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Travis Perkins and Tarmac Partner on Load Security Focus

Travis Perkins branch and Tarmac concrete (corporate)

Two of the biggest names in the construction industry have demonstrated their commitment to “putting safety above all else” by joining forces to implement a new load security strategy.

The UK’s leading builders’ merchant Travis Perkins and sustainable construction and building materials manufacturer Tarmac have worked in partnership to deliver the implementation of new load security hooding machines.

The new approach, which has been backed by a multi-million pound advancement, has already seen a reduction in the number of load stability related incidents by more than 90%.

The hooding machines have been installed at four Tarmac bagging plants in Dunbar, Aberthaw, Tunstead and West Thurrock, and are used to prepare the products ahead of the thousands of journeys a year Tarmac makes to complete deliveries to Travis Perkins branches.

The fully automated technology provides superior load stability and security through the use of stretch hood films, ensuring a high-quality security wrap is in place to help the product withstand the most demanding conditions.

John Duffy, Senior Category Manager for Aggregates, Blocks and Cement at Travis Perkins, said: “Both ourselves and Tarmac are completely united in our commitment to put safety above all else.

“That means making continuous improvements and taking the right decisions at all times to ensure colleagues and customers are safe, regardless of the cost implications.

“We are delighted to work with Tarmac on this project which now ensures 100% of the cement delivered to our branches arrives with the protective hoodings in place.

“We have had a small number of minor incidents in the past but we are always looking at ways we can make improvements and it’s extremely pleasing that we have reduced that number by more than 90%.”

Garry Gregory, Packed Products Director at Tarmac, added: “During the loading, transporting and unloading of our products, safety is our top priority and this has been a significant project we have partnered with Travis Perkins on.

“We set up a working party with representatives from ourselves and Travis Perkins to investigate a range of different solutions and this came out as a clear leader.

“There is already clear evidence that the four hooding machines we have in place are making a material difference, helping to further protect the products as they are being transported and ensuring load security is upheld when loading and removing.

“There is an additional benefit in that the shrink wrap which is applied also removes the risk of water ingress which can lead to damage to the product, but by far the main reason we have made this transition is to further enhance safety.”

Travis Perkins is part of Travis Perkins plc and is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials to the building and construction industry.

Featuring a network of more than 500 branches, it supplies thousands of products and materials, including offering a tool hire service, to trade professionals and self-builders across the nation.

It offers a wide range of quality timber, building materials, kitchens, plumbing and heating, landscaping, painting and decorating essentials and tools for the job.

Source : Travis Perkins plc 

Image : Travis Perkins plc 

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20 October 2026

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