Global logistics company Kuehne + Nagel performed ground-breaking ceremonies recently to signal the construction of its new multipurpose warehouse in Singapore.
The state-of-the-art facility will be located on the western side, close to major manufacturers and ports.
It will have 55 loading bays and five floors dedicated to storage, with a total floor area of over 46,000 square meters. Of this, 20,000 square meters will be used as a cold storage zone to manage temperature-sensitive goods for pharmaceutical and healthcare customers.
The remaining space will cater to aerospace, spare parts, and hi-tech products, and a further 4,000 square meters will be allocated to offices.
Features will include advanced technology as well as automation and robotization functions to help improve workflow processes and reduce time required to pick, pack, and ship items to facilitate order delivery.
The build-to-suit logistics center is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
“Singapore is an important logistics hub for global trade, thanks to its world-class infrastructure and excellent connectivity,” said Karl Gernandt, chairman of Kuehne + Nagel International AG at the recent ground-breaking ceremony.
He added that its investment in the facility is one of its largest outside Europe, reflecting both the importance of Singapore as a business location and its significance to the company’s network.
Dachser takes over India, Thai operations
Another international logistics provider, Dachser, pursued its expansion in Asia by acquiring the remaining shares of Dachser India from AFL Pvt. Ltd.
The acquisition makes Dachser the sole shareholder of the company’s ventures in India and Thailand, and a majority shareholder of the joint venture in Bangladesh.
The collaboration between Dachser and Indian logistics company AFL began in 1996. In 2007, the companies began developing regional markets in India through a joint venture and established additional organizations in Bangladesh and Thailand. In 2011, the company was renamed Dachser India.
In August, Dachser acquired all of the India and Thailand shares owned by Indglobal, an affiliated company of AFL, and a majority of its shares in Bangladesh.
“This was an important step toward strengthening our intercontinental network and being able to work even more closely with our customers in these promising growth markets,” said Thomas Reuter, COO of air and sea logistics at Dachser.
The company’s main India office is headquartered in Mumbai, and it employs about 500 people in 27 locations across India. It also has two locations in Bangladesh and an office in Bangkok, Thailand.
In recent years, the firm has made huge investments in the Asia-Pacific region, establishing subsidiaries in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. It has also expanded its activities in Greater China and South Korea.
