Flooring manufacturer delivers boost to supply chain efficiency
1 min read
Underlay and flooring manufacturer Interfloor has outsourced transport of goods from its two production sites to retailers around the UK, with a three-year contract awarded to logistics business Norbert Dentressangle.
The dedicated delivery offer sees Norbert Dentressangle moving 500 orders each week of Duralay, Gripperrods, Tredaire and other products to Interfloor's retail clients.
The product is loose loaded, so requires a high level of manual handling and is not economical to palletise. The agreement provides a like-for-like dedicated solution, so there was no disruption to service with the swap from in-house to outsourced deliveries.
Products are loaded from Interfloor's production sites in Haslingden, Lancashire, and Dumfries in Scotland. Deliveries are made using a new fleet of 19 artics with curtainsided trailers and 11 rigid 18-tonne trucks. The majority of deliveries to Interfloor's customers are made direct to stores on fixed days.
Key to the deal was Norbert Dentressangle's ability to provide backloads to reduce empty running on return legs to Lancashire, and the introduction of a vehicle tracking and management system, bring greater efficiency and lower costs for Interfloor.
Ian Merrifield, operations manager at Interfloor, said: "We are committed to improving our supply chain and recognise that by outsourcing the transport operation we can achieve this more effectively and focus our attention on expanding the business."
