UPS Announces New 1.2 Million Square Foot Regional Hub In Atlanta

[ROBO MOD]

$400 Million Investment Includes Advanced Automation and Provides Expanded Capacity to Better Serve UPS Customers

UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced plans to invest in excess of $400 million to build a new regional package sorting hub on the west side of Atlanta. The new hub will be the third largest processing facility in the company’s U.S. network.

Construction will begin this month on a 341 acre industrial site in Fulton County with support from Georgia, Atlanta and Fulton County economic development teams. The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2018 with 1,250 new employee positions operating on multiple sorting shifts.

“UPS has proudly made its global headquarters in Atlanta for more than two decades,” said David Abney, UPS chairman and CEO. “This strategic capital investment will feature state-of-the-art technology. When combined with the strong transportation connections and talented labor pool that Atlanta provides, UPS is building flexibility to meet the growing needs of our customers and our business in Georgia, and around the world.”

The new facility will feature the latest UPS sorting, processing and data capture technology. UPS compiles significant volumes of shipment status data as it moves packages through its transportation network. Using this data, the company provides industry-leading package tracking, the capability to seamlessly change delivery location to meet customer requirements and the flexibility to modify shipment routing in response to weather or other unplanned occurrences.

In the advanced 1.2 million square foot Atlanta facility, more than 100,000 packages per hour will be carried over 15 miles of conveyors using highly automated processing equipment. Six-sided laser label decode tunnels will rapidly capture package information from address labels. High-speed UPS Smart Label® applicators will place labels on packages at a rate of 3 per second, providing UPS personnel instructions for proper routing and loading on local delivery vehicles.

In addition to sorting and processing, the hub will include a delivery vehicle center capable of dispatching more than 280 trucks for area delivery and pickup, and a UPS Customer Center for retail service. The facility will also operate onsite compressed natural gas fueling for delivery vehicles and large tractor-trailer rigs to service the local UPS alternative fuel vehicles fleet. The company is working with Majestic Realty Company to develop the Fulton County site to UPS specifications.

The new southeast region hub project is part of a multi-year UPS investment plan to modernize and expand the company’s global network, including several new facilities and acquisition of new cargo aircraft.

UPS employs more than 14,000 people across Georgia in package delivery operations, ground freight, aircraft operations, data center management and contract logistics. Product and technology development, global transportation network planning and other corporate staffs are based in metro Atlanta.

 

[rod]

Atlanta gets all the good stuff---------I wonder why?

 

[Big Arrow Down...D]

Atlanta gets all the good stuff---------I wonder why?

Except for @Monkey Butt

 

[Catatonic]

Atlanta gets all the good stuff---------I wonder why?

Except for @Monkey Butt

I got some good stuff.

 

[wkmac]

Atlanta gets all the good stuff---------I wonder why?

If you actually saw the buildings we have here, you might not say that. We've been way short capacity for years and are paying a price for it as we speak. The fact we've done as well as we have is testimony to the hard work and effort of Atlanta and surrounding Georgia UPSers. To them I salute you!

This mega hub has been known about for months, about a year actually, but the location was not. One rumor had the location in Adairsville Ga. and another location was in Forest Park Ga. Was told these rumors were allowed as decoys and that makes sense. Guessing the location almost became a game and "No One" was guessing the west side of Atlanta although it makes sense. I was told about a month ago that the actual location would be somewhere on the west side of Atlanta (no specific location) and that they would close the Atlanta Hub which we now know is true.

The good thing about being around 35 years is knowing people and knowing people who know things that are in positions to know such things. The other part in knowing things is not coming to places like here and blabbing everything you know.

And hold on Atlanta, this ain't over as there is more to come!

 

[rod]

Its good Atlanta gets a new building. Meanwhile my old center has been patched together after two major fires and has 2 stupid portable loading docks that are basically unheated. I hear its real comfortable working there on a 20 below zero morning. But all is not lost---the managers office and the room with all the computer crap in it are kept at a comfortable 75 degrees year around. Its by far the worst looking building in the industrial park. They own another vacant lot next door and could easily expand but the word is that they won't do it because the city insists they have a paved parking lot and they are to cheap to go that route.

 

[scratch]

I heard a rumor this will be built off of South Fulton Parkway, which is near I-285/I-85. The below article says it will be near the Charlie Brown Airport, which is a couple of miles down Fulton Industrial from the original Atlanta Hub that I started at. UPS is currently spending $8M improving my small Hub in Forest Park.

New UPS Logistics Hub Bringing 1,250 Jobs to Southwest Atlanta

 

[scratch]

"Project Shark"

UPS Planning a Massive Logistics Hub in Atlanta - Supply Chain 24/7

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Its good Atlanta gets a new building. Meanwhile my old center has been patched together after two major fires and has 2 stupid portable loading docks that are basically unheated. I hear its real comfortable working there on a 20 below zero morning. But all is not lost---the managers office and the room with all the computer crap in it are kept at a comfortable 75 degrees year around. Its by far the worst looking building in the industrial park. They own another vacant lot next door and could easily expand but the word is that they won't do it because the city insists they have a paved parking lot and they are to cheap to go that route.

