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Hanson Logistics PROFILE

Sample success

Sample Solutions can also provide a complete administration service for customers who do not have their own resources, or wish to pass on the whole responsibility to a third party. Peter Roe, managing director of Hanson Logistics, believes the companys sampling service gives it a competitive edge. He says that few companies can justify the cost of an in-house sampling facility, and it is hard to nd a company with all the right equipment and procedures in place. Sample Solutions has been set up to provide exactly that, and currently despatches over 500 samples per week worldwide. As well as Avecia and Noveon, for whom Hanson Logistics handles about 13 000 samples per year, other customers include: Cytec, Syngenta, Fujilm, Mitsui and Nicholas Piramal India.

GROWING BUSINESS

Robert Hanson (left) with Peter Roe

Hanson Logistics is turning over a new leaf. Originally a textiles transporter, the company is now expanding its chemical distribution operations
ELAINE BURRIDGE/LONDON

UK BUSINESS Hanson Logistics is spreading its wings. Founded 158 years ago to transport textiles across the Pennines using packhorses, the family-owned rm is expanding its hazardous chemicals distribution operations as it targets future growth, especially overseas. Chairman of the Hudderseld-based company is Robert Hanson, son of the late Yorkshire business legend Lord Hanson. One of the areas that Hanson Logistics has diversied into over the last decade is the home delivery of furniture. In 2004, the strategic decision was taken to divest this division of the business and return to its core strength in providing logistics to the chemical industry. Located on the edge of what was once ICIs huge manufacturing complex, Hanson Logistics has great experience in hazardous chemical distribution as ICI was one of its

key clients for many years. The company has now embarked on a three-year growth programme to launch itself as a full-service chemical logistics provider. Key to this launch is the establishment of the Sample Solutions brand, and Hanson Logistics has invested heavily in new state-ofthe-art equipment, including transfer booths and labelling systems.

LOGIC

Hanson Logistics says there is tremendous logic in relaunching its specialist chemical sampling business, which can oer a full service from storage, repacking and product sampling through to bespoke labelling and despatch. Robert Hanson said: Business now is ever more global. By returning to one of Hanson Logistics traditional areas of expertise, we are already attracting new business from around the world.

The company is also seeing growing business from China and is sending 180 samples per week in some weeks to one Chinese customer alone. While the US has traditionally been the largest recipient of samples, China is closing the gap quickly, says Roe. The company is now looking to broaden its horizons and is seeking new customers or a partner. It has an option on 2 acre of adjacent land for an additional warehouse and has outline planning permission to demolish some of the old buildings and build a new facility. This would be a mirror-image of the warehouse built in 1999 to service Avecia. This facility has more than 100 000ft2 of warehousing space, with a fully bunded main storage unit, and stores more than 165 000 packages under a sophisticated barcode-scanning system. There is a partially covered ammable storage area that includes a booth where damaged packages and samples can be repacked, and raw materials decanted from 1 tonne IBCs to 25kg parcels. A powder repacking booth, where sub-micron powders can be transferred is also available. Robert Hanson and the board are keen to expand and link with Asia. My formative business experiences were all based in Asia, which is a wonderfully vibrant and developing business community, said Hanson. For Roe, adding value to customers is key. We wish to be more of a partner, not just running a transport business that is where we want to be dierent.
For more information
www.hanson-logistics.com

www.icischemicalbusiness.com | 24-30 July 2006 | ICIS Chemical Business

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