UPS announces logistics facility expansions in Europe

Transportation and logistics bellwether UPS said this week it has rolled out international facility expansions at three different locations, two based in Germany and one in the Netherlands.

Company officials said, these facility expansions, which follow a recent announcement it made about adding 1.2 million square feet to four North America-based locations, was driven by growing demand from its retail and high-tech shipper customers. And they added that it now has 596 global supply chain facilities comprised of more than 33 million square-feet.

The facility expansions announced this week include:
-Krefeld, Germany, which added 53,000 sq. ft. (5,000 sqm) driven by high-tech and retail customer growth, with the facility offering post-sales services;
-Butzbach (near Frankfurt am Main), Germany. UPS said this location’s expansion was driven by high-tech and retail growth, along with post-sales expertise in creating the demand for the 75,000 sq. ft. (7,000 sqm); and
-Venlo, Netherlands, which is strategically located between two existing contract logistics and distribution leased spaces, this 91,000 sq. ft. (8,500 sqm) facility in Venlo was driven by high-tech and retail customer growth. It also offers post-sales distribution services.

UPS said the services it provides for its shipper customers out of these facilities include: warehousing and order fulfillment; inventory, transportation and returns management; custom kitting and packaging; store-ready displays; critical parts repair; and same-day delivery.

“These expansions give us more space to do what we do best for more customers across the range of our contract logistics offering: order fulfillment, inventory, transportation and returns management to name a few,” UPS spokesman Justin Luther said. “It’s about being where our customers need us to be. These expansions were fueled by their growth … primarily customers in high-tech and retail.”

Luther declined to disclose the number of customers UPS serves out of these locations.

When asked about future expansion plans in Europe, he said there is nothing “concrete” to be reported, adding that these announced expansions were driven by customer growth. 

“We continue to expand our contract logistics reach and capabilities in Europe to serve the growing demands of our B2B and B2C customers,” said Harld Peters, vice president of UPS Contract Logistics Europe. “These facility investments are testaments to our continued commitment to supply our customers in Europe with solutions that allow their businesses to be more competitive.”