21/Nov/2008

Vital parts delivered

Priority Freight came to the rescue recently when a UK automotive manufacturer needed parts urgently from Sweden.

“We took the initial call at 3pm,” explains Paul Williams, Logistics Director, “and it was clear that manufacturing continuity was at risk if the required parts were not delivered before the factory in Warwickshire opened at 6am the following day.”

The necessary parts, however, were located in central Sweden, some 1200km away, as the crow flies. Air charter was an option, but an expensive one. “Chartering a aeroplane would have cost the client some 7000 Euros,” explains Paul. “With a bit of ingenuity, we knew we could avoid this cost. A call to one of our reliable European partners,” he continues, “ensured that the consignment was collected within just 40 minutes.”

The dedicated van raced, via the Oresund Bridge, to Copenhagen airport to meet the evening flight to Stansted. The consignment was checked in at 7.30pm local time and the ‘plane flew out at 9.25pm. With one of Priority Freight’s own vehicles standing by at Stansted, the goods were collected at 10.20pm UK time and arrived at the Midlands factory at 2am, four hours ahead of the production line start-up.

Comments Paul Williams, “The customer was, needless to say, delighted. Just 11 hours after his call, the parts were on site and costs had been minimised.”