Hemisphere Freight Services has announced that it has invested in an additional and brand new 243,511 sq ft warehouse at Suffolk’s Port One Logistics Park development.
The Port-centric site, based on East Anglia’s first carbon-neutral logistics park is scheduled for build and completion by Q1 2024. This facility will enable HFS to provide 35,536 racked pallet locations, which stack nine levels high for optimal fulfilment services, combined with an additional 8,000 bulk-loaded pallets on floors and mezzanines perfect for VAS services such as kitting, barcoding, and quality control. HFS will also be automating key aspects of the warehouse logistics process to make sure that their customers can take advantage of time and cost efficiencies, as well as performance enhancements such as increased speed and volume of orders fulfilled when they utilise the space.
The deal is the largest purchase by an independent company at the Port One development and comes as a response to the need for efficient warehousing space nationally in a highly competitive and advancing industry.
Craig Perrin, Director at Hemisphere, said:
“This is a big moment for our business. Opening this additional warehouse will enable us to continue providing a full suite of logistics services to our current customer base whilst allowing us to address the challenges that we are seeing many prospective clients endure due to the lack of available warehousing space.
“Our aim as a business has always been to take the headache of logistics away from our clients by providing first-class infrastructure and logistics services, all backed up by a brilliant team of logistics experts.
“We are determined to play an active part in the growth of the warehousing sector, and help drive the standards for the benefit of customers. The domino effect of growing this facility will enable us to store more products, fulfil orders efficiently, and put more trucks on the roads to service more customers more quickly.”
Port One Logistics Park is a strategic development located close to Ipswich and Felixstowe Port, benefiting from direct access to Junction 52 of the A14; a major arterial route. Its proximity to Felixstowe makes it the most centrally located customs site within the Freeport East Zone. The Zone includes both Felixstowe and Harwich, making them, combined, the UK’s largest container port, and perfectly is a perfect location for the new site.
This modern and bespoke site will boast eight dock levellers, three of which are suitable for double-decker trailers, a 7.5 tonne hydraulic lifts for cargo and people, Semi-Automated VNA machines, robotic pallet wrap machines, structurally reinforced mezzanines, and a Tier 1 Warehouse Management system. The facility will also house dedicated members of the HFS team in 6,600 sq ft of offices, equipped with showers, a canteen and a games room. The warehouse will also contain 12 EV parking spaces and 59 regular car parking spaces for staff and visitors.
Investing in this new warehouse is a huge step towards Hemisphere’s commitment to reducing carbon in the supply chain. As a brand new development, Port One is committing for all its new B8 warehouses to be carbon neutral from May 2023 and as such will be East Anglia’s first carbon-neutral logistics park. The new warehouse will feature industry-leading initiatives such as PV solar panel roofing which will supply the warehouse needs for high-speed car charging, office lighting, fork truck operation, and hopefully generate enough energy to put some back into the grid.
Director Louis Perrin says:
“This new warehouse meets the demands of our growing client base and provides our clients with the breathing space they need to grow whilst improving their logistical efficiencies.
“For Hemisphere, this is a logical growth step, in line with our clients’ growing needs and the huge number of opportunities that they wish to embrace. With our investment, we cater for client growth all while ensuring that their warehousing needs are met in a lean, efficient manner and under one roof.”
The additional warehouse is a direct and continuing response to the unmet record-breaking demand for warehouse space as global e-commerce sales continue to exponentially increase.
Hemisphere client Elena Kabalkina of distributor Olli Ella, says:
“Navigating the global retail industry is a challenge, but Hemisphere has always been glad to assist and are instrumental in making our UK operations a success.”
