Major Port Group Appoints Materials Handling Contractor for Freight and Container Terminal Works

UK – A coup for Staffordshire based handling group Briggs Equipment this week as it signs a contract with the Peel Ports Group to fulfil full service and maintenance support for in excess of 400 materials handling assets, the majority of which have been acquired on a long-term rental basis, in a deal worth £38 million over the next seven years with a three year extension option. Peel’s activities include a network of ports, freight and container terminals, hubs and services and its own shipping line, BG Freightline.

Briggs confirmed the order came after a ‘most challenging and diverse tender’ and builds on a relationship dating back some 22 years with the inception of services at the Liverpool operation. The sites include operations at Sheerness, Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal (Runcorn, Irlam and Eastham), Dublin and Clydeport (Greenock Ocean Terminal, King George V Dock (Glasgow) and Hunterston). Jamie Gardner, Group Procurement Manager at Peel Ports Group, commented:

"Briggs Equipment was able to demonstrate a strong track record of delivery during the tender process, supported by an attractive commercial proposal that delivered the best overall value for Peel Ports. The new agreement will deliver a significant fleet refresh to Peel Ports with embedded flexibility to account for growth and changing business conditions in the years to come. We look forward to developing our partnership with Briggs across the Peel Ports Group and maximising our materials handling capability to meet the needs of our customers."

For its part Briggs puts its success down to more than a long term relationship saying it offered what it saw as ‘a compelling proposition that demonstrated value and innovation’ and Gary Clements, Strategic Development Director at Briggs Equipment, observed:

"We are delighted to be awarded the contract, which will enable us to build on the existing foundations. We look forward to adding considerable value to Peel Ports operations through innovation and long term collaboration. Leveraging our differentiated offering and placing our customers at the heart of everything we do reinforces our position as a unique supplier within the UK marketplace."