Logistex celebrates 80 years: the story behind Logistex’s growth and success

The name Cleco will be familiar to many, for years it was one of the strongest and most respected companies in the industry, designing and manufacturing materials handling products, including VNA automated stacker cranes, with which the company was most associated. Even then, the company supplied integrated solutions based on bought in products from other materials handling manufacturers as well as in-house equipment, so the business model we use today is one that has always been a part of the company’s culture.

As the world of IT and software systems became more advanced,  Cleco merged with software house Io Systems, with whom the company had a long-term partnership, in the 1990s to provide the additional expertise needed to support its own increasingly sophisticated systems. This commitment to specialist in-house IT expertise remains part of the company’s DNA to this day.

Following a management buyout from former owners Melrose PLC, Logistex is now a fully independent business, managed by the team which turned the business round into a financially robust, profitable and successful organisation. The company head office is located in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and employs over 250 people throughout the country.

After dusting off an old Cleco finance ledger, we can see there have been many highs, and some lows, along the journey. 1944 saw costs for damage as a result of the war, whilst 1969 saw an allowance for depreciation of the company aeroplane! The company cars looked a lot different back then too; in the swinging 60s Logistex employees were driving around in the likes of a Ford Zodiac, Humber Hawk, Hillman Minx and an electric van.

Today, Logistex continue to design and deliver intelligent, productive and cost effective warehouse solutions, helping hundreds of clients in a variety of sectors to raise productivity, improve service and cut costs. We’ve made lots of friends along the way too. Mike Hellier, Logistics Product Development Manager at our most longstanding partner, Pladis, says; “Our many years in successful partnership with Logistex are testament to their good attitude, high performance and excellent quality. Logistex continues to deliver excellent service within a highly demanding and pressurised environment. The team at Logistex continues to demonstrate organisational and personal excellence and I am confident that our partnership will continue for another 25 years. Happy Birthday Logistex – your people have made you a success.”

Some of our most recent successes include the automation of the Superdrug NDC which saw a 48% increase in throughput in the first year using 60% less operational cost, and a revolutionary warehousing and dispensing hub for Pharmacy2U which has improved their clinical accuracy to an industry leading 99.98%.

Jerry Woodhouse, Managing Director at Logistex says; “Logistex takes great pride in celebrating its 80th anniversary.  From humble beginnings as a manufacturer of electrical components, Logistex has developed into one of the UK’s leading providers of automated material handling systems, serving the needs of warehouse operators nationwide. The passion and innovation exhibited in the early days of the company continues today helping fuel our continued success. But it is the support of our customers, employees and suppliers that is most important and for which I express my gratitude”.