Toll opens energy-efficient e-commerce hub

Logistics company Toll Group has opened a new distribution centre in Western Sydney, helping retailers deliver for their customers faster and more efficiently.

The $160 million retail and e-commerce fulfilment centre has been designed in collaboration with Specialty Fashion Group (SFG), the anchor tenant at the site, to support the growth of online shopping in Australia. Set across 32,000 m² and incorporating 15,600 m² of automation equipment, the centre is capable of picking, processing and packing 375,000 items per day, shortening delivery times from days to hours.

The facility operates as a shared, multiuser facility, with capacity to support additional retailers and their supply chain operations. It was opened by NSW Minster for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, who said it would provide a great service to Australian and international consumers.

“Staying competitive in a rapidly changing global market requires vision, determination and an appetite for change, and that’s what Toll’s new facility will provide,” Pavey said.

According to Toll Global Logistics President Chris Pearce, the market is placing aggressive demands on retailers to provide fast fulfilment and delivery, without increasing costs. He noted, “The facility is equipped with $50 million in advanced automation technology so retailers can deliver their e-commerce orders faster and in a much more economical way.

“This advanced automation technology will increase our productivity fivefold — capable of picking, processing and packing 70 million items per year.

“Retailers will benefit from the ability to deliver goods to their stores and direct to customers faster and more efficiently, and shoppers will enjoy flexible order times and faster processing so they can receive their purchases within hours, not days.”

The facility achieves various safety and environmental initiatives, such as reducing the probability of safety incidents through a 70% reduction in manual handling. It also has a four-star NABERS rating, achieved through measures such as energy-efficient lighting systems.

The facility features translucent roof sheeting to maximise daylight, supported by energy-efficient LED lighting. Roof insulation assists with temperature control, while rainwater harvesting enables water to be recycled. Finally, a carton recycling machine diverts recyclable boxes from landfill.

The site will provide jobs for around 200 operations workers, technicians and engineers, providing a boost to the Western Sydney economy.