Fastenal opens high-tech distribution center in Magna, Utah
Fastenal Company has begun operating in its newly-built distribution center in Magna, Utah, just outside the Salt Lake City metro area. Equipped with cutting-edge technology to streamline product intake, order picking, and shipping sortation, the 298,000 square-foot facility is designed to enhance operational efficiency and customer service throughout the region.
Previously, Fastenal rented several buildings in the Salt Lake City area to run its regional operations (known internally as 'UHUB'). Those teams are now working together in a state-of-the-art facility custom-built for Fastenal's processes. (Click here to take a video tour of the teams and technology in action.)
"There's a lot of pride in the new UHUB," said Mike Humphries, Fastenal's regional operations manager. "The technology, the ergonomics, the brightness and organization of the workspace – it all helps our employees do their jobs safely and efficiently."
The distribution center provides warehousing and logistics services to support Fastenal branches and customers across a vast swath of western North America – from as far east as Gillette, Wyoming to as far west as Boise, Idaho, stretching all the way from Alberta, Canada to Sonora, Mexico.
According to Will Roedeske, Fastenal's vice president of distribution, the combination of space, stocking density, and process automation raises the bar for inventory capacity and picking speed. "We can stock more products to meet our customers' needs, and we can get our trucks on the road earlier in the evening," said Roedeske. "We believe it will translate to even higher service levels and a broader servicing range."
UHUB is one of 17 Fastenal distribution centers, including two in Canada, two in Europe, and one in Mexico (which recently relocated to a new facility in Monterrey, Nuevo León). Together, they serve as the logistics hubs of Fastenal's customer-centric service model, which centers on providing experts and inventory close to (and often within) customer facilities via a global network of branches and site-specific business units.
Fastenal's investment in UHUB comes on the heels of a similar upgrade to its distribution operations in Lacey, Washington (KHUB). These strategically positioned facilities are seen as keys to Fastenal's continued growth in the Western U.S. With this in mind, the land purchased for UHUB has enough space to potentially double the building's footprint to roughly 600,000 square feet.
"World-class distribution is at the heart of everything we do for our customers," said Fastenal CEO, Dan Florness. "We're excited about this facility's ability to support our business today and for years into the future."
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The September/October issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about American Producers Supply. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
