GLOBAL thermal insulation board specialist Kingspan Insulation has sealed an alliance with its logistics partner TM Logistics by awarding it a further £7m contract.

TM Logistics, part of Worcestershire-based Taylors of Martley, has been awarded a contract extension to 2009 to handle all Kingspan Insul-ation's national transport needs in support of the firm's growth strategy.

The contract, first awarded in 2001, sees TM Logistics manage a round-the-clock delivery operation with 42 drivers based on site at Kingspan Insu-lation's 35-acre site near Pembridge, Herefordshire.

TM Logistics expects to deliver up to 400 loads per week nationally of Kingspan's insulation boards with a fleet of 24 articulated lorries, 10 rigid 17 tonne vehicles and 64 trailers.

As a division of Kingspan Group, one of the world's leaders in building materials, Kingspan Insulation makes high performance insulation products and is one of the top producers on the world market. The Kingspan Group has a global annual turnover forecast to be £1.25bn for 2005.

Now employing almost 400 people at Pembridge, Kingspan Insulation has doubled in size in the last three years.

Growth over the next four years is top of the agenda for Kingspan Insulation managing director Peter Wilson, who said the firm's logistics partner is vital to its masterplan.

He said: "Demand on the industry to reduce emissions is enormous and changes in building regulations have seen huge growth for Kingspan Insulation. Tran-sport is one of our biggest costs and our rate of growth is rapid, so we have to be sure our logistics partner can accommodate our growth strategy."

Grahame Taylor, executive director of TM Logistics, said: "This new contract is a tremendous vote of confidence in the service we provide.

"Since our appointment four years ago, we've seen Kingspan grow rapidly.

"At the same time, our business has grown too and we are delighted to have this opportunity to strengthen our partnership in support of their continued success."

"The Kingspan contract forms part of a long-term growth plan for us to develop our presence in the building materials sector."

TM Logistics employs over 350 staff and operates from a number of company and client owned sites nationally, with a fleet of over 200 vehicles and 300 trailers.