Switzerland-headquartered Panalpina officially opened the company’s new logistics manufacturing hub in Dubai South, spread across an area of 4ha.
The facility was inaugurated in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airlines & Group, and Stefan Karlen, CEO of Panalpina.
The facility, adjacent to the Al Maktoum International Airport, supports circular supply chains and will enable the company to grow its logistics and freight forwarding business in the Middle East, Africa, and CIS (MEAC) region. Three times bigger than the previous facility and with state-of-the-art infrastructure, it offers plenty of room to further grow with both existing and new customers.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Karlen said: “Dubai, strategically located between East and West, and with excellent road, airport, and port connections, is ideal for operating a regional supply chain hub for the Middle East, Africa, and CIS. We first set foot in the UAE 25 years ago and today’s official inauguration of our new centre opens an exciting chapter for our regional activities. It is the biggest facility of this type that we currently operate.”
The site is located in Dubai South Logistics District and forms part of the bonded logistics corridor that links the adjacent Al Maktoum International Airport and nearby Jebel Ali Port. Most of the operational space of 37,800 sqm is used for inbound to manufacturing and vendor-managed inventory services in support of logistics manufacturing services (LMS) and also for outbound distribution services. There are separate areas for the breakdown or build-up of air freight for the safe, intermediary storage of valuable goods and other special activities.
Goods are kept and handled in clean and fully air-conditioned chambers where the room climate is monitored and controlled around the clock. In a separate repair room, equipped with antistatic flooring and special lighting, specialists grade used mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, before they are reintroduced into the supply chain, recycled or discarded.
Specialists also refurbish game consoles, which involves diagnostics, repair, and testing. In the LMS area, also equipped with special lighting and electrical supply points, Panalpina engineers and technicians pick semi-knocked down units, configure, assemble and test them with latest software uploaded.
Mike Wilson, global head of logistics and manufacturing, Panalpina, said: “Our hub here in Dubai is designed to take advantage of the changing dynamics of the supply chain.With the trend of distributed manufacturing close to point of consumption, the emphasis on sustainability, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the makerspace movement, as well as technological advances, we will see more logistics facilities like this one in the future.”