TBA & Peel Ports win IBJ Award recognising innovative technology

TBA and Peel Ports Group have jointly secured the Innovative Technology Award at Monday night’s International Bulk Journal (IBJ) Awards, recognising their landmark Dry Bulks Standardisation programme - a multi-site transformation reshaping how bulk terminals operate across the UK.

The award celebrates the partnership’s forward-looking approach to infrastructure renewal, digital integration and customer-centred design. At the core of the project is TBA’s CommTrac system, which is being deployed as a fully integrated digital hub connecting weighbridges, ANPR gates, driver kiosks and handheld devices into one unified operational ecosystem 

The transformation spans four strategic Peel Ports locations and aims to standardise processes, improve traceability and give customers a consistent view of cargo data, with drivers benefitting from streamlined check-in and dispatch procedures.

Chris Hicks, Managing Director of TBA Doncaster, said the award reflects the strength of the partnership: “Winning this award together means a great deal and it’s a testament not only of our fantastic relationship with customers like Peel Ports, but to the hard work of every team involved. Solving real problems, delivering consistently, and supporting a vision for a smarter, more connected future for bulk operations.” 

Julie Rimmer, Transformation Director, Technology & Automation at Peel Ports Group, received the award alongside Chris on behalf of her team: “The launch of this initiative is a major milestone in our wider digital transformation project at Peel Ports Group, and the result of a hugely successful collaborative partnership with TBA. It will allow us to better centre our port operations around customer needs and data-driven insights, a model we are already replicating across the business.” 

The win positions TBA and Peel Ports at the forefront of digital innovation in the maritime logistics sector, setting a new benchmark for efficiency, transparency and port-wide standardisation.

The project's combined delivery team: Glynn Thomas (TBA), Andy Vis (Peel Ports), Dan Ashcroft (Peel Ports) and Sue Grocott (TBA).