Hermes opens new Warrington distribution centre
Consumer delivery company Hermes officially opened its new purpose built, 15,000 square metre, parcel distribution hub in Warrington, in front of an audience of over 80 of its top retail customers.
Designed to support the continuation of growth of the company the new £14 million hub has a capacity of around 550,000 parcels a day – almost three times that of Hermes’ previous site in Warrington – and has created 60 new jobs. It is the largest single investment by Hermes in its history.
The facility will help with the developing requirement for next day deliveries and will play a key role in plans for international expansion. Moving forward the facility will also provide a platform for further innovation, as the company looks to introduce a host of new products to the market.
Carole Woodhead, CEO at Hermes explains: “The new hub will ensure we continue to provide the best possible service for our clients. Its massive throughput capability and built in flexibility will allow us to meet any changing requirements they might have, such as later assured collection cut off times and a higher proportion of next-day delivery. It will also give us room to continue to grow our business as we take advantage of the continuing surge in online shopping.”
The site has a purpose built automated scanner with a capacity to process 20,000 parcels per hour. In addition the new automated sortation hub will result in all hub operations having the ability to loose load or containerise parcels using a standard fleet. This presents the opportunity to fully integrate the hub fleet and operate as a single centrally planned network. Hermes anticipates this will dramatically reduce empty running and take vehicles from the road, making further savings in CO2 emissions. In addition, the Warrington hub is equipped with energy efficient lighting and a rainwater collection system to feed the bathrooms, which also has a positive effect upon the environment.
Carole Woodhead comments: “With the continued growth of e-commerce, the supply chain industry remains under constant pressure each year to maximise capacity. Hermes has placed innovation at the heart of its business in order to satisfy the evolving needs of the increasingly demanding customer. The launch of the Warrington hub puts Hermes in a fantastic position to secure the opportunities presented by the online revolution and cement its place as the market leader.”
“We have also earmarked another £20 million of investment to allow for further increased capacity during peak season and for overall growth. We predict that 2014 will be an even busier year and we want to ensure that our customers are able to maximise these opportunities,“ concludes Carole Woodhead.
