Sanden_Logistics_EuropeThe Polish division of Japanese automotive parts maker, Sanden Corporation, has leased a 6,500 sq.m warehouse next to its production facility in Polkowice for the handling of air conditioning compressor units.

The warehouse was officially opened last week and Sanden Manufacturing Poland has leased it from property developer Panattoni Europe for an initial period of 12 years. It is the supplier’s first logistics centre in Europe and will be known as Sanden Logistics Poland.

Shipments out of the facility are due to start at the beginning of March. The company has not revealed whether the warehouse will be managed by Sanden or a third party logistics provider.

The Polkowice plant produces over 1.6m compressors a year to customers including Volkswagen, GM, Ford, Volvo, Jaguar and McLaren. The company said the Polish operation produces over 40% of compressors manufactured by Sanden Group in Europe (it also has a manufacturing facility in Tinténiac, northwestern France).

“Today we embark on a new stage in the history of Sanden Manufacturing Poland,” said the president of Sanden Manufacturing Poland, Tomohiro Asano, at the official opening of the facility. “For the first time, our company will be concentrating all logistics processes at a single location to serve all European clients. The new project will enable us to optimise and centralise operations to quickly respond to market needs. I firmly believe that Sanden Logistics Poland will help us add even more value to our client relationships.”

The warehouse is connected to the manufacturing plant by a tunnel through which parts will be transported to the warehouse. “As a result, the modern complex will enable Sanden to flexibly and efficiently manage the flow of goods for the largest car manufacturers,” said Panattoni Europe’s Marek Forynski, managing director of the BTS Group, which deals with ‘build-to-suit’ properties.