IMHX Show Prize

We love nothing more than seeing our returnable packaging in action. If you’re visiting IMHX don’t miss out on the opportunity to win a Nikon Coolpix L330. Take part in our supply chain poll for your chance to win our show prize, a perfect solution for taking photos of your supply chain packaging in action. Visit stand 8A28 to find out more*. 

Click here to register for your show pass. 

*Entries to be scanned, registered and completed on the PPS stand 8A28. A winner will be selected at random and notified by Friday 23rd September.

Exhibition Masterclass

On a surprisingly hot summers day in July, 500 eager business attendees gathered at the NEC for this year’s FacetimeUK Exhibition Masterclass. Now in its third year the packed day served up fun, informative and inspirational presentations and speakers, not forgetting some fantastic catering. With sessions including Rob Brown Networking Coach, Rachel Elnaugh ex Dragon and Red Letter Days Founder, and all things tech savvy it was a real opportunity to learn and engage with success stories and suppliers on how to take your exhibiting to the next step. The opportunity to reflect on your previous achievements and how you can implement even small changes to move forwards is priceless and something that should be applied to all aspects of business.

Now how would your business look if you applied this to your day to day operations and took a moment to literally think outside of the cardboard box?  Everyone is so busy and powering on full steam ahead to get the task in hand complete and finish the job in front of them, but if you took a moment to stop, reflect and review your packaging, what would you learn? How could you streamline your supply chain packaging to reduce costs, minimise waste and increase efficiency?

Working with PPS can help you implement all the opportunities you might be missing out on and even get you ahead of your competitors in this market. With our knowledge we can review your current supply chain practise and analyse how to move it forward with ReturnableTransit Packaging. PPS have been managing supply chain packaging for nearly 15 years and will tailor a solution to your business. Whether that be pallet pooling, complete supply chain management, roll cage rental or washing of your own crates, PPS have a solution to fit with your business.

To take the opportunity and speak to the PPS team call 01283 821 502. 

Lucy talks Preston and plastic containers

I’ve made visits to Preston on a number of occasions since the acquisition 

of Alison Handling last year, a delightful trip on the M6 I’m sure many of you will agree! I’m always impressed by the enthusiasm in the office and variety of products available for purchase, the knowledge of the team is priceless but I suppose that’s what you get for being in the industry for 30 years.

People often ask what’s changed since the merger last year, what are Alison Handling now doing differently. What AHS do they do very well and it’s quite niche. They understand their focus, how many warehouses can you go to and select from a huge array of products, the exact piece of equipment to use, with no minimum order and next day delivery? Even if you’re not sure what you should be buying their experience helps selected the best product

for your application.

 You are instantly greeted by rows and rows of trays, crates, pallets, Dolavs, totes, you name it they stock it, and not just in a standard colour that you have to stick with. A lot of equipment is available in multiple colour choices. You may have noticed one addition to the range of equipment and that’s roll cages and metal.  The handling equipment compliments the packaging range already available and has been a popular sale and rental item at PPS for several years.

To speak to the Alison team call 01772 687 940. 

Did you spot them?

If you were unable to tune in to BBC breakfast last Wednesday you will have missed our reusable fish trays making an appearance next to the famous red sofa.

BBC Breakfast reporter Steph McGovern reported live from Grimsby docks, bringing the spot light to Grimsby where she spoke to local businesses regarding the up and coming referendum and how this could affect the fish industry. Steph spoke to various fisherman and market tradesmen to discuss both sides of opinion on the EU referendum.

PPS’s reusable fish trays are a daily feature in the local fish market with the catch of the day being stored before selling, you can spot Steph in amongst our famous yellow trays. They were also spotted proudly sitting at each end of the red sofa making a fantastic focal point.

Here at PPS we have developed longstanding and established relationships within the fish industry in Grimsby to provide returnable packaging solutions, preventing waste packaging entering the supply chain. We have worked with the fish industry for nearly 30 years supplying and washing reusable fish boxes and equipment.

If you are using or spot any of our returnable packaging in use send us a picture, you could have it feature in one of our future blogs!

Photo by @RebeccaWearn, BBC and Grimsby Telegraph.

Andy treks China for charity

As you may be aware PPS’s Operations Director Andy Flynn will be taking a journey across to China with fellow volunteers to tackle the Great Wall of China. 

