UPS has started the construction of a new parcel sorting and delivery center in the industrial area of Prato, Italy.
The new structure is located in a key region of Italian entrepreneurship in which there are a large number of small and medium-sized companies.
The center – which will have an operating area of 8,000m² (86,000ft²) – will open by the end of 2019 and will replace the current structure in nearby Calenzano. The new center will unite the services of UPS packages and supply chains into a single structure and manage deliveries and withdrawals in the provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Pistoia and Prato.
In line with the sustainability goals of UPS, the new building will be equipped with photovoltaic panels and charging stations for electric vehicles.
Karl Haberkorn, country manager, UPS Italy, said, “Tuscany is one of the main exporting regions of Italy, with companies operating in the manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical, fashion and luxury sectors, which bring Made in Italy to the world.
“Many of these companies are small businesses and this new structure will allow us to connect our customers more efficiently to export opportunities through UPS’s intelligent and global logistics network.
“UPS is at the service of Italian companies for over thirty years, last year we increased our volumes from Italy by over 15% and companies in Tuscany are an important part of this growth.”
The new facility is part of the US$2bn multi-year European investment plan, which aims to modernize and expand the UPS network across the continent. The investments included in this program include the recent announcement of a €130m (US$146m) facility in Eindhoven, Netherlands; the opening of a £120m (US$154m) London hub in the UK; and the construction of a US$100m hub in Paris, France.
UPS has been operating in Italy since 1987. The company currently has 21 operating facilities in Italy and serves five airports: Ancona-Falconara, Bergamo-Orio al Serio, Bologna, Rome-Ciampino and Venice.