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.

On the move with our own crates

The end of July saw our PPS East branch pack up and move over the road to a new warehouse facility boasting over 70,000 sq. ft. of internal space. The move from the existing 20,000 sq. ft. unit will enable the group continued growth and service the ever increasing demand in Returnable Transit Packaging. You might think it would have been an easy job as we have only moved over the road, but moving an operational wash facility and office comes with its challenges.

 Our operations team have spent months on site with contractors refurbishing what was an unused warehouse space into an environment that could be used for hygienically washing plastic food and fish crates to a BRC standard. Contractors worked tirelessly including over weekends to ensure we experienced as little down time as possible, this can always be tricky when you are operating 24/7.

Being a provider of reusable plastic crates to the removals industry has great benefits when you are moving yourself. With PPS2 standard crates being used for personal desk items, PPS3 metre crates for filling system and C2 IT crates for computers and accessories, it’s safe to say the move went to plan.

We look forward to welcoming customers and suppliers to our open event on Wednesday 9^th September to raise a glass to our new chapter. 

A Sunny Thursday In The Peaks

When I was asked if I would like to join our bank, RBS/NatWest, on a Corporate Day I quickly said yes as the venue was Matlock Golf Club. Then I noticed I hadn't read the small print, I realised my day out of the office would be a Cycling Sportive which comprised doing 55 miles around the Peak District and a total elevation of 5,000 feet!

 Since buying a road bike earlier in the year and having only ridden a maximum of 35 miles at a time, to say I was nervous in the morning was an understatement. My main motivation for taking part was knowing that if I could complete this challenge, it would be good preparation for my bike tour of Belgium in July. With a nice sunny day, a group of 15 of us set out for our ride around the Peak District. The route consisted of 4 major hills which were the toughest I have faced to date however the views were spectacular which made the climbs worth it. At some point during the day a fellow rider pointed out that the elevation gain was more than Everest.

What turned out to out to be a well organised event ended 7 hours later with only 8 riders making it to the finish line. Apart from the hills my biggest challenge turned out to be avoiding getting sun burnt! Jeremy Tutt, Finance Director.

Factory Tour in Pictures- Storage

Where do we store our equipment you may ask?

Here’s a tour around our storage areas.

We keep a wide variety of stock ranging from the product sample section to our new equipment for pooling as well as a constant flow of crates coming in and out of the factory.

Take a look at our storage spaces.

Our product sample section is used for equipment sample washes, customer trails and testing. 

This includes a range of stack/ nesting crates, dollys, pallet box inserts and collapsible trays. 

When dirty crates are delivered they are stored for a short period of time before being washed in our BRC accredited wash plant.

Here at PPS we operate at a fast moving pace to clean and dispatch our equipment as quickly as possible. We can turn around dirty equipment to clean equipment in around 24hours. Quick isn’t it!

Clean equipment will then be wrapped and stored ready for dispatch.

If you didn’t know we also provide plastic crates and handling equipment for office moves and removals, these are stored clean and ready for dispatch.

Our pooling area is full of stock ready to be sent out on rental hire or as part of our complete package.

Stock is available for immediate dispatch.

Movers and Storers Show 2014

Having returned from this year’s Movers and Storers show it is clear to see why it is becoming such a huge part of the removals and storage industry. For anyone in the business this was the place to be and an ideal opportunity for PPS Crate Hire to showcase its services.

The event organisers, Amino Events, did a wonderful job of creating a buzz around the show before the doors even opened. The waves through social media certainly ensured that visitors were up to date with all the latest competitions and news while highlighting the range of products and services that would be on offer.

Our stand was in a fantastic location, greeting visitors through to the centre of the exhibitors hall. With our eye catching coloured crates and show boards it wasn’t long until we were discussing our services with many new faces. Never ones to let our visitors leave empty handed we had pick n mix bags in our PPS mugs, and the opportunity to win our PPS Crate Hire Hamper show prize. Congratulation to Lisa Bell from Bell & Sons Removals and Storage on winning this prize.

