GLS France has opened a new €3.7 million depot on the outskirts of Lille, northern France, whichwill function as an international hub.
Located in Carvin, the heart of Nord Pas-de-Calais, one of the 22 regions of France, the 4,500sqm centre, which went into service last week, is equipped with 124 doors/docks, 24 of which aredestined for heavy vehicles and 100 for light vehicles.
The new site will take over shipments handled by the depot in Seclin, a commune in the Norddepartment in northern France, and will soon also handle parcels from the depot in Arras, thecapital of the Pas-de-Calais department. These smaller depots will stop operations and their teamswill be integrated into the Carvin depot. GLS plans to hire 15 additional staff bringing the numberof employees at the site to 55.
Emeric Bastid, Deputy Director at GLS France, commented: “Our customers will benefit fromenhanced capacity and latest technology. The new site is dimensioned to cover the region of NordPas-de-Calais which is the most populated after Ile de France. 100 delivery vehicles can be loadedsimultaneously and leave for delivery at dawn. We have established an optimal environment to ensurethe high quality of sorting operations, loading and delivery. Such an organisation will especiallyallow for faster transit in the region of Arras.”
Located at the crossroads of major highways, the facility will serve as a hub for entry and exitto other European countries. “The investment in Lille is strategically important for our networkbecause it offers direct connections with the various hubs and GLS distribution centres in Franceand neighbouring countries,” Bastid added. “The inauguration of this modern platform will alsobenefit the companies in other regions that market their products abroad. About 45% of all exportvolumes pass through Lille.”
In accordance with the standards and industrial processes defined by GLS, the site is equippedwith hi-tech conveyors allowing individual treatment of packages, no matter their shape or size(within the usual dimensions). The depot will also be equipped with Uni-Video which is a videosurveillance system developed by GLS ensuring full traceability of the parcels.
Operating in 36 countries, GLS has a network of 38 hubs and 665 depots employing 12,500 staff.Some 16,950 vehicles are deployed on the roads delivering nearly 345 million parcels annually for220,000 customers throughout Europe. During the financial year 2009/2010, GLS generated revenues of€1.7 billion.
