UPS has begun construction work on the US$300m expansion of its Louisville Centennial hub in Kentucky. The project will triple the size of the facility to 838,000ft2, will nearly double sorting capacity to 85,000 packages per hour, and will create approximately 300 part and full-time jobs.
The Centennial hub, constructed in 2007 during UPS’s 100th anniversary year, provides pickup and delivery operations for customers in Louisville and the surrounding counties, and serves as a transfer point for trailers moving to destinations beyond Kentucky. With its proximity to UPS Worldport air hub at Louisville International Airport, it also supports end-of-runway express service by allowing packages to be inserted into the Worldport air operations as late as 01:30am.
Lou Rivieccio, president of UPS’ Ohio Valley District, said, “We are excited to have construction underway. This project is a win for everyone involved. It will benefit our customers, generate jobs, and enhance economic development in Louisville and the surrounding region.
“The Centennial hub offers UPS customers the advantage of being at the center of the world’s largest package delivery company. It is one of UPS’ most important facilities.”
Greg Fischer, Mayor of Louisville, said, “UPS is one of the major economic engines in the city and state. We are pleased that the company is continuing to invest to ensure outstanding service for shippers large and small.”
The expansion will take place in three phases and will continue through until 2020. In addition to increasing the building’s footprint, the project will modernize the hub’s conveyor technology, enhance the flow of packages through the building, and increase accuracy during sorting.
Six-sided decode tunnels will replace traditional scanning to capture package information from address labels. Label applicators will also place ‘smart labels’ on packages for local delivery, providing UPS loaders faster instruction of a package’s location. This will improve accuracy and package integrity, while minimizing time in transit for UPS customers.
August 31, 2016
