GLS operations in a new 5,700 sqm freight terminal in Tongeren, eastern Belgium, started last week, after investing €7 million in the site’s construction and its equipment.
Apart from the freight terminal, a GLS parcel depot is also being built on the site. This is expected to go into operation in summer.
Announced in October 2018, the high-performance and green location is now the first GLS freight building in Belgium. Currently it has 75 gates with the possibility of expansion. A third of the gates are equipped with modern dock levellers for the trucks that do not have a lifting platform.
A volume scanner and two scales embedded in the floor automatically and precisely record the volume and weight of the pallets. GLS Belgium Distribution uses new handheld scanners in the freight sector, which thanks to the touchscreen are much more user-friendly and work more efficiently.
Luc De Schrijver, Managing Director GLS Belux, explained: “For efficient cargo handling, we didn't just rely on modern equipment, but also on security and sustainable operations.”
For example, all forklifts are equipped with dry cell batteries and all gates are framed with steel profiles for security. The building is also equipped with "SlowStop Guardrails", a flexible, energy absorbing polycarbonate guardrail that remains intact even after a collision. Special expansion joints in the concrete floor ensure a silent, vibration and shock-free driving of the forklift.
Moreover, LED lamps are used throughout the hall, the offices and the outside railing. A rainwater recovery system ensures optimal use of the water. Over 900 solar panels on the roof supply the depot with sustainable electricity.
Due to the new location, GLS can also increasingly transport freight shipments directly between customers. This is more efficient and reduces CO2 emissions. At the same time, customers benefit from shorter transit times on some routes.
De Schrijver added: “We are now starting with a day capacity of 2,500 pallets and are working with 750 companies from a wide variety of industries, such as automotive, DIY or suppliers." However, if the quantities continue to increase, the building and its capacity can be easily expanded.