It was an excellent opportunity to catch up with our existing customers also, and support those entering the show competitions.

We’re already looking forward to next years event! 

PPS in Marchington

Last weekend saw the move of our PPS Midlands site relocate from Measham in Leicestershire to Marchington in Staffordshire. The move has more than doubled our capacity enabling us to increase our services to existing customers and welcome many more new ones on board.

Our Operations Director has spent month’s onsite with our construction team from Skubala Ltd who have converted the empty space into a fully functioning wash plant, office space and repairs unit with a brand new gas supply, wash machines, loading docks, security barriers, lighting, extractor fans and much more. They have ensured all structures and functions are in place for it to be a successful setup for PPS.

A large part of our move was warehouse based but we still had the challenge of moving an operational office. Having our own crates and handling equipment on hand was a huge benefit so we could pack as and when and select the correct size crate for the application. The plastic crates proved ideal with their durability as nothing was damaged, they stacked perfectly in storage and transport and were easy to nest and store away once emptied.

We owe a huge thank you to Britannia Premier in Burton on Trent whose team made our move as smooth as possible and even worked on a Saturday.

Here’s to the next chapter of Returnable Transit Packaging with PPS. 

Meet the Team - Paul Mountney

Name:
Paul Mountney

When did you join PPS?
A very snowy day early in January 2010

What is your role at PPS?
Project Manager

What was your first ever job?
Paper round

How do you take your tea?
Often & strong

What is your favourite food?
Cake

What are your hobbies?
Getting out & about, racquetball and being a “roady” for my wife who plays Alto & Tenor Sax plus Clarinet for two orchestras and a swing band.

PPS Crate Hire Sponsors BAR North West AGM

Thursday 22nd January saw the night of the British Association of Removers North West area AGM.

PPS Crate Hire were honoured to sponsor the event which was held at Knutsford Golf Club.

The night included a three course meal and drinks followed by committee reports and guest speakers. Stephen Vickers (Director General of the British Association of Removers) provided an informative presentation on the introduction of the Primary Authority partnership with Hertfordshire Trading Standards, giving the removal companies the benefit of new and enhanced terms and conditions.

This is a huge benefit to members and a fantastic marketing tool. Joanne Moss reported “Lucy and I were pleased to be able to represent PPS Crate Hire at the event and would like to thank Annette Harris (Area Secretary) for arranging a successful evening and securing such a great turnout.

Having already established a hub in Manchester it is important for PPS to develop relationships within the region and expand the already prosperous service that we provide to the removals industry.

We look forward to meeting many new faces at future BAR events.”

Crate Hire from PPS

Renting crates for your office move or refurbishment couldn’t be simpler with PPS Crate Hire.  Our experienced customer service team will help you throughout the process from advising you on how many crates to hire to arranging collections to fit in with your business needs.

Here are some steps to follow when arranging crate hire:

1.    Which Crates? – PPS offers a large range of crates to our customers conducting office moves and refurbishments.  We provide computer crates which are specifically designed to hold a computer and all the related equipment such as keyboards.  We have metre long crates which are ideal for moving books and the contents of filing cabinets.  We also have standard crates which are designed as one crate per person for all their desk top belongings.

2.    How Many Crates? – The general rule is one standard crate per person and one computer crate per PC.  It is also important to consider the contents of filing cabinets and folders when calculating how many crates you need.  Our customer service team will be happy to advise you on crate quantities and extra crates can always be hired if required.

3.    Do you need any packaging? – Will you want labels to identify the contents of each crate, bubble wrap to protect the contents?  Security seals are available to lock crates to protect high value goods or sensitive files. 

4.    How are you going to transport the crates? – When the crates are full they can be heavy.  Skates or sack barrows can be hired for safer and easier handling.

5.    How long do you need them for? – You will have a plan of how long your move will take and it is a good idea to hire the crates for a few extra days either side of the move to allow staff to pack and unpack their crates.  Don’t worry if your move takes a bit longer than expected rental periods can always be extended.

It can seem daunting having to make all these decisions which is why our customer service team is always available to discuss your individual move.  We understand that all moves are different so we tailor our service to suit you. 

