Business

Co Derry manufacturer, Crossland wins lucrative Guinness tanker order

Pictured are: Ray Andrews, operations director of AGL; Stephen McFerran, business development manager at Crossland Tankers; and Diageo Ireland’s logistics manager, Colm Hughes
Pictured are: Ray Andrews, operations director of AGL; Stephen McFerran, business development manager at Crossland Tankers; and Diageo Ireland’s logistics manager, Colm Hughes Pictured are: Ray Andrews, operations director of AGL; Stephen McFerran, business development manager at Crossland Tankers; and Diageo Ireland’s logistics manager, Colm Hughes

A CO Derry manufacturer has completed a major order from the owners of Guinness for ten new bulk beer tankers.

Swatragh-based Crossland Tankers won the deal with Diageo to supply ten 30,000 litre Guinness-branded tankers, continuing the long-term association between the two companies.

The new tankers will transport freshly brewed beer from the Guinness brewery at St James’s Gate in Dublin to Diageo’s packaging plants in east Belfast and Runcorn in the north of England. Operated by Associated Global Logistics (AGL), the tankers are a familiar sight to drivers on the M1 motorway between Dublin and Belfast.

The new tankers from Crossland have a stainless steel monocoque chassis, a characteristic shared by Formula 1 racing cars, with the tank itself making up part of the chassis. In addition to an improved aesthetic, the new chassis increases strength and enables heavier loads to be carried due to the weight savings. This design will also help Diageo reduce its carbon footprint through reduction of weight, as the tank is being pulled more easily when empty.

The latest investment brings Diageo Ireland’s total number of bulk beer tankers to 163 with the new units due to enter service this month . During peak production the fleet of tankers make more than 240 return trips per week moving beer from the Guinness brewery to the two packaging sites.

A "thrilled" Stephen McFerran, business development manager at Crossland, confirmed all ten tankers were built at the company's Swatragh base.

"Crossland has been able to incorporate a well proven design with modern manufacturing methods to provide an innovative long-life solution," he said.

Diageo Ireland’s logistics manager, Colm Hughes added: “Diageo is delighted and proud to have sourced these tankers from a local firm. As a global leader in beverage alcohol, the transport of our beer is a key priority and these tankers will play an important role in our operations. Reliability, innovation and quality are all key considerations when selecting a new tanker fleet and these vehicles have provided all three.”

Diageo is one of the largest and best-performing food and drink exporters in Ireland producing Guinness, Smithwick’s, Harp, Hop House 13, Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur and Roe & Co Irish Whiskey.

Founded in 1988, Crossland Tankers now employs over 130 people across two manufacturing sites at Swatragh and Burnley. The company is considered one of the leading tanker manufacturers in the UK and Ireland and has wide range of customers stretching across Europe and the Middle East.