Employment boost promised as expanded pharmaceutical warehouse opened
Mawdsleys, an independent distributor of pharmaceutical and medicinal supplies, has formally opened its newly expanded third-party logistics (3PL) warehouse in Doncaster.
It was opened by Ed Miliband, Labour MP for Doncaster North and Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The footprint of the warehouse has been doubled to 300,000 sq ft, while major green upgrades have also been made to the site.
Environmental improvements include fitting the roof with an array of 3,375 individual photovoltaic (PV) panels, wired to a 39-tonne battery providing 2,600kWh of storage – one of the largest systems of its kind in the UK.
The aim is to provide two-thirds of the site’s annual electricity needs.
Miliband said: “I am pleased to open Mawdsleys’ expanded facility which will mean the creation of more jobs and environmental improvements, including the installation of solar panels.
“It is important that companies show leadership in creating jobs for local people and be responsible stewards of our environment.”
William Sanders, group CEO at Mawdsleys, added: “It was clear that we urgently needed additional space to support our clients, as they service the NHS and UK pharmaceutical sector.
“As an industry leader – the largest independent supplier of medicinal products to the NHS – it is also important we continue to lead from the front on environmental matters.
“We are immensely grateful to the Rt Hon Ed Miliband, whose participation at the opening ceremony signifies Mawdsleys close relationship with the local community and our commitment to Doncaster.”
As well as the warehouse solar array and battery, the business is also include the trialling an ‘E-Cool’ truck trailer.
While most refrigerated trailers are diesel-powered, E-Cool trailers are powered by electricity, reducing the carbon and particulate emissions associated with transportation of refrigerated products.
They incorporate an energy recovery system which converts kinetic energy into electricity when the vehicle brakes, which is stored and then used to power the cooling unit.
All Mawdsleys’ heavy goods vehicles and light commercial vehicles are fitted with solar panels to power many of the vehicles’ electrics, reducing fuel usage by up to 5%. The firm’s car fleet is now predominantly electric, with the remaining few vehicles being plug-in hybrids.
The company aims to make all its light duty vehicles electric vehicles by 2030.