Once you have ordered your crates all have to do is sit back and wait for them to arrive. 

All Change at PPS Returnable Packaging Specialists

We are experiencing exciting times at PPS with continued growth in all areas of our business.  In the last two weeks we have welcomed two new members to our growing team. 

Lucy Allsebrook has recently joined our sales department.  Our sales team provides customers with a large variety of returnable equipment including plastic pallets, crate hire, pallet boxes, trays and roll cages on a purchase basis.  They are on hand to advise customers on the best equipment for their business.  Lucy will also be involved as part of the sales team in the organisation of short term equipment rentals and ad hoc washes.

Our operations department has also expanded with Helen Adams joining the team as operations assistant.  She will be largely working on our full service customer accounts and using our online asset tracking system, Enable.  The management of equipment is of upmost importance when using returnable equipment and the Enable system prevents losses.  

Joanne Moss at PPS said ‘We are really excited to be welcoming Lucy and Helen to our growing team.  The use of returnable packaging has increased rapidly in the last few years with many users seeing the benefits of cost savings and a lower carbon foot print.  At PPS our customers have been pleased with the variety and quality of service that we provide.

We have been meeting the needs of our customers who already use RTP or wish to start by offering a selection of services including hygienic equipment washing, rental, pooling, management, sales and equipment repairs.   I am sure that Lucy and Helen will be valuable additions to our team as we continue to grow.’

Why use PPS Crate Hire

At PPS Crate Hire we know moving is stressful but we are here to help providing our customers with an efficient and reliable crate hire service.

There are loads of reasons to use PPS Crate Hire so we have listed just a few keys one’s for you:

1.    Product range – We have a large range of rental crates to meet your needs.  To complement the standard removal crates we also provide flat screen computer crates, server crates and metre long crates.  Packaging and handling equipment is also available.

2.    Flexible Service – We are here to meet your requirements.  We can deliver crates at short notice straight to your door.  Rental periods can be extended an extra crates hired if required.  Whatever you need just call our customer service team who will be pleased to help.

3.    Expert Advice – If you are unsure about how many crates you need just call our customer service team.  They will be happy to advise you on your individual requirements.  We can also recommend local removal firms if needed.

4.    Good Value – Our crate rental prices are very competitive.  The economical rental costs make perfect sense when planning a move.

5.    Great Service – From the moment you contact us with an enquiry right to end of your move and beyond you can be guaranteed of great service from everyone at PPS.  We pride ourselves in our service orientated approach.

Those are just 5 reasons to use PPS Crate Hire, hire crates from us and I’m sure you will find many more!

Automotive RTP boxes, crates and washing services

The automotive industry in the UK has taken a beating over the last 2 decades, losing out to cheaper foreign production and labour rates, however with investment increasing in UK manufacturing and a higher than expected new vehicle registrations in March are we seeing a turn round for vehicle sales and manufacturing in the UK.

Emerging markets in China and India are seeing a large demand for British Marquees, like Bentley, Jaguar, Range Rover and Rolls Royce.

With an increase in production volume, comes an increase in the reliance on parts supply and the use of packaging materials.

Playing your part within this complex supply chain means you have to think carefully about generating waste for your customer, that’s where PPS Midlands can help.

As a business, PPS midlands has been involved with RTP (Returnable Transit Packaging) for over ten years, providing bespoke RTP solutions to all forms of industry including Food, Meat, Automotive and Electronics industries.

Our standard range of products are in regular use within the food industry, along with bespoke tailored solutions for both the automotive and electronics industries, catering for specialist needs such as ESD (Electro Static Discharge)

Specialist plastic crates, boxes and larger collapsible pallet boxes can all be controlled and managed from site to site by using our simple on-line tracking software “ENABLE”, which has be designed by PPS from the ground up to offer a simple and effective way of managing RTP.

PPS Midlands is seeing a steady growth with component manufacturers looking to take a greater responsibility for packaging waste and environmental issues created by using disposable packaging materials. Many manufacturers are still reliant on the use of cardboard to supply their customers and this in turn has an impact on the receiver of the components.

