FedEx Express yesterday officially opened its new RM 17.6 million (US$4.3m/€3.7m) Penang Gateway facility and plans to open two more branches in Malaysia later this year.
The gateway, the largest integrated logistics facility of its kind in Penang, which is home to diverse global electronics, medical device and aerospace companies, is an integrated warehouse and sorting facility for both FedEx and TNT operations in the region, serving as a major hub in Malaysia’s northern states and a key gateway for FedEx Asian and Trans-Asian flights.
The 4,830 sqm warehouse is also the first facility of its kind in Malaysia to feature x-ray scanning for 100% of all outbound packages. This is made possible with the use of advanced conveyor belts and sorting systems as well as outbound x-ray scanning equipment capable of handling more than 2,700 packages per hour, according to the company.
The Penang gateway will have two dedicated Boeing 767 freighters capable of next-business-day delivery flights to major cities in the U.S. and Asia Pacific, as well as 71 ground operations vehicles covering more than 60 local routes in Penang and neighboring mainland states, such as Kedah and Perak.
The facility, operated by approximately 350 workers, also supports the FedEx Asia Road Network (formerly known as the TNT Asia Road Network), a unique and extensive road system that spans more than 7,000 km and connects all key markets in South East Asia and China, from Singapore to Guangzhou.
“The logistics sector continues to be an important economic driver for Penang, supporting the continuous growth of our local industries, especially the manufacturing sector. The FedEx enhanced facility will play an essential role in turning Penang into a logistics hub for Malaysia’s northern region, as well as a gateway enabling cross-border trade and attracting foreign investments,” said Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, chief minister of Penang, who ceremonially opened the facility.
“The Penang Gateway facility represents our continuous efforts at FedEx to better serve our customers, support infrastructure development, and help the local economy,” commented Kawal Preet, senior vice president, Operations, FedEx Express (North & South Pacific).
“This is a significant investment on our part to connect Malaysia’s northern region to the world. At FedEx, we are committed to the growth of Penang’s logistics infrastructure, optimizing both our regional and global connectivity to support local businesses and creating more possibilities for large, medium and small enterprises to import and export.”
“With this integrated facility, our customers in Penang and other Northern Malaysian states can enjoy a one-stop logistics hub for better connectivity locally, across Asia Pacific and beyond,” said S.C. Chong, managing director, FedEx Express Malaysia. “Customers can benefit from access to more routes and a smoother custom clearance processes as we continue to improve our capabilities to better support the customer experience.”
With the inclusion of Penang, FedEx now has 12 stations across Malaysia and plans to launch two more stations in Penang and Johor during 2019 to further bolster its logistics network in the South-East Asia country.
