The renewal comes following a competitive tender process and sees Downton further extending its operation for Sapa to include new services.

Downton will continue to run all of Sapa Profiles UK’s national distribution, delivering from four main sites – Cheltenham, Tibshelf, Redditch and Birtley – out to the company’s national customer base.  Downton also runs a significant inter-site transfer operation and handles shunting at three of the main sites.

Under the new contract, Downton will be increasing the operational support team, with seven members of staff now operating out of three of Sapa’s facilities, supporting the complex requirements of the client and their national customer base. 

Andy Downton, managing director of Downton, said: “Sapa Profiles UK has been a key Downton client for over six years.  It is a successful partnership that has strengthened with every passing year.  We are extremely pleased to be continuing and extending the contract, and look forward to working with Sapa for many years to come.”

Yann Beck, managing director of Sapa Profiles UK Ltd, said: “In an environment of constant challenging needs, it is imperative that Sapa’s transport partner be flexible and proactive, with on-time delivery and customer service remaining at the forefront of our core business.

“The Downton team has continually delivered an exceptional service where they are often the face of our business when the customer is in receipt of goods. The dynamic relationship and shared business knowledge gives us the confidence that our logistics operation is in the right hands.”

The Sapa contract follows a series of recent wins and renewals.  Earlier this month Downton secured a new contract with the packaging division of global paper and packaging company Saica.  That follows three contract renewals in February 2016 with Holmen Paper, Norske Skog and RPC Promens – worth around £3.5m a year.