ChemLogix LLC has been selected as a 2009 Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 company by Supply & Demand Chain Executive.  According to the magazine, ChemLogix’ inclusion in this year’s “100″ list recognizes the company’s leadership as a solution and service provider in assisting the supply chain function and supply chain executives as their customers position their organizations not only to meet the urgent business imperatives of the current downturn but also to thrive as the economy rebounds.  “We are honored to have been recognized by Supply & Demand Chain Executive for successfully enabling our customers to build economic value during these challenging conditions. Our close customer relationships have been critical for us to be proactive in driving cost and process improvements,” states Steve Hamilton, President & CEO of ChemLogix. Eight years ago, Supply & Demand Chain Executive announced its first “100″ list of supply chain solution providers, consultants and other organizations that were helping lead the way in transforming companies’ supply and demand chains. This year, the magazine focused the criteria for its “100″ feature on economic recovery.  Final recipients are featured in the cover story of the June/July 2009 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive, as well as online at www.SDCExec.com/SDCE100. ”Our goal with this year’s ‘100′ is to highlight a broad range of solutions and services targeted at a variety of industries, addressing the needs of companies of varying sizes, and assisting in the transformation of a diverse mix of the functions that make up the supply chain,” explained Andrew K. Reese, editor of Supply & Demand Chain Executive. For more information about ChemLogix, go to www.chemlogix.com or contact Ken Vrtis at kvrtis@chemlogix.com or 630-579-8200. 

Tompkins Associates Promotes Kelly Reed to Partner

Reed Will Lead Material Handling, Systems Integration Team

RALEIGH, NC, June 24, 2009 — Kelly Reed has been named Partner of Tompkins Associates (Tompkins), the leading provider of global end-to-end solutions for companies that embrace supply chain excellence.

As a Partner, Reed, who has been an asset to Tompkins for more than nine years, will lead Tompkins’ Material Handling Integration Team.

“Kelly’s experience and credibility make him a great leader and the prime choice for this position,” says Jim Tompkins, President and CEO of Tompkins Associates. “With his comprehensive knowledge of global supply chain solutions, he is a versatile player who always brings his ‘A-game.’”

Reed takes the reigns from Jim Capece, who retired after eight years at Tompkins and 35-plus years working in systems integration.

“I’m glad to be stepping into these shoes,” says Reed. “We have a great MH integration team that always produces excellent work. Leading this team will be a pleasure.”

With more than 30 years of experience in logistics, warehousing, warehouse management systems, inventory management, and inventory deployment, Reed’s practical distribution operations and material handling expertise has helped improve the supply chains of a number of companies such as General Services Administration, US Navy, Australian Defense Force, Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Premier Beverage, Pennsylvania Liquor Beverage Control, Wickes Furniture, and Sally Beauty.

Prior to joining Tompkins, Reed served in the U.S. Marine Corps in a variety of logistics positions from the unit level to the national level and completed his military service as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also served as the Associate Director of Materials Support at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

A native of Marion, Ohio, and a graduate of Ohio State University and the Naval Post Graduate School, Reed and his family live in Raleigh.

Tompkins Associates designs and integrates global end-to-end solutions for companies that embrace supply chain excellence. For more than 30 years, Tompkins has evolved with the marketplace to become the leading provider of global supply chain services, distribution operations consulting, technology implementation, material handling integration, and benchmarking and best practices. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, the company is known for innovative, practical solutions that improve supply chain performance and produce value-based results. For more information, visit www.tompkinsinc.com. Subscribe to Tompkins Associates’ RSS feed for up-to-date information.

New Service Makes TTS Logistics A One-Stop-Shop for Trade Show Exhibitors

San Diego, CA (June 22, 2009) – TTS Logistics, Inc. (Tradeshow Transportation Specialists) announced today the launch of its new installation and dismantle (I&D) service as a part of their 10-year anniversary campaign to “put a smile in every mile.” The new program gives trade show exhibitors greater flexibility with increased customer service that takes away the time and frustration of exhibit set-up and tear-down, says Michael Hill, the agency’s vice president.