NEWSFLASH------YOU ARE RETIRED!!!!

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Its good Atlanta gets a new building. Meanwhile my old center has been patched together after two major fires and has 2 stupid portable loading docks that are basically unheated. I hear its real comfortable working there on a 20 below zero morning. But all is not lost---the managers office and the room with all the computer crap in it are kept at a comfortable 75 degrees year around. Its by far the worst looking building in the industrial park. They own another vacant lot next door and could easily expand but the word is that they won't do it because the city insists they have a paved parking lot and they are to cheap to go that route.

NEWSFLASH------YOU ARE RETIRED!!!!

 

[wkmac]

I heard a rumor this will be built off of South Fulton Parkway, which is near I-285/I-85. The below article says it will be near the Charlie Brown Airport, which is a couple of miles down Fulton Industrial from the original Atlanta Hub that I started at. UPS is currently spending $8M improving my small Hub in Forest Park.

New UPS Logistics Hub Bringing 1,250 Jobs to Southwest Atlanta

Scratch,

Once this mega hub is up and running, watch for P'dale to get "modernized" or another term used for automation. Jacksonville and Whites Creek are in those processes now and completion is 2019'/2020' or there about. Also watch Charlotte area and I'll just leave it at that.

As for the metro Atlanta area, watch the northside, specifically the I-75 corridor over the next couple of years if not sooner to see if anything happens there.

Having started in Atlanta Hub also, this new Mega Hub will be a good thing for those still there. At some point in the next 3 to 5 years, the present Atlanta Hub won't be there which seems weird but then life goes on.

 

[scratch]

I'm surprised at the Location near Charlie Brown Airport if that is true. I would think that South down Fulton Industrial Blvd. closer to Camp Creek and the Atlanta Airport would have been a better spot. Maybe Charlie Brown being closer to I-20 was a major factor in the decision. I drive down Camp Creek on the way to work every morning, the traffic has been getting worse. I agree that a facility off I-75 North of the new Brave's stadium would be a great spot.

Union City, Fayetteville, and Locust Grove were recently moved to the new expansion at the Forest Park Hub. We seem to have gotten rid of our PDUs, now there are permanent docks for all of the package cars and the whole property is paved for our Feeder Dept to have more room.

 

[scratch]

I'm surprised at the Location near Charlie Brown Airport if that is true. I would think that South down Fulton Industrial Blvd. closer to Camp Creek and the Atlanta Airport would have been a better spot. Maybe Charlie Brown being closer to I-20 was a major factor in the decision. I drive down Camp Creek on the way to work every morning, the traffic has been getting worse. I agree that a facility off I-75 North of the new Brave's stadium would be a great spot.

Union City, Fayetteville, and Locust Grove were recently moved to the new expansion at the Forest Park Hub. We seem to have gotten rid of our PDUs, now there are permanent docks for all of the package cars and the whole property is paved for our Feeder Dept to have more room.

 

[rod]

NEWSFLASH------YOU ARE RETIRED!!!!

Are you saying I'm no longer on your ignore list? If that's the case I have to ramp up my jabs at you.

 

[rod]

NEWSFLASH------YOU ARE RETIRED!!!!

Are you saying I'm no longer on your ignore list? If that's the case I have to ramp up my jabs at you.

 

[rod]

NEWSFLASH------YOU ARE RETIRED!!!!

Here---let me help you:

NEWSFLASH---------YOU ARE RETIRED

 

[rod]

NEWSFLASH------YOU ARE RETIRED!!!!

Here---let me help you:

NEWSFLASH---------YOU ARE RETIRED

 

[wkmac]

I'm surprised at the Location near Charlie Brown Airport if that is true. I would think that South down Fulton Industrial Blvd. closer to Camp Creek and the Atlanta Airport would have been a better spot. Maybe Charlie Brown being closer to I-20 was a major factor in the decision. I drive down Camp Creek on the way to work every morning, the traffic has been getting worse. I agree that a facility off I-75 North of the new Brave's stadium would be a great spot.

When the talk began about the Mega Hub, 2 criteria were listed as important. Rail access and Airport Access. The rumored Adairsville site only met one of that criteria slightly in that Cartersville is a rail head but would need would to meet UPS needs. The airport was all but out of the question.

The other rumored site at the logisitics park at old Ft. Gillem met both criteria but when word came down of expanding the Forest Park Center, the logistics park site made no sense as this was a few miles down the street from the FP center.

