AV Dawson, a Middlesbrough-based freight logistics firm, has signed a multi-million pound contract with British Gypsum, the UK’s market leader for plaster and plasterboard products. The deal will see AV Dawson importing the manufacturer’s materials through its site in Middlesbrough, with the products arriving by ship for unloading into storage, before being loaded into trains for daily deliveries to the East Midlands area.

This contract will also create ten new jobs at AV Dawson, as well as over £2 million investment in new facilities and plant equipment. A new, £1 million purpose-built canopy, based on the southern end of the firm’s site will be used to store the product, while a direct rail link will enter the canopy, allowing for the product to be loaded directly onto trains, without adverse weather conditions hampering operations and keeping the product dry to reduce the amount of energy required to remove moisture from the product when it arrives at the factory.

“We’re thrilled to bring a big hitter such as British Gypsum to the Tees. This is a major new contract for our business and represents a significant increase in the number of ships and trains coming into our site,” said Gary Dawson, AV Dawson managing director.

“Using both our port and rail facilities really makes the most of the capabilities of our terminal.  Our ships agency, Cockfield Knight, which is part of the AV Dawson group, has also supported the operation, enabling us to provide a very comprehensive service offering.  With the addition of the new rail canopy, which we’ve invested in to provide British Gypsum with a purpose-built storage and loading solution, we have developed an environmentally efficient solution that enables our customer to reduce its energy and CO2,” added Gary.

British Gypsum offered the contract to AV Dawson because of the flexible and environmentally efficient solution they provided.

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