Attention to details can make the change to RTP simple, e.g. when approached by a manufacturer of component parts of electrical motors we discussed the ratio of one component to another to establish the best configuration for shipping, this ratio was 12:1. Then taking into account the weight of each of the components calculating the maximum permissible lifting weight under the health and safety guidelines for manual handling laid down by the supplier, we set about looking for the right sized RTP. As with most solutions it is best to keep it simple, understanding the weight limits, and the parts ratios, we are able to provide a solution that not only satisfies the requirements for the supplier it also reduces the costs associated with packaging, simply one box caters for both elements.

With so many suppliers manufacturing parts and components to the automotive industry, the use of disposable packaging materials needs to be reduced to aid the green credentials and reduce the CO2 attributed to production of finished vehicles.

The key question is; what is your business doing about it?

If your need is large or small, if you need a complete start to finish solution or just need help to manage or wash your existing RTP, contact Jonathan at PPS Midlands on 01530 515333 or 07896 430047 or email Jonathan here

PPS Midlands “RETURNABLE TRANSIT PACKAGING SOLUTIONS” an alternative to packaging waste

Benefits of Crate Hire

Crate Hire from PPS

There are lots of things that need to be considered when planning a commercial relocation.  Fundamentally it needs to cause as little disruption to customers and staff as possible.  For this to succeed the move needs to be as efficient as possible.

The rental of plastic removal crates provides those companies embarking on a commercial relocation with an efficient and flexible solution.

Here are just some of the Benefits of Crate Hire:

•    They are reusable making them more environmentally friendly
•    Plastic crates are much more durable and stronger than cardboard boxes providing greater protection for your goods, allowing a wider variety of items to be transported.
•    They are weatherproof providing greater protection.
•    Plastic crates are stackable when full making them easy to transport.
•    PPS provides moving equipment to be used alongside the plastic crates such as sack barrows to encourage safe handling and easy transportation.
•    The plastic crates are nestable when empty saving on valuable storage space.
•    The economic rental costs make them a perfect option, you only pay for the crates when you need them.

When conducting a move not everything always goes to plan but you can always rely on professional service and support from the commercial moves team at PPS.

Please contact PPS for more information on our crate rental service.

Crate Hire - The Benefits

Benefits of Crate Hire

There are lots of things that need to be considered when planning a commercial relocation.  Fundamentally it needs to cause as little disruption to customers and staff as possible.  For this to succeed the move needs to be as efficient as possible.

The rental of plastic removal crates provides those companies embarking on a commercial relocation with an efficient and flexible solution.

Crate hire for Office Moves &
Business Relcation

Here are just some of the benefits of crate hire:

•    They are reusable making them more environmentally friendly
•    Plastic crates are much more durable and stronger than cardboard boxes providing greater protection for your goods, allowing a wider variety of items to be transported.
•    They are weatherproof providing greater protection.
•    Plastic crates are stackable when full making them easy to transport.
•    PPS provides moving equipment to be used alongside the plastic crates such as sack barrows to encourage safe handling and easy transportation.
•    The plastic crates are nestable when empty saving on valuable storage space.
•    The economic rental costs make them a perfect option, you only pay for the crates when you need them.

When conducting a move not everything always goes to plan but you can always rely on professional service and support from the commercial moves team at PPS.

Please contact PPS for more information on our crate rental service.

RTE Company PPS on the move

Returnable Transit Equipment Company PPS Midlands Plans a Premises Move in 2013

Due to continual expansion at PPS Midlands and to facilitate ambitious growth plans in the future PPS is currently looking to move in 2013 to new premises approximately double the size of our current facility. The company has increased sales by over 25% in 2012 in its core business services of crate rental, pallet rental, crate pooling, pallet pooling, crate washing, pallet washing and returnable transit equipment repairs.

