BIFA Awards
Loading rolled alloy plate, destined for the manufacturers for processing Keeping aerospace aloft
Carrier ‘Z’ trailers loaded in the US, shipped via ro-ro and awaiting dispatch on the quay
retailers prefer to hold stock at distribution centres nowadays, given the complexities around Brexit, higher freight rates and the shifts in logistics that came about during COVID-19. But aerospace is likely to continue to use the just-in- time model, said APGL director Kevan Childs. APGL has plenty of experience of this method since another segment of its business is the transportation of foodstuffs which, by their very nature, cannot always be held in stock for long periods. “We move foodstuffs using ocean freight (including ambient and temperature-controlled solutions) to general warehouse sites. We do a lot of CIF business in this area,” Childs said. Looking ahead APGL wants to keep expanding its US activity, while the EU has also become a market for the company since Brexit. Julie Curran, executive assistant, said APGL has certainly diversi fi ed in recent years. “We’re small enough to change direction – and we’ve had to, to survive, especially since COVID-19. We listen to customer demands, and we read forward what we think the market will do.” APGL is con fi dent that the aerospace sector will keep growing despite the introduction of US tariffs on steel imports. According to Quincey: “The industry is recharging and looking at ways to improve fl eets. Airbus is offering cash grants and incentives to suppliers to increase output – it was behind on orders by about 150 aircraft last year because it couldn’t get parts quickly enough – and this should lead to increased volumes for us as well.”
Atlantic Paci fi c Global Logistics, winner of the 2024 BIFA Supply Chain Management Award, has found aircraft manufacturers’ need for just-in-time logistics to be a great fi t for its experience
manufacturer itself,” he said. “For example, wings are fl own from Broughton on the manufacturer’s own specialist aircraft. Our responsibility is mainly to get the metals to the factory, and we mostly do this by truck. If a shipment is going to France or the Netherlands, we will either send it shortsea or on a dedicated truck.” Any delays in despatching the cargo from the US increase the urgency of onward transport once it arrives in the UK, as deliveries are made on a just-in-time basis. Quincey explained: “We’re delivering to manufacturing plants without much storage space; they prefer items to arrive and go straight to the production line rather than taking up room – or incurring costs at the port. Just-in- time is the most cost-effective option.” Many manufacturers and
A tlantic Paci fi c Global Logistics (APGL) was approached in 2023 to move rolled alloy sheets, ingots and fuselage stringers from the US into Rotterdam for distribution around Europe and the UK on behalf of a supplier of raw form metals to major aircraft manufacturers. Since Brexit, the client was having problems with transportation between Rotterdam and the UK. Essential delivery slots were being missed, causing delays at multimillion-pound production lines. Rerouting the UK deliveries away from Rotterdam and bringing them directly from the US into the UK has reduced costs and improved the delivery success rate by 20%. APGL has won a three-year extension to the contract as a result. Andy Quincey, national logistics manager at APGL, said the metals are shipped over from the US by sea, with onward transport varying according to destination and urgency. “Generally, the last leg to the assembly plant in Toulouse is handled by the aerospace
“ Just-in-time is the most cost- effective option – Andy Quincey, APGL
Supply Chain Management Award
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18 | September 2025
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