Coca-Cola Amatil Opens Distribution Centre

Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Ktd officially opened its multi-million dollar, state of the art, Distribution Centre in Auckland on Sunday, August 3.

The new Distribution Centre is the only one of its kind in New Zealand.

‘The automated technology, which makes the facility unique in this country, will ensure we’ll keep the nation refreshed,” says George Adams, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd.

“This is the largest single investment we have made in New Zealand, and demonstrates how committed we are to manufacturing here.

“Our aim is to keep Kiwis refreshed, and our $83 million dollar investment in the Auckland Distribution Centre helps achieve this by ensuring we get the right product, to the right customer at the right time,” said Mr Adams.

The Distribution Centre is where the majority of the manufacturer’s beverages are warehoused before being dispatched. The automated facility uses specialised crane technology to store and retrieve product.

In some cases, the cranes can pick an order and ready it for dispatch. This is usually if the order is comprised of complete pallets of product.

Otherwise, the cranes will retrieve stored product and send it to a separate part of the warehouse, where staff will finish picking the order. This is generally for smaller orders, or orders where a mix of product is sourced from a number of pallets.

The Auckland Distribution Centre was officially opened by the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand yesterday, Sunday August 3, as part of the staff and family function held on site.

Auckland Distribution Centre – Key Facts

- Two years to complete from commencement to being fully operational, significant achievement for project of this size

- Fully operational May 2008 (was in service since September 2007, but still classed as being in testing phase).

- Automated Distribution Centre, the only one of its kind in New Zealand. Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) is the only Fast Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) manufacturer in New Zealand to have a highly technical facility of this nature.

- Automation provides improved inventory management, storage capability and reduces product damage.

- Automation, has also resulted in upskilling staff
- Staff now use voice picking technology
- Forkhoist drivers use vehicle mounted terminals which are linked into the warehouse management system

- Significant investment in New Zealand economy – a multi-million dollar investment, NZ$83 million

- Distribution Centre services CCA customers in Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay and Taranaki as well as the wider Auckland region. It also dispatches bulk orders to Progressive Enterprises Limited’s (PEL) warehouse in Palmerston North. PEL owns Foodtown, Woolworth’s and Countdown supermarkets.

- Total floor space is 28,000m2, height 25m, length 120m.

- Environmental impact on surrounds were carefully considered and resulted in
- Special cladding on outside to minimise visual impact of building (cladding reflective of weather)
- Planting on external perimeter to improve aesthetics
- Noise restrictions to minimise impact on neighbours
- Use of constructions, such as high concrete wall, to specifically dampen vehicle noise

- Distribution Centre has resulted in a 30 percent decrease in vehicle movements due to all product now being able to be stored on one site, compared with being stored in a number of off-site facilities previously.

About Coca-Cola in New Zealand

Together, Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd and Coca-Cola Oceania manufacture, market and distribute more than 100 beverage brands and flavours in New Zealand. These include soft drinks, diet drinks, juices and juice drinks, cordials, waters, sports drinks and energy drinks.

Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd is the authorised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company’s products in New Zealand. Together with Coca-Cola Oceania, it employs more than 1,000 people and CCANZ has plants in Auckland, Christchurch and Putaruru.

Coca-Cola’s contribution to the New Zealand community includes the annual Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park events in Auckland and Christchurch. The annual Coca-Cola Careers Expo takes place in Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Our partnership with the National Association of OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) has resulted in Go Kids! a national physical activity programme made available to 750 out of school groups and more than 100,000 young New Zealanders.

ENDS

© Scoop Media