PPS will be using their crates to ensure their
on office moves goes smoothly

To ensure a smooth premises move PPS will utilise the planning skills of its recently set up Commercial Moves Division which has been set up to offer crate hire and management to help our customers plan office, school, library and business moves. Our crate rental service enables customers to pack the crates hired from PPS with important documents, files and equipment and move to a new location or store the goods while any premises refurbishment is undertaken.

For commercial and business moves we offer a wide range of crate hire options including lidded crate rental, plastic crate hire, book crate rental, computer crate hire and all industry standard handling equipment to assist with the move.

Commercial crate hire from PPS is a service designed to assist customers in achieving an office or business move with as little hassle as possible. We will also support, with our crate rental service, the requirements of professional removal companies, facilities managers or any company carrying out its own move whatever its size or location. Our rental products are available in large and small volumes and plastic crate hire offers an ideal solution for short term or seasonal peaks. Crate rental allows companies to focus capital expenditure on their core business and not on packaging.

PPS has been providing returnable transit packaging solutions for over 10 years which includes crate hire and plastic pallet rental systems to customers throughout the UK and Europe. We currently have two BRC accredited wash plants in the UK where we wash our own pool of crates, pallets, pallet boxes, fish boxes and tote boxes. We also carry out tray washing, pallet washing and box washing for third parties in a variety of sectors including the food, retail, manufacturing, fish processing, and automotive industries.
For more information about PPS Equipment and our services visit our website at www.ppsequipment.co.uk

Office Churn - Crate Hire for Business Moves

Office Churn - Business Regorganisation of Workspace

David Peggie & Joanne Moss - PPS Equipment

PPS has recently entered into a new industry – the removals industry!  We now not only rent and wash returnable transit equipment (RTE) for the food, retail and automotive industries.  We now hire removal crates and equipment.  Our removal crates are being rented out to commercial removal companies as well as schools, colleges and businesses conduction their own moves.

Throughout the process of launching our new service we have found ourselves learning all about the removals industry.  Everyone within this industry has been with welcoming and has provided us with insights into their area of expertise.  It is through them that we discovered the term ‘office churn’.

Office churn is where companies regularly reorganise their workspace.  People often move departments within a company and sometimes whole departments can move to make the workspace more efficient.  Obviously when people move all their equipment and files have to move with them. 

PPS can help companies with office churn by providing a constant supply of rental crates onsite.   We can arrange to have crates permanently onsite for companies who regularly reorganise their space.  The crates can then be used as when they are needed giving staff time to unpack.  If at any time extra crates are need PPS would be able to supply them from our pool.

We also have specific computer crates that allow all the important IT equipment to be packed together.  We appreciate that it is important equipment is not damaged whilst it is transported so we can supply bubble wrap to complement our sturdy removal crates.  Handling equipment is also available to prevent any health and safety problems.

See our recent article published in "The Mover"

Contact Joanne Moss for more information about our competitive crate rentals. Alternatively visit our website

Crate Hire for School or College Refurbishments

School or College Refurbishment and looking for storage crates?

Crate hire from PPS.

Now that autumn is here summer seems long gone and all the children are back at school and college some of our rental crates are starting to return. 

Over the summer holiday period schools and colleges often undergo refurbishments whilst the students are out of the way.  Whilst the work is taking place they need somewhere safe to store all their equipment and files to protect them from damage.  This is where crate hire from PPS comes in.

PPS Crate Hire ideal for School or College Storage
of files or equipment

Our plastic crates are strong and durable with attached lids to protect the contents.  This makes them perfect for a school/college refurbishment.

We always experience increased demand for crate hire over the summer period.  Businesses also tend to be quieter at this time making it an ideal time to plan a move and create as little disruption as possible. 

Professional and commercial moves require crate hire to transport all the equipment and paperwork securely from the old premises to the new one. 

PPS hires crates for this use alongside removal equipment such as sack trucks and dollies for safe handling and bubble wrap for extra protection.   

We also hire specially designed computer crates to keep all the IT equipment together.

"Crate hire sure to be a busy time at PPS"

Therefore although the summer period is quiet for many industries it is a very busy time for the crate hire department at PPS. 

