Logistics service provider, DB Schenker is gearing up to expand its share of Queensland’s $88 billion import and export markets with the opening of a new freight forwarding facility to handle dry and perishable freight.
The new Eagle Farm facility at Trade Coast Central, 9 km from Brisbane’s International Airport, will enable the company to complement its existing dry freight handling capabilities with the inclusion of 1,100 sqm of cool rooms.
The addition of the cool rooms will enable the company to handle the import and export of healthcare and perishables products including meat, seafood, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, confectionery and pharmaceutical and medical supplies.
Schenker Australia CEO, Ron Koehler, said the facility represents a $10 million investment over the next ten years and comprises a 2,500 sqm warehouse and 800 sqm office with integrated cold chain facilities including anteroom, ambient temperature room, chiller and freezer.
“In the past year there was around $4.5 billion of beef, other meat, wheat and vegetables exported out of Queensland alone,” Koehler said.
“We are now in a position to be able to better serve this sector, as well as other commodities that are imported and exported out of South East Queensland by both air and ocean.
“At any given time this facility is able to hold 850 Australian Standard Pallets of stock in our ambient temperature room and 120 Australian Standard Pallets of stock in our chiller/freezer rooms, all of which are fitted with state of the art temperature monitoring.
“The facility has gained AQIS export accreditation for meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, plants and fruit and vegetables and is also well equipped for healthcare products.
“Our state of the art Eagle Farm facility is also well positioned to cater for normal retrieval and handling activities for import and export air and ocean freight.“
Koehler said the new facility was central to the growth strategy of the company, which last year concluded in celebrating 50 years in Australia, and enabled it to meet the logistics demands resulting from an expected increase in the State’s import and export of perishables and healthcare.
The facility is the second facility that the German head-quartered company opened in Queensland this year. In August it opened a warehouse facility at the Redbank Motorway Estate in Ipswich.
The Eagle Farm facility is strategically located, with it being adjacent to the airport and within close proximity to the cargo terminals as well as the main north-south arterial connecting Northern Rivers, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Burnet.
Koehler said the facility incorporated the most recent energy saving technologies and had been purpose built for the next ten years allowing DB Schenker to change its operations in line with changing market requirements.
“One of the most important aspects is the 54 kilowatt roof mounted solar energy system that provides up to 30 per cent of the building’s electricity requirements. This solar energy system can be doubled as required as business in Queensland grows,” he said.
“The new Eagle Farm Trade Coast facility incorporates the most up-to-date thinking from around the vast DB Schenker world. “
Key features include:
- Insulated warehouse prepared for Healthcare/Perishables
- Uprated 54 kW solar energy system capable of expansion to 100 kW
- Integrated building management system controlling all functions including on site generator for consistent electricity supply to cool rooms
- Latest in environmental engineering incorporated into building design including upgraded air conditioning, double glazed windows, LED lighting throughout, recycled water used where applicable.