Pushing the boundaries
Parcelforce Worldwide has unveiled its new South East Processing Centre (SEPC) in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
The new centre is located on Hatfield Business Park (AL10) and will create more than 60 new job opportunities in the local area, ranging from warehouse operatives to drivers.
Grant Shapps MP opened the new processing centre, he said: ‘As soon as you enter the building, you can’t help but be impressed by the fast-operating pace and high levels of automation. Combined with the key Hatfield location, I have no doubt that the new facility will help Parcelforce deliver packages across the region more efficiently, particularly during peak periods.’
The new processing centre will help to reduce Parcelforce Worldwide’s carbon footprint for parcels that can be processed locally within the south east rather than having to be transported to a central processing facility.
The 60,000 sq. ft. unit contains a new custom-built automated handling system capable of processing more than 50,000 parcels a night. It utilises some of the latest innovative parcel handling and processing technology. Parcelforce Worldwide has worked with Caljan and Royal Mail Engineering to design and install a new automated handling system, based on tried and tested depot models.
Fran Baker, head of operations development and support, said: ‘We did a full stress test of the kit and hooked it up to logic programmes, which direct parcels and sort them properly. It all works really well.
‘We now have peace of mind that a package is more likely to be delivered on time because it’s being processed locally. Sometimes, overnight lorries can get stuck in traffic or be delayed on the M1, delaying deliveries. This new processing centre will help change that.’
The new processing centre is central to Parcelforce Worldwide’s continued investment in innovation, technology and the growth of our business. We are pushing the boundaries of automation with the technology we have installed, supporting the growing demands and the increasing requirements of our customers.
