30 January 2023
Background
Peel Ports Logistics recently collaborated with Conexpo NI Ltd, a family-owned business specialising in the supply of high Polished Stone Value (PSV) aggregates produced from company-owned and operated quarries across Northern Ireland.
From its quarries in Northern Ireland, Conexpo exports High PSV aggregates all over the world, and the aggregate has been used to surface some of the busiest roads across the UK and Europe.
The stone supplied by Conexpo is highly sought after for its ability to prevent skidding on roads when mixed into asphalt.
The Challenge
In the North West of England, Conexpo’s customer, a leading building materials supplier, uses the PSV aggregates in the asphalt required for road upgrades and maintenance projects across the region.
Demand for the sought after PSV tends to peak during the winter months, mainly due to the increase in road repairs across the North West caused by wet and cold weather conditions and the need to reduce roadworks during peak summer months travel.
Conexpo required a reliable port-centric solution to meet the demands of their customer, which can often be at short notice, to ensure roads across the local region are kept safe.
The Solution
Working in close partnership with Conexpo, Peel Ports Logistics developed a seamless full-service solution. A ‘virtual quarry’ was established at Ellesmere Port, utilising 1.5 acres of space to store the high-quality PSV aggregates safely from any cross contamination. This port-centric solution allowed Conexpo’s customers to operate a just-in-time aggregate supply programme that improved project efficiency.
The Peel Ports Logistics solution also included the coastal chartering of vessels, carrying in excess of 6000 tonnes of PSV from Belfast to Ellesmere Port. One of the great benefits of vessel chartering with Peel Ports Logistics is their ability to offer a seamless operation from quarry to UK storage with just one point of contact, providing the complete One-Stop-Shop solution.
Peel Ports Logistics is ideally placed to serve Conexpo because it operates at Ellesmere Port, the closest port to Conexpo’s customer in the North West, cutting down road miles to get the product to the end destination.
Seb Gardiner, Managing Director, Peel Ports Logistics said “We are delighted to be working with Conexpo on this project. The ‘virtual quarry’ solution we offered will improve the efficiency of Conexpo’s supply chain and the speed at which their construction customer receives aggregates, enabling construction success across the North West region.”
Stephen McCluskey, Managing Director, Conexpo (NI) Ltd, said, “We have been working with Peel Ports Logistics for many years importing large volumes of PSV aggregate. Ellesmere Port was the perfect location to support our business requirements due to its access to major transport routes, ability to handle and store the cargo and expert team that removed the complexity to provide a seamless operation. We look forward to our continued partnership with Peel Ports Logistics.”