[asset_ref id=”1078″]Royal visitor for Hog Works
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh has officially opened Hog Works – Loadhog’s new Sheffield home, which completes the Gripple Group’s expansion programme. Hog Works provides two and a half times more space for the reusable packaging company, amalgamating its administrative, production and hi-tech washing activities under one roof. Hugh Facey, Gripple chairman and Loadhog’s executive chairman, said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s visit was a tremendous honour for both companies. I think it acknowledges all that we have achieved in Sheffield and reflects the tremendous effort and commitment of our employees.”
[asset_ref id=”1079″]Henry’s fighting forklift
Jungheinrich has donated a refurbished counterbalanced truck to the Mary Rose Museum which is due to open in 2012. The new Museum is being built around the remains of King Henry VIII’s warship, the Mary Rose, which was raised from the bottom of the Solent in 1982. When complete it will house not only the famous ship herself but also some 14,000 artefacts that were recovered with her. The Mary Rose Trust will use the truck to move the artefacts, especially the heavier ones – including guns and the ship’s anchors, between the various sites.
Dr Glenn McConnachie, conservation manager at the Mary Rose Trust, said: “We are delighted that Jungheinrich has generously donated the forklift truck. It will be a crucial piece of kit to enable us to move these unique artefacts – many of which have never been seen by the public before.” The forklift is finished with the logo of B&Q – a strong supporter of the Mary Rose Trust.
FTA cash for Transaid
Freight Transport Association members have donated more than £30,000 to Transaid and the final total for the year is set to hit £40,000. The money has enabled more than 1,000 drivers in Africa to receive professional training, helping to make roads and communities safer. In sub-Saharan Africa, road deaths are the third biggest premature killer, following HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Through its partnership with two national training institutions in Zambia and Tanzania, Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Project is improving commercial vehicle driver training standards
and safety awareness to address the shortage of skilled drivers. The FTA’s Graham Pink also recently conducted a course on vehicle inspection to help improve day-to-day vehicle safety in Tanzania. The FTA started a scheme at the end of 2009, to give members the option to make a donation to Transaid along with their annual FTA membership fees.
[asset_ref id=”1080″]Embassy celebrates
Birmingham-based Embassy Freight Services (Midlands) has celebrated its tenth anniversary and is now looking at plans to adopt an apprenticeship scheme. Managing director Keith Beresford said: “Over the past decade, we have found that a mix of youth and experience provides a strong team energy, which works well within an everchanging working environment”.
[asset_ref id=”1081″]Tache plan at Paragon
Staff at Paragon Electronics Group’s Paragon Components Bedford headquarters teamed up with colleagues from JJS Electronics to raise £6,271 for the Movember Prostate Cancer Charity. Paragon’s specialist supply chain management facility sits alongside the contract manufacturing expertise of sister company, JJS Electronics. The challenge was to grow a moustache for the entire month of November.
