Fastenal Company has begun operating a newly-built distribution center in Magna, Utah, equipped with technology designed to streamline product intake, order picking and shipping, the company announced Sept. 2.
The 298,000 square-foot facility replaces several rented buildings Fastenal previously used for regional operations in the Salt Lake City area, according to the Winona, Minnesota-based industrial distributor.
“There’s a lot of pride in the new UHUB,” said Mike Humphries, Fastenal’s regional operations manager. “The technology, the ergonomics, the brightness and organization of the workspace – it all helps our employees do their jobs safely and efficiently.”
The distribution center will provide warehousing and logistics services to support Fastenal branches and customers across western North America, from Gillette, Wyoming to Boise, Idaho, and from Alberta, Canada to Sonora, Mexico, according to the company.
Enhanced capacity and speed
The combination of space, stocking density and process automation increases inventory capacity and picking speed, according to Will Roedeske, Fastenal’s vice president of distribution.
“We can stock more products to meet our customers’ needs, and we can get our trucks on the road earlier in the evening,” Roedeske said. “We believe it will translate to even higher service levels and a broader servicing range.”
The Utah facility is one of 17 Fastenal distribution centers, including two in Canada, two in Europe and one in Mexico. Together, they serve as logistics hubs for the company’s global network of branches and site-specific business units, according to Fastenal.
Strategic western expansion
The investment follows a similar upgrade to Fastenal’s distribution operations in Lacey, Washington. The company views these strategically positioned facilities as keys to continued growth in the western United States.
The land purchased for the Utah center has space to potentially double the building’s footprint to roughly 600,000 square feet, according to the company.
“World-class distribution is at the heart of everything we do for our customers,” said Dan Florness, Fastenal’s CEO. “We’re excited about this facility’s ability to support our business today and for years into the future.”
Company background
Fastenal operates approximately 1,600 branch locations spanning 25 countries. The company supplies fasteners, safety products, metal cutting products and other industrial supplies to customers in manufacturing, construction, warehousing, wholesale and government sectors.
The company trades on the Nasdaq under the symbol FAST.
