APC Overnight to expand network with Midlands hub
UK next-day delivery network APC Overnight is set to begin construction soon on a new multimillion pound hub, as the company looks to expand its capacity. The £14m facility is to be established at Kingswood Lake, Cannock, Staffordshire, providing about 128,000 square feet of space, to more than double the company’s existing capacity at its Essington headquarters.
It will boast state-of-the-art material handling systems, including an Interroll cross-belt sortation system. APC will also expand its hub-based trunking fleet with 50 Don-Bur EcoStream double-decker trailers, it said.
Ivor Skinner, APC Overnight managing director, said: “The new hub is essential to APC’s national operations and future development; it is a major investment made possible through the growth we are enjoying across the APC network.
“With the high demand for our next day deliveries, we have outgrown our existing hub in Essington. The new site at Kingswood Lake will provide us with a well-designed, state-of-the-art and very efficient national base. Also, by remaining in the Midlands, we can retain our highly skilled workforce and the location is convenient for future recruitment, as and when we need additional hub staff,” added Skinner.
APC Overnight, a network owned and managed by independent local delivery companies, was originally set up in the early 1990s and has since tripled the size of its network. It now has more than 120 branch offices and regional hubs.
“Outstanding”
Last week the company revealed its latest financial results, recording a 10.34% increase in turnover, to GBP 58m, while pre-tax profits were up by 25% to GBP 3.4m.
The company said its “outstanding” success had come from its delivery performance and customer service, with an approach to expanding its business at a local level.
Skinner said: “This is another successful year for APC Overnight, despite the continuing faltering of the UK economy in general. We are seeing good growth and our customers also appear to be bucking the trend.”
Skinner said all APC depots had been working hard to demonstrate the benefit of their services to customers.
APC now collects, routes and delivers more than 1.4m parcels each month.
Mark Fletcher, the company’s finance director, said: “Our success is the result of a team effort involving every APC depot. The results been largely due to a continued focus on sales and costs. Everyone has worked hard on driving efficiencies and growing the business across the UK.”
