FedEx Express has celebrated the ‘roof-topping’ at the site of its new gateway facility atCopenhagen Airport which is due to go into full operation at the end of this year.
The external structure has been completed within six months on a previously undeveloped plotof land, in coordination with Belgian developer MG Real Estate. The roof-topping signals thecompletion of the external structure.
The 8,000 sqm facility, due to open at the end of 2015, will be able to process 11,500packages per day and will incorporate areas for Dangerous Goods and Cold Storage. Approximately 120FedEx team members will work at the new gateway.
“We’re right on track,” said Helena Jansson, vice president, Finance, Europe, FedEx Express. “ It means we will be ready to help our customers in Denmark and Sweden boost their cross-borderbusiness during the busy peak season at the end of this year.”
The next stage involves the installation and testing of the state-of-the-art automated sortsystem, representing an investment of approximately €4 million.
The sort belt measures 360m in total, including a state-of-the-art cross belt loop sorter.This loop sorter will use a combination of brushless motors which power the belts andelectricity-generating wheels which help capture the energy. These two elements also reducefriction and heat, and mean that up to 90 per cent of the kinetic energy is stored and turned backinto electricity.
FedEx Express has worked with local Danish social enterprise Incita to produce 5,000 testpackages, which will be used for comprehensive testing and optimisation of the automated sortsystem. Incita helps people who have had to stop working or leave their jobs due to illness,disability, or other unfortunate circumstances return to the job market.
”We are excited to play a role in testing the new FedEx Express facility. Fifteen employeesat Incita are involved in producing 5,000 packages in all shapes and sizes in our workshop, whichwill be used to test the new sorting system at the facility”, said Christina Grøntved, CEO ofIncita. “We hope that this project will help some of our employees re-build their confidence sothat they can move on to new opportunities.”
“Now we start the fine-tuning process,” said Trevor Hoyle, vice president, Operations,Northern Europe, FedEx Express. “FedEx is synonymous with reliability and providing customerfocused business solutions. Over the next few months we will be putting the sort technology throughits paces to ensure flawless execution and delivery of outstanding service to every customer’sshipment.”
