ONE of Asia-Pacific’s biggest suppliers of vehicle parts and accessories, Bapcor Ltd, is close to completing one of the nation’s biggest warehouse facilities at Melbourne Airport.

Its Victorian distribution centre covers about 50,000 square metres (three times the MCG), all under one roof.

Bapcor said it will set benchmarks for distribution speed and efficiency “that are unparalleled in the Australian automotive aftermarket industry”.

The warehouse, to be operational by the middle of this year, is in the Melbourne Airport Business Park, which in turn is touted as the biggest business park in the southern hemisphere.

It will have world-leading supply-chain systems with the constant focus points on safety and complete efficiency throughout every aspect of the distribution centre’s operations.

Bapcor has a dedicated project management team assisted by supply-chain partners Xact Solutions.

“All of the innovations and efficiencies to be gained by the new Bapcor Distribution Centre are the direct result of listening to the company’s customers across all divisions of its growing automotive aftermarket business,” Bapcor CEO and managing director Darryl Abotomey said.

“The impetus behind this project is to ensure that Bapcor delivers fast, accurate and efficient service that not only meets but exceeds their customers’ expectations.”

He said the warehouse represented a major investment and vote of confidence in the future growth of Australia and the Asia Pacific’s automotive aftermarket industry.

“Our new Victorian distribution centre will set entirely new benchmarks in automotive aftermarket supply chain efficiency and customer service excellence,” he said.

“These include the precise handling of an unsurpassed inventory range of more than 166,000 stock-keeping units with the use of next-level technology and process excellence utilising world leading warehousing systems.”

The warehouse also has “best of breed” supply-chain process systems including Schafer goods-to-person technology and the latest specification Manhattan Warehouse management systems.

“It will deliver unprecedented levels of efficiency to Bapcor’s trade, specialist wholesale and retail business segments, geared to ensure the current and long term growth of all Bapcor automotive aftermarket businesses,” the company said in a statement.

The warehouse will service Bapcor’s 32 business units and 1100 locations in Australia and New Zealand.

These include its retail division (Autobarn, Autopro, Sprint Auto Parts, Opposite Lock); service division (Midas, ABS, Shock Shop, Battery Town); trade businesses (Burson Auto Parts, Burson Auto Parts Thailand, BNT, Precision Automotive Equipment, Truck & Trailer Parts): and specialist wholesale group that includes AAD, Autolign, JAS Oceania, Baxters, Bearing Wholesalers, Roadsafe, MTQ, Diesel Distributors, Federal Batteries, Japanese Trucks Australia and Truckline & Diesel Drive.

By Neil Dowling