PD Ports is delighted to have secured a new ten-year contract with global chemical company Venator.

The new deal extends a 20-year working relationship between the two companies at Port of Hartlepool and secures 24 jobs, with PD Ports providing dedicated logistics and warehousing operations for Venator’s Greatham facility, from raw material to finished product.

The success of the relationship highlights PD Ports’ proven reputation as a trusted partner and an asset to any supply chain. We go the extra mile for our customers, shown in the continued levels of investment into our infrastructure to ensure operations are efficient, safe and cost-effective.

Venator, which is headquarted in Wynyard, is a leading manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigments and performance additives which are added to many household items and products worldwide, including paints, plastics, clothing and cars.

Venator UK’s Greatham plant, close to Hartlepool, is its highest producing operation in Europe.

PD Ports has a dedicated logistics operation to support every step of the plant’s processes, from movement of raw material direct from quay to plant, and then collecting the end product and preparing it ready for distribution worldwide.

Under the terms of the new deal PD Ports will refine its dedicated warehousing operation for Venator by refurbishing a 100,00sq ft warehouse on the dock at Hartlepool to provide a more streamlined and efficient logistics service, including a 100% increase in dock leveller load capacity.

On average, PD Ports receives and distributes c.100,000 one tonne pallets of pigment per annum on behalf of Venator, approximately 2,500 a week.

Lee Sanderson, PD Ports contract manager for Venator, said: “We have a dedicated team who are delighted to see a new long-term contract signed with Venator.

“Our level of service provision to the company has developed beyond recognition in the last 20 years – we work closely with Venator to understand their needs and to refine our own operations, investing where necessary to make improvements.

“It is due to the hard work of our team that we have been able to improve methods to utilise less space without losing handling capacity or risking safety.”

Trevor Cairns, senior manager for Supply Chain Logistics & Procurement at Venator, said: “The contract will support the Venator UK Greatham TiO2 facility in achieving its operational improvement initiatives in supply chain logistics, customer order fulfilment and ultimately production and sales volume growth targets.

“This is a significant milestone that builds on the strategic partnership between Venator and PD Ports logistics that has existed for over 20 years. During this partnership, we have collaboratively achieved continuous operating improvements initially starting at the PD Billingham Warehouse then moving to Stephens House, Hartlepool facility, and the new contract agreement transferring all operations to the newly refurbished Hartlepool Dock B Shed from December 2024.

“The new 100,000 sq. ft facility offers a consolidated location for all finished goods and will further enhance EHS, trailer / container receipt, loading and Venator supply chain sustainability targets.

“We look forward to this very exciting time and want to thank all the PD Ports’ logistics team for their on-going support.