In this issue of Industrial Solutions UK, we are pleased to feature Davies Turner as our Logistics Company of the Year.
For more than 150 years, Davies Turner has been moving goods around the world. Founded in 1870, the family-owned business is one of the UK’s oldest independent freight forwarders, but its longevity is matched by a willingness to adapt to the changing demands of international trade.
Today, Davies Turner operates 23 branches across the UK, supported by extensive warehousing facilities and a global network of partners. At the centre of that operation is its headquarters in Coleshill, while its recently opened £40 million logistics hub in Atherstone, Warwickshire, represents a significant investment in the company’s future.
The four-level, 140,000sq. ft. facility provides 20,000 pallet locations and combines multi-user warehousing with fulfilment and logistics services. For sectors such as construction, manufacturing and engineering, where components, machinery and materials can vary enormously in size and complexity, that capacity is particularly valuable.
Davies Turner has developed a reputation for taking on the shipments that are less straightforward. From vehicles and heavy machinery to small rail engines and other out-of-gauge cargo, its teams are experienced in finding practical solutions for unusual consignments, including shipments requiring specialist licences or bespoke handling arrangements.
That expertise is complemented by the company’s multimodal approach. Davies Turner offers road, sea, air and rail freight alongside customs, warehousing and fulfilment services, allowing customers to select solutions according to their requirements rather than being tied to a single mode of transport.
One particularly distinctive service is its dedicated weekly rail import service from mainland China to the UK. Departing from Xi’an, the service handles both groupage and full-load shipments, with transit times of around 19-23 days from terminal to terminal. For businesses balancing the speed of air freight against the longer transit times of ocean shipping, rail provides an alternative that can offer both speed and cost efficiency.
Rail also forms an important part of Davies Turner’s sustainability strategy. The company has partnered with Pledge to track and report its carbon emissions, helping customers understand their supply-chain impact and work towards Scope 3 objectives. According to Davies Turner, a 40-ft container carrying 20 tonnes of cargo by rail can generate just 4% of the CO2 emissions associated with moving the same cargo by air.
Resilience is becoming just as important as sustainability. Disruption across global shipping routes, changing demand and volatile freight rates continue to challenge businesses. Andrew Ford, Branch Manager at Rotherham, says Davies Turner is responding through long-term planning and strong carrier relationships, including securing ocean capacity where possible.
For a company with roots stretching back to the Victorian era, the approach is remarkably forward-looking: combine experience with investment, specialist knowledge and a willingness to tackle the difficult jobs. With its expanding project-cargo capabilities, international partnerships and new Atherstone hub, Davies Turner is positioning itself to support the increasingly complex logistics requirements of modern industry.
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www.daviesturner.com