Now that our summer rentals are starting to return we are washing the rental crates and sending them straight out to new customers.  It looks like it’s going to be a busy autumn/winter for crate hire at PPS!



PPS Midlands Limited and PPS East Limited are returnable transit packaging specialists. Contact us with regards to reusable equipment services including pallet pooling, crate rental, tray rental, tray washing, plastic pallet washing, reusable fish boxes, pallet boxes and returnable transit equipment repairs

Crate Hire - The Key to crate rental and hire

Good quality equipment and a professional service is the key to crate hire

PPS Make Office Moves Easy keeping
the customers satisfied and happy

When professional companies, local authorities, schools and hospitals embark on a location move they need it all to go without a hitch.  They cannot let their customers, patients or students down.

Directors, mangers and all key members of staff spend great time and money organising their move, sometimes years of planning can go into the larger scale relocations.  They will have a schedule in place and they will require a professional service from all their contract providers from the packers, to the transport right through to the all-important crate hire.

This is where PPS comes in; we pride ourselves in offering the best service to our customers.  The crate hire will be one part of the whole removal process but it is vital it goes to plan.  Without our rental crates there would be nothing to pack all the equipment in!  The hire crates and equipment will all arrive on time at the agreed location ready for use.  We can even offer next day and timed delivery slots if required.

Our expert commercial moves team will guide you throughout the process by advising on how many crates you will need to hire.  They will also let you know about all the other equipment on offer from our specially designed computer crates, sack barrows for safe handling right through to bubble wrap for added protection and crate labels for identification.  The commercial moves team will be available throughout your move and they can arrange for rental periods to be extended and extra crates can be hired.

crate hire & rental

The quality of the equipment that we hire out is second to none.   Our rental crates are strong and durable, ideal for transporting all your important equipment and documents securely.  The crates are also washed after every use to ensure that they are clean and ready for use when they arrive at each new customer.

Joanne Moss, Commercial moves manager at PPS Midlands said ‘we believe that it is the professional and quality service provided by PPS that ensures that our customers return to us for all their removal and storage requirements’

Contact us for more information on crate hire from PPS



PPS Midlands Limited and PPS East Limited are returnable transit packaging specialists. Contact us with regards to crate hire requirements for office moves or business relocations

Crate Hire – Moving Offices or Premises

Plastic crates ready to go out to customers for transporting of files, documents or equipment

Over the last few weeks our store room has almost reached bursting point as we prepare to launch our new crate hire service. After much planning and preparation we are now ready to go with our first rentals being sent out this week.

At PPS we now offer crate rental to our customers who are moving offices or refurbishing their existing spaces. We have invested in a large pool of lidded plastic crates that can be used to store all your files, documents and equipment.

With over 10 years of experience in the rental of returnable equipment crate hire for the removal and storage industry seemed like the perfect next step. We are bringing the vast knowledge we have gained renting out returnable boxes and providing a professional and reliable service to removals industry. One added advantage that we have over our competitors is an onsite wash plant where our removal crates will be washed and dried after each use, our rental crates will arrive customers on the agreed date clean and ready to use.

Surrounded by Bubble Wrap

Moving is a stressful time so we have made our service as easy to use as possible. All our equipment can be ordered online or by phone and our sales team can offer advice on the number of crates that you will need to hire. We can also be very flexible by extending your rental period if necessary and increasing the number of crates that you have on hire. Moving doesn’t always go to plan!

When we were investigating this new crate rental service we decided that we should offer a full range of removal equipment to complement our rental crates including dollies and sack barrows for safe handling and bubble wrap to protect the contents. We also have labels to help you identify the contents and security seals for added protection. Our store room is now so full with all our equipment I have boxes of labels under my desk!

After all the time and planning that has gone into our crate hire service it is really exciting to see all the orders coming in and the crates going out on rental. Before we know it our store room will be half empty!


PPS Midlands Limited and PPS East Limited are returnable transit packaging specialists. Contact us with regards to reusable equipment services including pallet pooling, crate rental, tray rental, tray washing, plastic pallet washing, reusable fish boxes, pallet boxes and returnable transit equipment repairs