New company’s invention makes Awards for Excellence shortlist
Every now and again someone hits upon an idea so ingeniously simple and effective that you wonder why it’s never been invented before. Successful trials of just such a brainwave, in February 2004, led to the formation of a new company… and to nomination for a prestigious Award for Excellence by the end of the same year.
Palletcap – the name of both the product and its supplier – was the invention of Hayley Shirley, who is now Managing Director of the Staffordshire-based company. While working as a business development manager in overnight pallet distribution, she noticed how much time and money was being wasted when pallets were wrongly stacked on top of fragile items.
The solution she developed is a highly visible warning cone that attaches to the top of vulnerable freight – instantly identifying it as fragile… without the need for reading and interpretation of labels. In a split second it tells busy fork lift operators – who are under pressure to pack vehicles as quickly and cost-effectively as possible – to avoid loading anything on top of it.
Palletcap has recently been nominated in the Safety category of the Fork Lift Truck Association’s Annual Awards for Excellence. After scrutiny by the FLTA’s expert panel it has been shortlisted as a finalist. Voting by those working in the industry will take place between the end of November 2004 and 31st January 2005… with the winner being announced at a glittering Awards ceremony on 26th February.
But it’s not just the FLTA that has been impressed. Within just a few months of the company’s formation, Palletcap has already been taken up by many of the leading pallet carriers.
Palletcaps are cheap to buy, being made from corrugated cardboard, and come flat-packed for easy distribution and storage. As such, they present a very straightforward and inexpensive way of preventing damage to goods.
In fact, customers have reported that they are winning new contracts on the basis that they can now provide freight protection. All of them can demonstrate significant reductions in top stacking damages, while many have eradicated these losses altogether.
“Accidents of this kind cost the industry many millions of pounds each year in damages, compensation claims, administration, lost customers and battered reputations,” says Hayley.
“We are delighted that our answer to the problem has been such an instant success. Within the next two years we hope to take it worldwide. In the meantime, we’re very happy to have made it through the FLTA nomination process… and our fingers are crossed that a lot of people in the industry will look kindly on our contribution when it comes to voting.”
For further information, contact Palletcap at Pendragon House, Ridings Park, Eastern Way, Hawkes Green, Cannock, WS11 7FD. Call 0800 243076. Fax 01543 465703. Email enquiries@palletcap.com. Or visit www.palletcap.com.
+++ ENDS +++
Photo
A delighted Palletcap Managing Director Hayley Shirley is pictured with her ingeniously simple but effective invention.
Issued on behalf of Palletcap by
The John Knowles Company Ltd Mariners Penwerris Lane Falmouth Cornwall TR11 2PF Tel: 01326 312451 Fax: 01326 213049 Email: mail@jkc.co.uk
Contact John Knowles or Paul Bowden
If you would like an electronic copy of this press release, please contact mark@jkc.co.uk.