Panalpina, a Switzerland-based forwarding and logistics services provider, is investing in a new 30,000 m2 facility at Pioneer View, next to Jurong Bird Park in West Singapore.
Construction is currently underway, and the facility is expected to be ready before the end of 2018.
The largest warehousing investment outside Europe by the company, it is hoped that the move will help Panalpina to expand its logistics business in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the press release, Matthew Gallagher, country head of sales, Singapore, said: “Singapore is a very important consolidation hub for ocean and air freight. We plan to offer our services in this area including value-added logistics services to new customers particularly in the healthcare, technology, manufacturing, consumer and retail as well as fashion industries. And, of course, we will continue to service existing customers including global telecom equipment manufacturers, sporting goods retailers and medical equipment companies.”
Singapore, as one of the world’s top logistics hubs, is notable for its world-class port infrastructure, efficient customs and excellent connectivity.
But with a total land area measuring half the size of Los Angeles and a population of more than five million, land is scarce, making property prices and rents extremely high. For this reason, Panalpina has taken ownership of the new building, rather than choose to lease it.
And to take full advantage of the land it occupies, it will be one of only three buildings in Singapore to have yard and container storage on the rooftop, with the ability to store containers up to two levels high.
Sustainability is another key feature of the new facility, which has been designed to meet the highest standards as measured by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Greenmark Platinum.
“We are very excited about this new facility. The collective features of the building, including the special rooftop, are unusual to have, and since 96 out of our top 100 customers globally have a base in Singapore, it makes perfect sense to extend our capabilities here,” adds Matthew.
Together with Panalpina’s other facilities at Changi Airport, the Asia-Pacific LCL hub, as well as the multi-user facilities in Changi North and Jurong, the company’s warehousing footprint in Singapore will soon increase to 100,000 m2.