Training hard Andy has been preparing physically and mentally for what lies ahead in China. Whilst he is physically active being involved in the air cadets and taking part in numerous Duke of Edinburgh awards, preparation will be key. Walking in humid heats with no toilet facilities on the wall the hike will be no casual stroll.

However it is important to be aware of the reasons behind such a big excursion. Andy will be raising money for the Boparan Charitable Trust who support children with disabilities, life-limiting conditions or are in extreme poverty. Last month PPS Midlands had the pleasure of presenting Liam Hallet who suffers with autism, a specialist trike to help him keep active.

Liam has trouble speaking and with his movement due to autism, the specially designed trike will give him the opportunity to interact with other children and play outside as well as strengthening his limbs. 

The BoparanCharitable Trust provide such aid to children on a daily basis, this makes the gruelling trek along the Great Wall of China so important, to raise money to fund such aid. Andy will also be placing a commemorative brick on the wall in Liams name.

If you would like to sponsor Andy please visit his Just Giving page by clicking here.

PPS takes home packaging prize.

The stage was set for PPS to present to the judges at this years EcoPack Challenge on Wednesday 24th February. Taking place during the Packaging Innovations Exhibition at the NEC, a show dedicated to sustainable packaging solutions it was the ideal platform to showcase the Re-Fresh box.

Four products were shortlisted for the event in a Dragons Den meets packaging style format. Sales Manager Andrew Lee had the pleasure of leading the presentation to the judges and attendees at the EcoPack theatre before Joanne Moss, Managing Director joined the stage for questions from the packed floor. The judges included Laura Fernandez, Packaging Technologist from Marks & Spencer, Jonathan Couper, Packaging Development Manager from 2 Sisters Food Group and Mark Shayler, Sustainable Design Consultant, Lecturer in the Circular Economy and Design, Royal College of Art.

The Re-Fresh box provides a full solution to supply chain packaging and incorporates sustainable services as well as the actual product through the pooling and rental options available from PPS.

We’re thrilled to announce that PPS were named winners of the challenge and we now look forward to developing the product with Marks and Spencer. It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight how supply chains can be revolutionised with the implementation of reusable packaging.

Hygienic Swab Testing

Here at PPS one of our primary focuses is on the washing we provide to our customers. In this blog we give you an insight into the science behind us achieving the highest quality of washing standards for our food industry clients.

Alongside our state of the art industrial wash machines, we operate a swab system to keep track of our wash standards to ensure hygiene is always maximised. The most frequent swab tests that we carry out are ATP swabs, these are completed on site. Our BRC accreditation requires us to perform ATP Swab tests 4 times a shift however, we can swab test equipment more regularly at the request of a customer. These give an overall cleanliness rating for the washed equipment. The rating is measured in Relative Light Units (RLU’s,) a large proportion of the food industry manufacturers use these as on site tests also. We conduct external lab swab tests where we test for various bacterial hazards.

Should you require any information on washing please do not hesitate to call the sales team on 01283 821502.

Thinking Outside the Re-Fresh Box

The idea for our lidded Re-Fresh box was developed having received feedback from the fish industry in order to supply a reusable container for prepared fillets to the catering industry and food manufacturers. With the initial trials focused on fresh fish supply chains the units are now available to all industries and the possibilities for product storage are endless.

The leak proof lidded containers are available in two sizes and can be hygienically washed through our brand new BRC approved industrial wash machine. Available for purchase or rental, we’re always thrilled to receive customer feedback and hear what great things our containers have been up to.

         Herbs “The best air tight containers I have used. Strong, stackable, washable and in my opinion designed to bounce not crack when dropped an all-round great buy.”

         Prepared meat “Ideal for us to take our butchers produce to farmers markets.”

        Pharmaceutical- “Having trialed a few options on the market my customer opted for the Re-Fresh box to be used in their shop environment for displays and stock.”

Other products currently being explored with the box are for use with prepared vegetables, seasonings and sauce sachets. If you have a Re-Fresh box, send us a photo of it in action. 

Call us on 01283 821 502 if you want to find out more.

2015 in pictures

As 2015 now draws to a close it is time to look back on the year here at PPS. It has been an eventful 2015, we began the year settled into our premises here at Marchington. 

