LAUNCESTON is set to benefit to a share of £8-million worth of investment as a national delivery company hopes to strengthen its services across the region.

The Pall-Ex Group, a logistics network, has announced its investment in the town, after opening a new delivery hub.

The organisation has said that the South West peninsula, often known as the ‘final frontier’, has historically been one of the most challenging delivery locations in the UK due to its landscape. In spite of that, the region has been dubbed a ‘logistics hot spot’, with brands like Pall-Ex continuing to see year-on-year growth.

Now, businesses throughout the region will soon benefit from the launch of a new facility in Launceston, giving them access to a range of haulage services including next-day palletised freight distribution, warehousing and storage.

The Launceston hub — a 114,000 sq ft purpose-built facility — is already operational, where it offers increased storage capacity of up to 3,500 pallets and the movement of 650 pallets per day.

The successful relocation of its existing team will also be bolstered by a further 10 to 15 per cent growth in its workforce; with roles in warehouse staffing, supervision and management roles soon to be available.

In addition to its enhanced service capabilities, the site will benefit from a series of sustainability-focused features, including all-electric forklift truck fleets, solar panels and green water filtering — additions that will see them meet the highest sustainability ‘BREEAM standards’.

While the logistics provider already has existing hubs in the region, these have since reached capacity. This latest investment is a strategic move intended to give the company access to larger, purpose-built spaces, designed to better support its growing customer base.

Commenting on the investment, Barry Byers, chief operating officer for Pall-Ex Group, said: “The South West has always been a challenging location for distribution companies. Yet in the past five years, we’ve generated unprecedented growth here, with more and more businesses around the region demanding a reliable and robust logistics network. With that growth, though, comes the need to evolve. That’s why the time feels right to make this significant investment to ensure that our distribution services are up to the challenge.

“The last 30 years have been all about adapting and future-proofing the business; whether through supporting our partners around the country, investing in the latest technology to provide them with unparalleled visibility, or by enhancing our regional distribution services. This announcement really is testament to the hard work put in to get us where we are now in the South West, so that we can make sure we’re perfectly positioned to tackle the regional challenges of the next three decades.”

A spokesperson from the business added: “News of the investment follows a landmark start to the year for the brand, as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. Since its incorporation three decades ago, Pall-Ex has evolved into a national and international powerhouse, with this latest South West expansion representing the next chapter in its commitment to growth.”