Brenntag, the global market leader in chemical distribution, have held an official opening of the new distribution site at the Turbine Business Park, Sunderland.
The new Brenntag North East site is an important development for the region, and demonstrates Brenntag’s continuing commitment for chemical distribution to the region. The company has a remarkable history in the manufacturing industry across the UK & Ireland having been providing chemical ingredients and services to the material and life science and environmental industries for many years, for instance Brenntag have recently celebrated their 175 years in Scotland.
Following Brenntag’s service model of operating locally across the UK & Ireland, while benefitting from the global reach of the Group, the purpose-built site has been designed to handle chemical products and ingredients for the variety of life, material and environmental manufacturing industries. Serving as a major chemical & ingredients distribution, service and sales facility for North Cumbria and the North East of England, the site totals an impressive 3.4 acres, and features extensive mixing and blending facilities, dedicated specialised storage, bulk liquid storage and dedicated and segregated product storage.
Russel Argo, Regional President Brenntag UK and Ireland, commented: “In 2018 we have celebrated 100 years of our history in the North East, and our new site marks a new era for Brenntag in the area. We have a fantastic heritage of servicing the North East and are extremely pleased that we will be able to expand our service offering to the region through our brand new facilities. This major investment signifies Brenntag’s strategic intent to further enhance the efficiency of our infrastructure, geographical reach and added value capabilities in the core markets we serve.”
Site safety, logistics and sustainability aspects all featured heavily in the design brief for the new site. The site currently operates 24 hours, 5 days per week, with transport operations running 5 days per week, with the potential for twilights / night deliveries (CIJ: Brenntag sites in Bristol and Lutterworth have been successfully operating on the 24/6 schedule). Some features include a new QC laboratory, significantly increased storage for food ingredients, industrial and speciality chemicals, dedicated storage facilities and handling equipment for flammable liquids in packages, as well as added bulk liquid storage capacity for Caustic Soda Liquor, Sodium Hypochlorite, Hydrochloric Acid, and Sulphuric Acids of various concentrations.
The tank farm has been designed by Brenntag’s own engineering team to allow for further expansion of the bulk storage facilities with capacity for additional bulk storage to meet the growth plans of our business and that of Brenntag’s customers. Their established blending capabilities have been expanded further with the installation of two blend vessels with the capacity to manufacture over 8000 tonnes/year of bespoke blends from 1,000lt to 25,000lts.
As part of the ongoing commitment to sustainability, the company has invested in the new wind turbine. The first within Brenntag UK & Ireland, the unit will generate 13,000 kWh p.a. at an average speed of 5 m/s, which is enough energy to power the warehouse and office facility, reducing the site carbon footprint by approximately
4,000 kg per annum, consuming approximately 90% of the generated electricity with the balance being exported to the National grid.
“The Brenntag North East team were all heavily involved in the design and build of the site, and the Open Day that we held at the facilities at the beginning of the year was a fantastic recognition of their efforts” said Argo.
www.brenntag.co.uk
