A Wolverhampton-based manufacturer is taking an innovative green approach to winning contracts and delivering goods to the 2012 Olympics site.
HOPPE (UK), which employs around 80 staff, is a supplier of door handles along with associated door hardware.
It has joined forces with London-based architectural ironmonger Harbrine to commission a freight narrow boat, which will be used to supply goods to construction projects at the Olympic site.
Keith Holt, joint managing director of HOPPE (UK), said: “Contractors working on the construction of the buildings that will be used in the Olympic Games are keen to support environmentally-friendly and sustainable logistics strategies adopted by sub-contractors and suppliers.
“Our 50,000 sq ft distribution centre at Standeford is located by the side of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal system, and the Olympic Park can also be accessed using the waterways, so it makes perfect sense to utilise this existing resource.
“This mode of transport also fits with the Olympic organisers’ vision for the sustainable development of the site.”
The 70 ft long narrow boat will transport products via the Birmingham Canal network onto the Grand Union Canal towards London, where the boat will then travel via the Regent/Islington and Venice Canals to East London before taking goods into the Olympic site.
