News

Pall-Ex celebrated its 10th anniversary with a dinner for 400 last Saturday, and it announced plans to purchase more land next to its hub to build a 150,000ft2 warehouse. The Pall-Ex pallet network started on November 29, 1996, when the network moved 117 pallets. It was based in a portable building with no running water, no electricity and only one  chemical toilet.

After years of growth of more than 100%, MD Hilary Devey says it is still seeing increases of more than 25% a year. Devey also said that she had had a lot of nice things said about her but also "more than my fair share of names". She added: "I will do whatever is needed to provide for the future success of this network. If that means getting the occasional brickbat with the bouquets well that is OK. My frocks may be fine but there is steel beneath them.

"As we now yet again pursue new initiatives and involves ourselves in new markets, we should again embrace the sprit which pervaded the business during its infancy. We should all be looking to secure our collective profitable future for years to come, not just tomorrow. This will involve risk and it calls for courage. Most of our members showed themselves equal to this when earlier this year we invoked the day time trunking initiative," she said. The secret of her success? "Sheer hard work, tenacity,  focus, vision, self belief and most of all a sense of humour."

• A total of £14,680 was raised for industry charity Transaid.
• A special award was made to Paul Shaw of Leach Distribution for winning the depot of the year award for the past three years.