GPC Asia Pacific breaks ground at new distribution centre.
Automotive parts specialist GPC Asia Pacific has officially broken ground at its new 39,000 m2 distribution centre at the Broadmeadows Logistics Estate in Melbourne, with CEO and Managing Director Rob Cameron highlighting the centre’s importance in facilitating streamlined delivery of products to GPC’s customer base.
GPC – which includes Repco, NAPA Auto Parts, AMX, McLeod’s, Rare Spares and Sparesbox, and which presides over a network of more than 550 stores servicing retail and automotive trade customers across Australia and New Zealand – originally unveiled plans for the centre late last year.
It has entered into a partnership with logistics specialist LOGOS to build the centre and has also partnered with business transformation consultancy TMX to support its regional Australia and New Zealand supply chain network strategy and operational design.
Cameron described the ground breaking held at the beginning of April, which included a smoking ceremony involving a member of the Wurundjeri people, as being “a really exciting day” for GPC, with representatives from GPC, LOGOS and TMX in attendance.
“We are a business that is customer obsessed, maybe too much customer obsessed, and this facility is a really good example of how we are showing this obsession – we want to get the right products in the hands of our customers just as fast as we possibly can,” he said.
“We want to be one of the most advanced distribution sites in all of Melbourne, and coming out here to North West Melbourne, and Broadmeadows and the City of Hume, where we are really excited to bring employment to the area as well.”
NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTRE TO FEATURE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY
Broadmeadows Logistics Estate is a 25-hectare premium site which will comprise around 127,000 m2 of sustainable warehousing space across five facilities, with the GPC centre due for completion in the first quarter of 2023.
The GPC centre will feature state-of-the-art technology, allowing it to better support its stores, including an automated goods-to-person shuttle and very narrow aisle storage system, boosting cubic capacity across GPC’s product range and supporting its future growth strategy.
LOGOS Head of Australia and New Zealand Darren Searle described it as an “exciting occasion”, noting that GPC has “committed to a 39,000 m2 distribution centre of high-quality and efficient space, with integrated state-of-the art technology”. “Sustainability is an essential part of our business and, as with all our new developments, we will be targeting a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating for the estate,” he said. “Examples of these initiatives include recycling of materials from the demolition, which have been transformed into quality construction materials needed to build roads and infrastructure. “We will also incorporate Colorbond roofing materials to reduce heat island effect and include a minimum of 98 kW solar panels on all facilities, including GPC’s distribution centre.
“We are thrilled to partner with GPC Asia Pacific to deliver this important new facility for their business, supporting their growth across Victoria.” Cameron acknowledged the efforts of the GPC supply chain team and broader business, and thanked Searle and the LOGOS team, stating LOGOS’s “partnership has been exceptional through the process, very easy to deal with”. “We’ve got a multi-year quite transformational supply chain strategy and we look forward to perhaps partnering with you in the future in other elements of that,” he commented. “Also want to thank my friends at TMX, your partnership has been extraordinary in helping us to get to this position, so thank you for that.”
For more information visit www.gpcasiapac.com