The largest transport and logistics ‘super hub’ in TNT’s global network is under construction at Tullamarine. The 38,000m2 state-of-the-art facility – big enough to house more than five soccer pitches – occupies nearly a third of the 121,000m2 site near Tullamarine Airport and is due for completion in July 2015.
The new depot will open for business in September 2015 and operate as TNT’s Victorian head office and as a hub to other TNT depots in regional Victoria and Tasmania.
The new facility’s state-of the-art automated parcel sortation system will be able to process up to 18,500 parcels per hour – a 60 per cent increase on TNT Melbourne’s current capacity.
TNT Australia’s Regional Director, Southern Region, Rod Barnes, said the new facility is a significant investment in the local area and will enable TNT to provide its customers with the level of service they demand.
“The equipment at our main TNT Melbourne facility at Laverton has all but reached capacity, and with continued growth in demand we knew we wouldn’t be able to maintain the high level of service our customers expect without making this investment,” Mr Barnes said.
“This brought about a step-change in thinking about how a facility should be set up to serve our customers’ changing needs, brought about by the growth in e-commerce and a shift to lighter weight, higher volume consignments.
“The new Tullamarine depot is being purpose-built to address these changes and capacity constraints, and we expect it will meet TNT’s projected needs for at least the next 15 years,” Mr Barnes said.
Mr Barnes added that the new facility would also contribute significantly to employment growth in the local Hume City area.
“In addition, the new Tullamarine depot will include a call centre employing more than 50 people, demonstrating our local approach to servicing our customers at a time when this important function is often either centralised in another state or outsourced overseas.”
TNT Melbourne’s current depots at Tullamarine, Laverton North and Campbellfield will be integrated into the new Tullamarine facility by October 2015. TNT’s Hallam depot will remain as an integral part of the network and link with the new Tullamarine facility to improve service outcomes in the eastern corridor.
“Combining our current facilities in Melbourne into the new Tullamarine depot will enable TNT to keep up with an ever-changing and competitive market,” Mr Barnes said.
“The new technology will improve operational efficiencies and create a safer working environment by reducing our employees’ exposure to manual processes.
“With the removal of current capacity constraints TNT will be better able to provide domestic and global express freight services in growth sectors like health, high value manufacturing, government and defence, and IT and technology.
“This facility will also assist TNT in reaching its goal of significantly reducing its carbon footprint,” Mr Barnes said.
The new depot is part of TNT’s broader investment in its operations around Australia, including the creation of new ‘super hubs’ in Sydney and Brisbane, which will also be completed during 2015.
