MEACHERS' ability to provide a complete freight solution, has resulted in the group being awarded a major three-year contract with Southampton-based EniChem UK, a leading manufacturer of Styrene, synthetic rubbers and latex.

Winning the contract has resulted in Meachers employing an additional 21 new members of staff who will be responsible for this new key account.

The new employees have been taken on by Meachers at Southampton under TUPE regulations (The Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981) from Sea Route Ferry, which went into liquidation earlier this year. The employees were transferred in record time following an intensive two-week consultation period. The changeover has now been successfully implemented by Meachers, resulting in continuity of service to EniChem UK and its customers.

"We are exceptionally pleased with the way Meachers has managed the staff change over and continued to supply an excellent service to both our logistics and warehouse operation," said Chris Rogers, distribution manager, EniChem UK. "We chose Meachers because of its ability to provide an all encompassing logistics and warehousing service supported by an excellent local management team."

The Meachers Group will be supplying a range of services to EniChem UK including warehousing, transport and freight-forwarding. The Group will be managing the stock holding, groupage and full load operation of EniChem UK's products.

Meachers Transport will be providing warehousing and product despatch services to EniChem UK's customers throughout Great Britain in the areas of tyre manufacture, hose and belting production, textiles and the paper industry. Oast Agencies, the group freight-forwarding arm, will be shipping products on behalf of EniChem UK to locations throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Gary Whittle, commercial manager, Meachers Group, said: "Manufacturers and distributors are now looking to out-source logistic operations which integrate with their own business strategies. Through ongoing investment in technology and equipment Meachers is able to offer best business practices to customers' supply chains, such as EniChem UK and provide a seamless out-sourced operation."

A part of the Eni SpA Group of Companies, EniChem UK has production facilities in Hythe and Grangemouth, Scotland. As part of the styrenics and elastomers Division, EniChem UK has been manufacturing and storing Styrene, synthetic rubbers and latex at its Hythe site since the late 1950s.

Meachers facilities in Southampton and Derby manage a flow of goods and services for customers to ensure a continuous flow of products from initial collection through to final distribution. Utilising its extensive experience and the latest design technology Meachers manages all aspects of its customer's warehousing, transport and freight-forwarding needs from initial consultancy through to the project management and implementation of a total logistics solution. One focused point of contact ensures an efficient and trouble-free service enabling customers to save time, money and effort.