Wärtsilä Officially Kicks off CDC Construction
This morning driving pile no. 1,000 at 09:09 hrs on 09-09-’09, Wärtsilä has officially begun construction of its Central Distribution Centre (CDC) in Kampen, the Netherlands, covering 37,000 m2. This new unit will enable Wärtsilä to supply parts worldwide, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This 24/7 service strategy will improve both delivery time and performance for the customers.
As one of the milestones towards establishing a new global parts and logistics organisation, Wärtsilä Global Logistics Services (WGLS), The new facility will allow Wärtsilä to centralise its spare parts logistics from eight existing, product-line specific spare parts warehouses, to a single central distribution centre. This centre will be fully operational by the end of 2011 and will deliver spare parts to customers and Wärtsilä service locations around the globe. By using one global logistic centre, and through the creation of a highly efficient logistics flow, Wärtsilä will be better positioned to serve both customers and suppliers, as well as its own service organisation. Wärtsilä´ global service network continues to serve the customers in all services and repairs. Wärtsilä has service units in 160 locations in 70 countries.
“By building this Central Distribution Centre, Wärtsilä is optimising its 24/7 service approach all over the world. This, in combination with our centralised logistics management, will result in faster and more efficient spare parts deliveries to our customers. ” says Carsten Eisenkrämer, Vice President, WGLS.
“The development of the CDC at Kampen strengthens Wärtsilä´s unique global service approach that Wärtsilä has established, says Fred van Beers, Managing Director of Wärtsilä Netherlands. “From the Netherlands, we can transport our spare parts quickly to any country in the world, and this is a natural location for logistics,” adds van Beers.
The co-operation between Wärtsilä and the municipality of Kampen has worked extremely smoothly. Kampen’s Alderman of Economic Affairs, Pieter Treep, commented as follows: “The Zuiderzeehaven is a symbol of Kampen’s development into the 21st century, and the new Wärtsilä facility is a highly important part of this development.” Wärtsilä has its own quay at the Zuiderzeehaven, with sea transport possibility. The CDC is also conveniently located next to N50 highway and the river IJssel, with good logistics connections to Rotterdam, Hamburg and to Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport.