OTS Group Fuels New Nagel Langdons Liverpool Depot

The Depot, which opened for business on 1 st March 2019, adds to Nagel Langdons’ existing UK network of temperature-controlled food distribution and storage centres for the wholesale, retail and foodservice sector.

It represents the latest development in Nagel Langdons’ portfolio to partner with OTS Group. The site, which operates 24/7, with the exception of Christmas Day, already handles in excess of 40,000 pallets and delivers to more than 3,000 locations on behalf of over 1,400 customers every week.

When planning the £13 million development, Wilfried Dickinson, Consultant and Project Manager, estimated that fuel would account for approximately an eighth of overall costs for the site.

With this in mind, Dickinson turned to OTS Group, which has a longstanding working relationship with Nagel Langdons, choosing to incorporate its integrated tank and fuelling system solution with remote connectivity into his facility. “Fuel is the hub of the organisation”, explains Dickinson, “The entire operation stops without fuel”. The Depot is strategically located in Liverpool and primed to function as a hub for Nagel Langdons’ transport logistics. Approximately 60 trucks will touch base on site every day, before continuing on their journeys across the UK, either up north to the Glasgow Depot or down south to the Redditch Depot. The fuel requirements of these trucks are significant; they will be responsible for transporting 26 tonnes of product, powered on by their 140 litre fuel tank capacities which function at approximately 7 mpg.

Having served the industry for over 40 years, OTS are a trusted and highly recommended team of experienced consultants and engineers who have worked collaboratively with Wilfred Dickinson to identify, analyse, report and deliver a state-of-the-art diesel storage product and service. “I knew that I could trust and work with OTS Group and its experienced team to deliver an industry-leading fuel storage tank”, Dickinson commented.

With fuel costs at such a depot reaching approximately £160,000 per year, fuel efficiency is crucial. The OTS Group fuel tank has been designed to reduce fuel costs, combat emissions and advance the future of fuelling logistics. It holds 100,000 litres of fuel – 50,000 litres of white diesel, 40,000 litres of red diesel and 10,000 litres of AdBlue (which helps to reduce nitrous oxide emissions produced by diesel engines). The team at OTS Group completed all works on the tank in-house before delivering to the Liverpool site fully built, minimising disruption for the client. In addition, the tank is surrounded with a spill containment and recovery solution. Spilt fuel is taken down into a Gatic Drain to an interceptor which is monitored by solar powered panels. When certain levels are reached, a light or siren will be activated. Excess fuel is then pumped to a recycling plant. All OTS tanks are designed and built to accord with the Control of Pollution Regulations which require a Design Life Expectancy of 20 years, and OFTEC OFS T200.

The Liverpool Depot has been designed to be industry-leading. An enormous freezer store set at -25⁰C provides pallet access racking for up to 5,000 pallets and a cross-docking platform then leads to 16 automatic dock levellers. Ammonia compressors are used to maintain this freezing temperature; a significantly more environmentally friendly approach than the alternatives.

The site is fully automatic, can be maintained remotely and is 20 percent more efficient than other depots of its type. Dickinson comments, “OTS Group’s turn-key fuel distribution depot solution matches the ambition of our wider facility in terms of ensuring the best possible performance.”

The Bulk Fuel Storage Tank has also been designed to incorporate an Internet of Things (IoT) approach, maximising its efficiency and performance. It is fitted with IT-connections and is fully instrumented to allow for the continuous monitoring of fuel stocks. The drivers swipe a card before refuelling which records which vehicle is filling up at what time and where, calculating distance travelled and how much fuel is required in the tank. This data is transmitted electronically via a web- based stock management system which is constantly monitored from the Bridgewater Headquarters. Refuelling is also fully automated meaning that vehicle tanks fill up completely without requiring driver intervention.

“I knew that I could trust and work with OTS Group and its experienced team to deliver an industry-leading fuel storage tank.”

Wilfried Dickinson, Consultant and Project Manager

Dickinson adds, “I continue to work with OTS because they offer excellent value for money, the products are great quality and the team is easy to work with. With an operation like this, it is essential to have a partner as responsive as OTS are – they immediately send someone up to the depot if any issues arise and can always be reached on the phone.”