FedEx Express has launched the FedEx Incheon Gateway at Incheon International Airport in South Korea.
The Incheon Gateway spans 23,395m2 , more than double the size of the previous facility, and is equipped with 78 conveyor belts and an advanced automated sortation system that can sort up to 12,000 packages per hour, doubling the previous sorting capacity. It also includes a 15,207m2 warehouse that can store up to 40,000 packages.
With 31 weekly flights, the facility connects Korea to over 220 countries and territories through the FedEx network. The Gateway will support importers and exporters including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and heavy-weight shippers with greater and more reliable access to and from international markets. Therefore, the new facility is intended to offer improved capabilities that will benefit local businesses looking to access international markets and support the growing demand for e-commerce and cold-chain shipments.
To facilitate the reliable transportation of cold-chain shipments, including samples for clinical trials and healthcare products such as vaccines as well as perishable or temperature-sensitive items, the new Gateway’s cold storage area is five times larger than its predecessor. The cold-chain capabilities at Incheon are expected to enable FedEx to facilitate the transportation of a wider range of temperature-sensitive shipments within Korea or to destinations within the FedEx network. It contains three separate chambers compliant with European Guidelines (Good Distribution Practice) for temperature-controlled storage including freezer, cool and ambient room.
Supporting the company’s goal of global carbon-neutral operations by 2040, the facility has adopted several sustainability features. As a Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design-certified (G-SEED) building, the facility will generate renewable energy through 2,400 solar panels on its rooftop, supplying approximately 19% of the facility’s energy needs per month. A green roof will reduce heat flux and energy consumption for cooling or heating. The building features 100% LED lighting to save more than 22,000kW per year versus traditional lighting and a skylight installation (more than 1,000m2) to increase of the amount of natural light.
Kawal Preet, president of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) at FedEx Express, said, “With South Korea tracking as the fourth biggest exporter in Asia last year and the world’s fifth-largest e-commerce market, the new Incheon Gateway will further boost our already extensive network to create possibilities for customers across the region. As trade lanes continue to diversify, businesses particularly across the North Pacific region will benefit from this newly opened facility as they continue to harness the full potential of global trade opportunities. The new FedEx Incheon Gateway will not only enable our customers to enjoy enhanced connectivity to the US, Europe and Intra-Asia markets, it will also meet customers’ growing demand for cold-chain solutions. The new facility, built with sustainability in mind, also brings us one step closer to becoming carbon-neutral by 2040. We are now well placed to deliver a better experience for customers today to support their future growth.”
Wonbin Park, managing director of FedEx Express Korea, commented, “Our new Incheon Gateway will help Korean businesses tap import and export opportunities. With our state-of-the-art modern facility combined with our expertise in transporting time-definite and temperature-sensitive shipments, we’re well positioned to facilitate seamless customs clearance to support industries such as electronics, automotive, life sciences and healthcare in Korea to participate in the global supply chain. We’re proud to launch the new facility that enables us to not only serve our customers more efficiently but adopt sustainable practices and reduce our carbon emissions.”