Safelite opens East Coast distribution center

Officials at Safelite Group, Columbus, Ohio, announced the opening of the company's second new distribution center within the last year, and the largest facility to date, according toa March 11 release. The location will replace the current distribution facility in Enfield, N.C.“This move is a direct result of our company’s growth,” said Tom Feeney, president and CEO, Safelite Group, in the release. “It is part of a detailed North American supply chain strategy that will support our continued expansion through 2015.” The new 357,000-square-foot facility in Braselton, Ga., will support distribution of vehicle glass to the states east of the Mississippi River and has infrastructure that will supportLeadership in Energy and Environmental Designcertification. It expands capacity from the company’s current Enfieldfacility by 36 percent, allowing for storage of 250,000 windshields and 90,000 other vehicle glass parts. It is expected to be operational by September 2010. As a result, the company’s Enfield distribution center will restructure its operations when the facility opens. While the reorganization will result in some staffing adjustments, Safelite will retain its manufacturing operations employing 288 people and the current distribution center will be operated as a warehouse. A number of current distribution center employees will be absorbed into the company’s manufacturing operations.“We considered maintaining our east coast distribution center operations in Enfield, which are adjacent to the manufacturing plant, but because of the inability for us to further expand in that location we had to consider new options,” Feeney said in the release.Company officials reviewed sites along I-85 between Atlanta and Charlotte in areas that would allow for more efficient and lower-cost transport of manufactured glass to points east of the Mississippi River before selecting the Braselton location.“Safelite is committed to maintaining our partnership with the Enfield community,” Feeney said in the release. “We will continue to provide support to local organizations like United Way of Roanoke Valley and remain a part of the Enfield Peanut Festival. We will also be relied upon for Halifax County economic development efforts and continue to be education advocates with local schools.”Last year as part of its supply chain expansion, the company opened a 282,000-square-foot distribution center in Ontario, Calif., which serves points west of the Mississippi River, opened five warehouses, and expanded 12 facilities. In 2010, beyond the relocation of east coast distribution center operations, the growth of the warehouse operations continues with 12 targeted warehouse expansions.The new Braselton distribution center, at 1350 Braselton Parkway, will bring 92 new jobs to the market with the potential to grow to 120 jobs as volume increases, according to the release.