About APS

APS was initially set up to fulfill the demand for locally made, wooden pallets by North Devon manufacturers.

With over 10 years experience of management in the packaging/pallet/timber manufacturing industry, MD Alan Bowes was already working in the area, and understood the problems faced by many local manufacturers before he set up APS with his wife Karen.

"Pallets were available to local businesses, but most regional pallet suppliers would only ship large consignments." says Alan. "Space, budget and rising transport costs meant that purchasing pallets from these companies caused major headaches."

Alan and Karen assembled a team with strong backgrounds in the packaging and timber manufacturing sectors and set up Advanced Pallet Systems in 2000. In keeping with lean manufacturing methods, the business was (and remains) focused on supplying customers with what they need, when they need it. APS stock and serve pallets so their customers can minimise their stockholding.

It immediately became clear that customers buying pallets also needed a reliable supplier of other packaging materials and it wasn't long before APS expanded to fulfill this demand.

The partnership formed by Alan and Karen in 2000 became Advanced Pallet Systems Ltd in 2003.

The workforce grew and opportunities expanded to contract packing. The company now employs around 50 packers to collate and assemble packaging for products from a variety of clients from engineering companies to high street shops.

In 2007, Ian Smart joined APS as Operations Manager from a manufacturing site of Cadbury Schweppes. Ian has bought a wealth of Engineering, Manufacturing and Organisational experience into the business and these combined with his handling of Health & Safety and Personnel Issues continue to drive APS to grow.

We now occupy a 35,000² feet site that allows us to operate in the most efficient way possible to meet our customer's needs. Whether it be manufacturing bespoke pallets and shipping them with the required amount of shrink wrap, or collating, assembling and despatching hampers for supermarkets on a Kan-Ban basis, APS can fulfill all of your company's packaging needs.

On this website, our services are divided into pallets & packaging, contract packing and storage. However, we don't like to think of APS as a supplier of 3 distinct services. We are proud to provide "Total Packaging Solutions".