UPS Canada has announced it is investing $26 million in a new distribution centre at CalgaryInternational Airport to meet the rising demands of Alberta’s economy.
The 150,000 sq.ft. (14,000 sqm) facility will offer state-of-the-art technology to facilitateimport, export and Canadian domestic shipments while allowing UPS to double its package processingcapability over time. Some 415 employees will work at the new UPS distribution centre, which is dueto go into operation in October 2009.
The distribution centre will house 157 trucks and will service Calgary and surroundingcommunities. UPS will continue to operate its three separate distribution centres in the city untilthe new facility becomes operational.
Since 2003, UPS has seen a 60% increase in the volume of orders from the greater Calgaryarea, particularly from the retail, technology and financial sectors. The surge in demand promptedthe company to invest in a new facility that will ease the flow of parcels through the distributionprocess and ensure it maintains an optimal level of customer service.
“Calgary is clearly Alberta’s premier international gateway for cargo today and in the futureand this new facility will ensure current and new customers continue to receive expedient, reliableand convenient service,” said Mike Tierney, president of UPS Canada. “The new facility will allowus to reduce the time customer shipments spend in transit, which ultimately means our customerscontinue to receive the level of speed and service for which UPS has become world renowned,” headded.
The new UPS facility will have airside access in the airport’s YYC Global Logistics Parks,highly efficient, multifunctional, international trade and transportation hubs that move highvolumes of goods to and from local, regional and international destinations.
The new building is the latest addition to Calgary’s expanding transportation and logisticsindustry, which has grown 77% and doubled the size of its workforce to 40,700 in the past 10 years,including some 6,500 workers in the air transport sector. Air cargo volumes at Calgary have morethan doubled to 134,000 tonnes in 2007 from 66,000 tonnes in 1999.
