Anstead International moves into purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities in Basildon, UK

Anstead International has moved from its long-established centre at Billericay to new, purpose-built 25,000 ft2 (2,325 m2) state-of-the-art headquarters and temperature-controlled warehousing with computerised product location handling at Basildon, Essex, UK. The new facilities operate to the latest ISO 2000/ PS 9100 standards and include new laboratories where product testing is conducted according to industry and customer specifications and following strict procedures, to meet the highest standards for raw materials.

Anstead is the specialist international pharmaceutical and personal care ingredients division of Univar and also delivers colour preparations to the food and beverage industry. The company, which offers the broadest product portfolio of any distributor in the UK, provides fully integrated product distribution and support services to a global customer base. Services include comprehensive technical back-up, product development, formulation services and product testing.

Representing an investment in excess of £ 5 million, the new headquarters operates to the latest ISO 2000/PS 9100 standards in addition to the pharmaceutical industry’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regime. Moreover, the state-of-the-art computer controlled warehousing facility brings a significant increase in efficiency to the order to delivery process for customers.

According to David Jones, Business Director, Anstead International: “The new centre is already delivering tangible improvements in service levels to customers and we are monitoring our performance on a daily basis to ensure continuous progress. We aim to assure customers of perfectly executed services, on time every time, under cGMP conditions.”

“In addition the substantially increased warehouse space is enabling us to extend even further the ranges of products we can deliver. These extensions, together with access to global product sourcing through our parent company Univar, will allow us to truly meet all the needs of each customer and provide them with a valuable single source of supply.”

Currently, Anstead is also increasing the size of its product development and formulation departments with the appointment of industry specialists. “Previously we had followed a more generalist approach to technical enquiries,” says Jones. “We are now adopting a dedicated sector approach, in line with evolving customers needs. That means in future a customer will be able to discuss his needs with a specialist in his industry.”

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