 Safelite AutoGlass opened a new 282,000-square-foot distribution center in Ontario, Calif., the company’s largest facility to date. It will support distribution of vehicle glass to states west of the Mississippi River. The center, which will bring 35 new jobs to the market, will store 120,000 windshields and 30,000 other vehicle glass parts. It is open now and expected to be fully operational by Aug. 1. Safelite has operated service centers in Ontario for more than 30 years, but this is the first distribution center, according to Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Belron US, parent company of Safelite AutoGlass. Safelite’s new facility includes several ecologically friendly elements. “Our new distribution center will eliminate 1 million miles in transport, reducing our primary carbon footprint by more than 1,500 tons,” Feeney says.” We’ve also added features to the new building that can reduce our environmental impact even further.” Incorporated in the distribution center are efficient electric materials handling equipment, low flow/motion sensor water fixtures, and highly efficient T5 motion/daylight fluorescent lighting sensors that work in conjunction with roof mounted skylights. The company also is exploring the efficiency of adding photovoltaic cells to its facility’s roofline, and is seeking ways to increase its use of recyclable packing materials. Company-wide, Safelite employees recycle corrugated cardboard and pallets; its leaders are seeking methods to recycle its scrap-laminated glass. “Safelite has developed a new direction for the company in 2009, one that is intended to completely change the company culture over the next four years,” Feeney says. The company plans to reinvest $38 million in profits to support growth. In addition to the Ontario distribution center, these initiatives include: opening six new warehouses nationwide; relocating 10 existing warehouses for added inventory; expanding inventory to allow for cross-border deliveries with Canada; opening its third national contact center, creating 300 jobs in Columbus, Ohio; remodeling numerous store locations; and launching a national radio advertising campaign. The Safelite AutoGlass California-based retail operations employ 435 people who serve 300,000 customers each year at 48 locations around the state. Safelite AutoGlass is a leading provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, providing mobile service to more than 90 percent of the U.S. population in all 50 states. It serves more than 3.7 million customers each year through its company-owned operations. Slightly less than 4 percent of Safelite’s business is done with collision repair shops. | ||