With new members of the PPS team starting throughout the year, our sales team grew in April with Hannah joining as Sales Advisor, handling enquiries and quotes along with social media and marketing aspects. After a busy Easter period the spring drew to a close and we welcomed summer with open arms, the accounts department greeted Diane to their team as Accounts Administrator to handle invoicing and credit control.

Into summer the temperature are really started to hot up as we prepared for the Meat Up exhibition held at Stoneleigh park, it happened to fall on the hottest few days of the year. An event for the whole meat industry to come together to see the latest innovations and technology alongside competitions.  

During August Charlotte was introduced to the Operations department working alongside Andy Moss our Operations Manager in running the day to day logistics of deliveries and collections, booking in drivers and handling stock control from our 24/7 wash site. We also redesign our lorry curtains which are part of the Jeffreys Haulage fleet.

As the summer drew to a close we were thrilled to announce the news of PPS acquiring Alison Handling Services, an exciting venture increasing the services of the PPS group. Alison Handling stocks 1000’s of plastic products suitable for a multitude of industries from bakery trays to pallet boxes to plastic dollys, all available on a next day delivery.

In September PPS attended the Movers and Storers show, a key exhibition in the Removals Industry held at Silverstone racetrack. The show was held over two days and consisted of keynote seminars held in the learning zone. Another successful event enjoying the company of both new and current customers. We also had the pleasure of staying in a Snoozebox, a 40ft container made into four bedrooms perfect for short stays.

September was a huge month for our Grimsby operation with the move to our new warehouse facility, almost tripling the size of our wash site. To celebrate, our open day was held to coincide with the World Seafood Congress of which we had the pleasure of welcoming Pete Ward, CEO of Youngs to cut the ribbon.

After introducing our Re-Fresh box to the fish industry in May at the Seafood Expo in Brussels, it was then released for purchase, rental and wash to industries including food, automotive and pharmaceutical. A brand new machine was also installed design to specifically wash the new box and lid to BRC standards.  

With an increased focus on waste throughout 2015, it is sure to continue to receive strong focus into 2016. Our MD Joanne Moss spoke with Food Manufacture to discuss returnable transit packaging in the food industry, inevitably reducing waste in the supply chain. Click here to read the article.

We wish all of our customers a very happy Christmas and look forward to welcoming many more of you on board during 2016.

Do you use Instagram? Follow us via @PPSMIDLANDS for our images throughout 2016.

Grimsby factory tours in pictures- The Wash Site

Since our expansion to a larger site, we give you this opportunity to visit the premises via a virtual tour around the factory in our latest series of blogs.

 We wash around 50,000 trays and boxes used by seafood processing factories and fish suppliers for transporting fresh fish. Our boxes are also used for fish being sold on Grimsby fish auction market each week.

We also wash plastic pallets, bulk bins & tubs, fish smoking racks, freezing spacers and sometimes filters from smoking kilns along with our new ReFresh box which has its own specialist BRC washing machine.

It’s not just fish, Grimsby also wash equipment for the food industry.

Despite the high numbers of crates washed, PPS pride ourselves on the highest standard of hygiene using our BRC accredited wash plant.

Dirty crates are swiftly dispensed on to the machine belt with a box being washed through our machine every 30 seconds.

Once cleaned they are removed and stacked.

To protect the crates from being soiled in transport, they are placed on to a pallet wrapper, ready for dispatch.

Once wrapped the stack is barcoded ready for collection.

Have you got dirty crates, trays, boxes, totes, pallets or Dolavs? We'd love to have them in for a wash- call us on 01283 821 502 to organise your trial.

Grimsby factory tours in pictures- The Office

Delve into our PPS office on this factory tour.

As you enter the Grimsby office via our reception area, here you find our BRC certificate proudly displayed along with a range of artwork. The artwork on display demonstrates our warehouse facilities and reusable plastic packaging, this is also where visitors can signed in. The visitor hatch is also located in our reception area where you will be met by Paul Durrant our Operations Manager.

Moving on inside the office you will be greeted by the operations team. They are the first port of call for visitors. Operations is easily accessible from reception making it ideal for handling equipment movement.

The office is set out as an open plan environment making it easy for the team to work together efficiently, whist having their own space to work on their individual tasks.

Moving around the office, finance is located to one end of the room making it more practical to deal with confidential matters.

The last area is sales and marketing, here the team handle pooling, washing and fish box sales along with social media and other aspects of the business.

Our break out areas include an office room with desks for private working and meeting room.