The PGS Group enters the UK market with a strategic warehouse for LPR pallets.
The French-Belgian pallet group PGS is continuing its European growth with the opening of its first site in the United Kingdom, located in Grays near London. PGS will sort, repair and heat treat pallets exclusively for LPR – La Palette Rouge, the European specialist in pallet pooling. This site will be one of the largest within the PGS group and hold significant strategic importance.
A major hub in the UK
The location covers 16,000 square meters and sees 80 to 90 trucks leave the premises each day. The site operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on a four shift system with 65 to 70 employees. It processes about 2.8 million pallets a year. PGS group sees significant potential in this new location and deploys a strong team of senior talent alongside new recruits with further optimization. PGS ultimately targets 5 million pallets per year.
Pallet processing according to the ISPM 15 standard
The UK site focuses on collecting, identifying and sorting pallets suitable for reuse in export. Pallets that do not yet meet requirements are repaired and treated according to the ISPM 15 standard. Since Brexit, this international phytosanitary standard required for the international transport of wood packaging has been mandatory for exports from the UK to Europe.
Expansion on existing infrastructure
The new PGS site is housed in an existing facility established two years ago by LPR – La Palette Rouge. PGS will not only continue the current production line, but will also enhance it with its own experience and technology. The combination of existing resources and PGS expertise will serve as the foundation for further scaling up.
Strengthening collaboration with LPR – la Palette Rouge
The service center expansion comes as a result of PGS winning a tender issued by LPR – La Palette Rouge. Both companies are jointly investing in the development and optimization of the site, strategically positioned within PGS Group’s European network. The location offers direct logistics links to the French site in Picardy. This connection is set to deepen in the future, further reinforcing the shared warehouse network.
“This new site is a logical next step in our collaboration with LPR – La Palette Rouge,” said PGS Group CEO Luc Grauwet. “It not only gives us access to an important market, but also to new logistics and operational opportunities that strengthen our European position.”
Strategic project with a long-term vision
Beyond its operational scale and logistical advantages, the new site also provides access to new timber supply services and international partnerships for PGS. Being present in the UK creates opportunities for additional commercial activities and new client relationships. With this warehouse, PGS is building a solid foundation for long-term growth and one of Europe’s largest pallet markets.
About LPR
LPR – La Palette Rouge, as part of the Euro pool group, has been specializing in pallet pooling for more than 30 years, and operates exclusively in the retail and fast-moving consumer goods FMCG sector, with recognized expertise, customer focus, and a network of more than 135 service centers across Europe. LPR – La Palette Rouge provides a complete pallet service to customers and their retail partners. Its reusable pallet system allows clients to reduce their ecological footprint and contribute to the transition to a circular economy throughout the supply chain. www.lpr.eu
About PGS Group
PGS group, founded in 1993, is the European market leader in wooden pallets, both new and reconditioned, as well as in reverse logistics services, with more than 50 sites in 13 countries and around 1,000 employees. PGS combines a strong international presence with a comprehensive and circular offering in the packaging sector, thanks to a vertically integrated model from its own saw mills to nail and pallet production, reconditioning, pooling, and logistics services. www.pgsgroup.com
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Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
