DAVIES TURNER EXPANDS ITALY PARTNERSHIP

DAVIES TURNER EXPANDS ITALY PARTNERSHIP    Davies Turner has strengthened its Italian services through its association with European network partner Fercam Transporti.
   Fercam, an independent freight and logistics operator in Italy serving 80 percent of the provinces, has opened a new branch in Prato, Central Italy. The new office will support other services in the country, including the textile operated by Fercam.
   Through Fercam, Davies Turner has access to 28 sales and distribution outlets and 10 branches in Italy. The country is a major market for Davies turner's specialist textiles and fashion divisions, and the company is providing enhanced links between the fashion centers of Italy and the United Kingdom.
   Under the partnership, direct southbound export groupage trailers operate from Davies Turner's main freight hubs in Birmingham, Bristol, Dartford, Glasgow and Manchester direct to Fercam's network of main centers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Import groupage trailers operate to the five U.K. terminals on Tuesdays and Fridays from Bolzano, Bologna, Padova, Rove and Verona; and three times weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday) from Florence/Prato; and daily from Milan or Turin.
   'We have been working with Fercam for almost three years,' said Philip Stephenson, joint managing director of Davies Turner. Fercam has 1,500 trucks of its own servicing purpose-built depots. 'It also has experience with rail/road swap bodies to complement our own fleet,' he added.
   In addition to the driver-accompanied import and export road services, Davies Turner maintains regular intermodal service out of the Midlands and the North through new terminals in Birmingham and Manchester.