us confident that our cells will be managed with the highest standards of safety and efficiency.

“This collaboration underpins our strategy to create a secure, national supply chain for UK electrification and reinforces our role as a trusted manufacturer serving critical industries during the transition to net zero.”

Freightliner and The Malcolm Group name locomotive in honour of Donald Malcolm

Date: October 10, 2025 By admin Categories: Uncategorized No comments

On Wednesday 8th October, locomotive 90021 was named ‘Donald Malcolm’ in honour of the late Donald Malcolm, who inherited The Malcolm Group coal-round business from his late father. The Malcolm Group is a leading provider of Logistics, Construction and Maintenance services across the UK.

This locomotive naming ceremony not only recognised the huge contribution to the transport and logistics industry from Donald Malcolm, evolving the business from a small family-run enterprise to what it is today but also solidified and celebrated the strong working relationship between Freightliner and The Malcolm Group. Freightliner and The Malcolm Group already have several dedicated trains running daily from Daventry up to both Grangemouth and Mossend – serving the central belt of Scotland – helping to remove HGVs from our busy road and motorway network as well as reduce carbon emissions when compared to road operations.

The locomotive naming ceremony took place at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT), a key hub for the logistics and transport industry, linking ‘the golden triangle’ with the rest of the country. Locomotive 90021 which was named, arrived as part of a newly launched Freightliner service from Felixstowe. This new service, operating out of the new Malcolm Group terminal, will run daily from Freightliner’s Felixstowe terminal.

Attendees at the event included key Freightliner customers that will be utilising this newly launched Felixstowe – Daventry service as well as Freightliner and The Malcolm Group colleagues.

Tim Shoveller, CEO at Freightliner Group, commented:

“It was fantastic to be able to celebrate the naming of locomotive 90021 honouring the legacy of Donald Malcolm with colleagues from both Freightliner and The Malcolm Group in attendance. It was great to also celebrate the launch of our new Felixstowe – Daventry service at the same time – we are looking forward to working with our customers to transport their goods efficiently, safely and sustainably on this new route.”

Andrew Malcolm, CEO of The Malcolm Group, commented:

“We are both delighted and honoured to be launching this new service, along with Freightliner, from DIRFT to Felixstowe and to be naming locomotive 90021 in memory of my late father Donald Malcolm.”

Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of the Rail Freight Group, stated:

“It is fantastic to see this locomotive named ‘Donald Malcolm’ today, recognising the long heritage of Malcolm Logistics in freight transport. As pioneers of rail freight from Daventry, Malcolm Logistics have transformed retail and logistics supply chains, and this new facility at DIRFT 3 will help them to continue that journey, helping more businesses to use rail freight.”