What Hanson Logistics does

Hanson Logistics is a family-owned third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Huddersfield, UK, operating continuously since its founding in 1846. The company employs 51–100 staff and specializes in Upper Tier COMAH-licensed warehousing and distribution for hazardous chemicals, alongside broader ambient and contract logistics services. Its customer base spans chemical manufacturers (Baerlocher UK, ICI Dyestuffs, Castrol, Avecia), retail (House of Fraser), and industrial/furniture clients (Multiyork Furniture, Kay Metzeler), with several relationships exceeding two decades.

The firm's core operations revolve around regulated chemical warehousing, multi-temperature storage, UK-wide distribution, and palletised freight, supported by a Warehouse Management System and the Mandata transport management platform. It maintains ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, holds Carbon Neutral status, and employs ADR-trained drivers — credentials that together form the qualifying baseline for enterprise chemical accounts.

Hanson generates revenue through fee-for-service logistics contracts — warehousing charges per pallet/week, transport charges per movement, and value-added services such as labelling, repackaging, and customs clearance. Pricing is contractually negotiated rather than transactional, with long-tenured anchor customers (e.g., Baerlocher since 1997) providing revenue stability. The model is asset-heavy in real estate and rolling stock but capital-efficient in scale, relying on bank debt (HSBC UK) to fund incremental capacity rather than equity dilution. The April 2026 opening of a new 40,000 sq ft hazardous-chemicals facility, expected to lift group turnover by ~10%, represents the company's most material near-term capacity expansion.

Name

Hanson Logistics

Legal name

Hanson Logistics Ltd

Website

https://hanson-logistics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1846

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hanson Logistics is a family-owned UK 3PL founded in 1846, specializing in Upper Tier COMAH-licensed hazardous-chemicals warehousing and UK-wide distribution for chemical, retail, and industrial customers, supported by ADR-trained drivers and ISO-certified operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Warehousing and Distribution Logistics

NAICS

Warehousing and Storage (493), Support Activities for Transportation (488), General Warehousing and Storage (49311), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) & Dangerous Goods Logistics (TLAIAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemicals & Hazmat Transload (Regulated Goods) (TLALAFAH), Waste, Hazardous Waste & Regulated Disposal Logistics (RCRA/ADR Waste) (TLAIAJAI), Secure / High-Value Warehousing (Cage/Vault/Controlled Access) (TLAIACAG), Ambient General Merchandise Warehousing (Dry Storage) (TLAIACAA)

Keywords

• Hazardous chemical warehousing
• Third-party logistics
• Chemical distribution services
• COMAH compliant storage
• General haulage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Huddersfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Warehousing Services: Provides warehousing for hazardous and non-hazardous products, including labelling, stock control, sampling, and repacking services. Operates Upper Tier COMAH compliant storage facilities with high bay racking.
2. Transportation and Distribution: Operates a wide range of vehicles offering next day delivery to most of mainland UK, with European partner coverage. Provides general haulage service delivering anything from single pallet up to full load, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste transport.
3. 3PL Services: Complete third-party logistics services including chemical storage, labelling, stock control, sampling, repacking and transportation services for customers throughout the UK and Europe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hanson Logistics is a UK-based 3PL provider that operates an Upper Tier COMAH-compliant warehouse for hazardous and non-hazardous palletised products, equipped with high bay racking, sprinkler systems, stock segregation, and bar code tracking. It also provides general haulage and next-day distribution services across mainland UK with European partner coverage, supported by a modern fleet with the Mandata fleet management system, vehicle tracking, vehicle CCTV, and ADR-trained drivers. Value-added services include labelling, stock control, sampling, repacking, and a separate fully-bunded flammable storage area compliant with ATEX, DSEAR, and HSG 51 standards.

Product overview

Hanson Logistics is a family-owned 3PL provider (established 1846) offering integrated warehousing and transportation services. The core offering consists of Upper Tier COMAH-compliant hazardous chemical storage with high bay racking, bar code tracking, and 24/7 CCTV security; general and hazardous goods distribution with next-day UK mainland delivery and European coverage; and general haulage for single pallets to full loads. Supporting services include labelling, stock control, sampling, and repacking. The company also operates a dedicated flammable storage area meeting DSEAR and ATEX standards. Transportation services feature a modern fleet with Mandata fleet management, vehicle tracking, CCTV, and ADR-trained drivers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Upper Tier COMAH Warehousing Secure Upper Tier COMAH-compliant storage of hazardous and non-hazardous palletised products in high bay racking, with sprinkler systems, stock segregation, and bar code tracking for full regulatory compliance.
• Distribution Services Distribution and transportation services using a wide range of vehicles to provide next-day delivery across mainland UK, with European partner coverage for cross-border requirements.
• General Haulage Daily general haulage service delivering anything from a single pallet up to a full load, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste transport, supported by ADR-trained drivers.
• Flammable Storage Separate fully-bunded flammable storage area compliant with COMAH regulations, equipped with dedicated loading ramp, ATEX-approved equipment and lighting, and monitored 24/7 by the in-house security team. Fully DSEAR-assessed and compliant with HSG 51 legislation.
• Additional Warehousing Services Supporting services bundled with warehousing contracts, including hazardous and non-hazardous product storage, labelling, stock control, sampling, and repacking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record OTIF (On-Time In-Full) levels for Baerlocher UK Ltd since 1997
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Veolia UK: UK arm of global environmental services group handling hazardous waste, industrial services, and chemical logistics. Tangentially comparable via hazardous materials handling rather than warehousing-led 3PL.
• Biffa: UK's leading waste management company operating hazardous waste collection and treatment services. Comparable only in the hazardous waste transport/handling portion of Hanson's offering, not in warehousing.

Direct peers

• Wincanton: UK-headquartered 3PL provider offering contract logistics, warehousing, and distribution. Comparable as a UK-focused multi-sector 3PL serving enterprise customers, though with broader e-commerce/retail exposure and significantly larger scale.
• Davies Turner: UK family-owned freight forwarder and logistics provider offering warehousing, road, air, and sea freight with hazardous goods capabilities. Comparable as a UK family-owned mid-market logistics firm serving enterprise customers with regulated transport needs.
• Culina Group: UK-based 3PL and temperature-controlled logistics specialist operating warehousing, transport, and contract logistics. Comparable as a UK-centric mid-sized 3PL serving enterprise customers across multiple verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Yusen Logistics (UK): Global logistics provider with UK operations covering warehousing, road transport, and chemical sector logistics. Overlaps with Hanson in regulated storage and 3PL contract logistics for chemical industry customers.
• DHL Supply Chain (UK): Global 3PL market leader operating dedicated chemical and hazardous goods warehousing and transport in the UK. Comparable in regulated chemical logistics but with substantially greater geographic, capital, and technology resources.
• Rhenus Logistics (UK): European contract logistics provider with UK operations including chemical logistics, warehousing, and hazardous goods transport. Comparable in regulated storage and ADR-compliant road freight for chemical customers.
• Stobart Logistics (Esken): UK-headquartered logistics group operating warehousing, road transport, and contract distribution. Comparable as UK multi-vertical 3PL/contract logistics provider, though with a stronger retail/consumer focus.
• Kuehne+Nagel (UK): Global freight forwarder and contract logistics provider with significant UK hazardous chemicals and warehousing capabilities. Comparable in COMAH/DSEAR-regulated chemical storage and ADR-compliant distribution at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HansonTransport
• Facebookfacebook.com/HansonLogisticsLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanson-logistics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hanson Logistics