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Pallet network Palletforce has announced plans for a new hub in Burton-on-Trent. Work on the 365,000ft2 single warehouse is expected to start in February, with operations scheduled to begin before the end of the year. It is squarer than conventional warehouses and the company believes this will allow a quicker turnaround of vehicles and faster throughputs. The capacity of the firm's existing premises in Lichfield, Staffs is 210,000ft2.

Neil Carpenter, Palletforce commercial and finance  director, says: "Palletforce has grown rapidly since our launch in 2001, from 500 pallets per night to around 7,000. "But there is a limit to what can be achieved with the existing arrangements, as the buildings were created originally as aircraft hangers. "In order to optimise efficiency, we felt that a bespoke design, based on our expert knowledge of what works, would provide the ideal means to take the Palletforce business to the next level."

Last August, Palletforce opened a fourth transit shed at Lichfield in response to growth of between 20% and 25%. The move gave the company the ability to handle 10,500 pallets a night. Meanwhile, Palletforce has announced that Michael Conroy will become chief executive in April.

Conroy, currently managing director at FedEx Supply Chain Services (previously ANC Logistics), has more than 18 years' experience in parcel distribution and third-party logistics. He says: "I am delighted to be joining Palletforce at such an exciting  time and look forward to working with everyone to build upon the continuing success of the business."