I've often wondered about the Metro west side as this area has grown over the years, plus the Atlanta building among other things is worn out. I never envisioned a Super Hub but I did wonder if a new building somewhere out about Douglasville was not possible. Access to rail at this new site (Fulton Ind.) is easy, shoot out Bolton Rd. to Inman Yard and access to the airport can be made by either Interstate or straight down Fulton and hang a left at Camp Creek and straight into the airport. I was also told the Intragrad would be located there as well along with some UPS logistics operations.

Now all by itself, I can see how the mega hub location doesn't make sense but when you are aware of other plans that UPS has it does make sense. Over the next year or so some of those plans are going to be announced and then it may make more sense to you. And it's likely you and I won't be here to see most if any of this come online.

Union City, Fayetteville, and Locust Grove were recently moved to the new expansion at the Forest Park Hub. We seem to have gotten rid of our PDUs, now there are permanent docks for all of the package cars and the whole property is paved for our Feeder Dept to have more room.

A year or so ago, David Abbey announced the plan of automating the hubs across the country. There were a number of items he listed but also in this mix was to update all facilities so that from January into November, all UPS operations could be performed inside the 4 walls of the existing structure. No PDU's, No Sort Tables, No Flying Nuns. In other words, no UPS operations outside except for peak season itself. Considering what we all see right now that seems a tall if not impossible order but that is the goal regardless what we think. Sounds to me from your description above, Forest Park is an early beneficiary of this business plan. In other areas where an existing building is not expandable or cost effective to modify, new facilities or addition facilities may be built to achieve the goal. You mentioned Union City, friend'ville and Locust Grove and were those operations once in Forest Park and made into remote operations? If so, this is exactly what UPS is trying to achieve going forward. We have several remote operations out of our building as well and how this works out going forward for us I think will be answered in the next couple of years. Watch the year 2019' on the Northside. Even some early activity is possible as soon as 2017'.

 

[wkmac]

I'm surprised at the Location near Charlie Brown Airport if that is true. I would think that South down Fulton Industrial Blvd. closer to Camp Creek and the Atlanta Airport would have been a better spot. Maybe Charlie Brown being closer to I-20 was a major factor in the decision. I drive down Camp Creek on the way to work every morning, the traffic has been getting worse. I agree that a facility off I-75 North of the new Brave's stadium would be a great spot.

When the talk began about the Mega Hub, 2 criteria were listed as important. Rail access and Airport Access. The rumored Adairsville site only met one of that criteria slightly in that Cartersville is a rail head but would need would to meet UPS needs. The airport was all but out of the question.

The other rumored site at the logisitics park at old Ft. Gillem met both criteria but when word came down of expanding the Forest Park Center, the logistics park site made no sense as this was a few miles down the street from the FP center.

I've often wondered about the Metro west side as this area has grown over the years, plus the Atlanta building among other things is worn out. I never envisioned a Super Hub but I did wonder if a new building somewhere out about Douglasville was not possible. Access to rail at this new site (Fulton Ind.) is easy, shoot out Bolton Rd. to Inman Yard and access to the airport can be made by either Interstate or straight down Fulton and hang a left at Camp Creek and straight into the airport. I was also told the Intragrad would be located there as well along with some UPS logistics operations.

Now all by itself, I can see how the mega hub location doesn't make sense but when you are aware of other plans that UPS has it does make sense. Over the next year or so some of those plans are going to be announced and then it may make more sense to you. And it's likely you and I won't be here to see most if any of this come online.

Union City, Fayetteville, and Locust Grove were recently moved to the new expansion at the Forest Park Hub. We seem to have gotten rid of our PDUs, now there are permanent docks for all of the package cars and the whole property is paved for our Feeder Dept to have more room.

A year or so ago, David Abbey announced the plan of automating the hubs across the country. There were a number of items he listed but also in this mix was to update all facilities so that from January into November, all UPS operations could be performed inside the 4 walls of the existing structure. No PDU's, No Sort Tables, No Flying Nuns. In other words, no UPS operations outside except for peak season itself. Considering what we all see right now that seems a tall if not impossible order but that is the goal regardless what we think. Sounds to me from your description above, Forest Park is an early beneficiary of this business plan. In other areas where an existing building is not expandable or cost effective to modify, new facilities or addition facilities may be built to achieve the goal. You mentioned Union City, friend'ville and Locust Grove and were those operations once in Forest Park and made into remote operations? If so, this is exactly what UPS is trying to achieve going forward. We have several remote operations out of our building as well and how this works out going forward for us I think will be answered in the next couple of years. Watch the year 2019' on the Northside. Even some early activity is possible as soon as 2017'.

 

[scratch]

The new routes coming into Forest Park are being dispatched from our building every day. There are several large shippers that came with this deal. No new full-time supervisors though, we are short in my Center with a recent one getting promoted. The only satellite routes I know of in my building are delivered out of Covington.