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HarperCollins Publishers is expanding its North American network with a 1.6 million square foot automated supply chain logistics facility in Brownsburg, Indiana, according to a Press release of August 21. The hub aims to leverage technology that will optimize speed, efficiency and reliability to achieve complete visibility and control over the publisher’s supply chain.
The logistics facility will be equipped with person-to-person freight technology to help move produce to pickers, as well as various specialized packaging equipment to reduce cardboard and dunnage waste, a HarperCollins spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive in an email.
“We continue to work with many material handling providers to achieve the best automation for our application,” the spokesperson said. “The facility will utilize state-of-the-art WMS, LMS and YMS technologies. »
Once operational, the facility will have the capacity to ship more than 300 million books annually. HarperCollins modeled it based on information found during a Newly opened distribution warehouse in Glasgow, Scotlandaccording to the press release.
HarperCollins began outsourcing its distribution and logistics services in 2010, which consolidated the number of warehouses in use from five to one, according to the release. Once the Indiana plant is operational and the transition is complete, HarperCollins will no longer outsource work to a third party, the spokesperson said.
The hub is expected to open in 2028 and construction is expected to start this year, the spokesperson said. A date has not yet been finalized. The facility is expected to create more than 400 jobs in supply chain logistics, according to the release.