XPO Logistics, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable end-to-end logistics solutions across Europe, has extended its partnership with building materials manufacturer Etex.
Credit: XPO Logistics
The extension results from XPO Logistics' strong and consistent delivery performance on key indicators while offering innovative, flexible solutions to Etex where required. Added to that is the ongoing strong partnership between the companies, which has developed through working collaboratively on all aspects of transport operations, including safety, service, and cost reduction, creating continuous improvements since early 2019.
Etex Building Performance (EBP), a specialist division of the Etex Group, operates three sites in the UK—Portbury in Bristol, Ferrybridge in Knottingley, and Grangemouth in Falkirk—and works with XPO Logistics on various transport and service solutions, including multimodal, rail, and warehouse support teams, including vehicle load strappers. In the coming year, XPO Logistics will continue to offer even more innovative solutions to support future growth strategies for the Etex business. It will diversify its service offerings to other EBP portfolio departments.
The Portbury manufacturing facility recently underwent a significant expansion project, which opened officially in March 2025. It now boasts one of the longest and fastest plasterboard production line facilities in the UK and Europe. To help reduce the business's CO2 emissions, XPO Logistics introduced a new multimodal rail solution in January to transport products between the new manufacturing facility in Portbury and Grangemouth in Scotland. This collaboration with Etex and Malcolm Rail transports seven multimodal rail boxes daily between the sites.
Since December 2024, XPO Logistics has successfully transported over 500 multimodal rail swap bodies with its new sustainable transport solution, saving over 332,000 kg (332 tonnes) of CO2. By the end of 2025, the company anticipates transporting 1,500 rail swap bodies, with an estimated CO2 saving of 970,000 kg (970 tonnes), equivalent to 786 vehicles removed from the road.
Dan Myers, Managing Director – UK and Ireland, XPO Logistics, said: “This contract extension is testament to the excellent collaborative partnership we have built with Etex, and this will be strengthened even further in the coming year. The new multimodal transport solution for Etex between Portbury and Grangemouth offers significantly lower carbon emissions than other transport solutions could bring. Reducing CO2 emissions across the business continues to be a primary aim for both companies.”
XPO Logistics has also supported Etex in its recent rebranding of part of the existing fleet with a new Siniat livery. The fleet is also due to expand in the coming months.
Rob Ford, Head of Supply Chain – UK and Ireland, Etex, said: “XPO Logistics has proved to be a trusted partner for Etex time after time. The breadth of transport expertise, relentless pursuit of carbon reductions, and excellence in all areas of our combined operations have led to this extension. We look forward to working even closer together.”
XPO Logistics is a leading innovative supply chain company in Europe, offering end-to-end logistics solutions that combine full-truckload, less-than-truckload, pallet distribution, last-mile delivery, global freight forwarding, and warehousing services. The company tailors its solutions to the specific needs of its customers in a wide range of industrial and consumer sectors.