TNT opens 'super hub' in Sydney

TNT has recently opened a new, state-of-the-art 78,000 square metre sized 'super hub' located at Erskine Park, Sydney which is aimed at handling both domestic and international shipments.

Being able to process up to 25,000 parcels per hour, the new facility will be installed with the most up-to-date sorting technology with a warehouse space of over 30,000 square metres. Shipments considered as 'incompatible' freight will benefit from the high speed automatic sortation system which boasts the ability to handle items exceeding 1.5 metres in size and 30kg in weight. A new automatic pallet deconsolidation process which will reduce the need for manual handling.

Erskine Park was chosen as the site of the new building due to its close proximity to many of TNT's high volume customers. Posing in an excellent position between Brisbane and Melbourne, the new hub has the ability to absorb high volumes of shipments on a daily basis.

Managing Director for TNT's domestic division, Marco van Kalleveen, ha said: "This new super hub enables us to streamline processes and implement some of the most advanced parcel sortation systems available." Kalleveen continued: "The reduced processing times, increased accuracy and faster delivery outcomes will help us provide even better service to our customers."

UPS to increase its fuel fleet by 30%

UPS is expected to expand its fleet of alternative technology by up to 30%. The US parcel delivery giant is due to achieve this by the use on a single large investment in compressed natural gas systems. UPS has said it plans to build up to 15 additional natural gas (CNG) refuelling throughout the US.

Michael Nichols, UPS Senior Vice President of Transportation and Engineering, has said: "Today's CNG announcement demonstrates UPS's plans to expand use of widely available natural gas. CNG is an important building block in our long-term fleet strategy and offers environmental and economic advantages."

UPS already has 8 existing CNG fuel stations situated in California, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma, in addition to operating CNG vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand. The deployment of the new CNG vehicles will be within 15 US cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.

UPS has already reduced its use of conventional fuel by 34 million gallons since the year 2000, however the new CNG investment is anticipated to displace the use of 54 million gallons of conventional diesel and gasoline in a year.