“With the addition of our I&D division, TTS Logistics is an exhibitor’s one-stop-shop for any and all trade show needs,” adds Hill. “With a team of dedicated professionals assigned strictly to the I&D program, TTS will deliver assistance and customer service to exhibitors nation-wide. Whether it’s a 10×10 pop-up booth, or a complex, two-story exhibit with special lighting, water displays, and machinery, TTS can make sure that the set up and dismantle is seamless.”

The new I&D service is the second of a series of new programs TTS has launched in celebration of its 10-year anniversary. The first, Warehouse Direct, gives customers the option of using TTS’ advanced warehousing facilities for storage of exhibiting materials. TTS Logistics’ launch of the I&D program gives customers a cost effective and convenient solution to cementing trade show logistics. With the I&D program, trade show exhibitors can use TTS as their sole provider of all trade show transportation, storage, and set-up and dismantle services for any trade show, nation-wide.

For more information about TTS Logistics, Inc. visit online at www.tshow.com or call toll free at 877-744-7887.

TRADESHOW TRANSPORTATION SPECIALISTS

TTS Logistics, Inc. is a shipping solutions provider based out of San Diego, California, specializing in the transportation of exhibit materials to and from tradeshows worldwide. With over 35 years experience in the tradeshow industry, TTS promises on-time delivery, exceptional service, and 24-hour accessibility to its customers. TTS assists exhibitors and show managers with all aspects of freight transportation and delivery. With a variety of premier services including international shipping and specialty equipment, TTS is committed to providing the best shipping solution to meet each customer’s needs. For more information, visit www.tshow.com.

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Trade Tech’s Importer Security Filing Program Making Inroads in Asia

Bellevue, WA-based 10+2 Service Provider Credits Robust Software, Customer Education

BELLEVUE, Washington – Trade Tech, a major supplier of web-based supply chain and transportation applications and service solutions, announced today that its Trade Manager product with Importer Security Filing (ISF) capability has been adopted by over 125 companies internationally who are, in turn, providing Trade Tech’s state-of-the-art technology to their own customers. The early adoption of ISF technology has been especially apparent in Asia, home to many of the world’s top freight forwarders, shippers and non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs).

The Importer Security Filing is also referred to as “10+2” for the ten data elements that must be filed by importers, and the two required from ocean carriers, before goods being shipped to the United States can be cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The interim final rule is being phased in through a one-year voluntary compliance period which began on January 26, 2009. All importers will be required to file Importer Security Filings for their goods starting on January 26, 2010 or risk heavy fines.

“Our 10+2 success in Asia is a testament to their belief that the ISF challenge is best met at origin,” said Trade Tech’s CEO Bryn Heimbeck. “While many customs brokers are attempting to file their 10+2 documents from the United States, many of the data elements are available only at origin, such as the container stuffing location. Customs brokers in the United States have also adopted Trade Tech’s 10+2 technology in order to simplify the process of capturing origin-based data for importers who work directly with shippers overseas.”

Trade Tech’s list of 10+2 customers in Asia includes Brighten Freight Inc.; China International Freight Co., Ltd.; Scanwell Logistics (HK) Ltd.; Simba Logistics (HK) Ltd.; M+R Spedag Group; T.H.I Group Ltd.; JHJ International Transportation Co. Ltd.; and CTS International Transportation Co. Ltd., to name a few.

“Our diverse client base is a result of Trade Tech’s vision in developing 10+2-related solutions, and to our customers’ forward-thinking ways of doing business,” says Heimbeck, a twenty-year veteran of the transportation and logistics industry. “We developed Trade Tech’s 10+2 reporting capability to service every type of customer from large customs brokers to small and medium-sized firms; and from those who were able to do all of the filing themselves with the help of our software to those who wanted a full-service product that included data entry services. We fully expect to see the number of 10+2 filings increase every month as we move closer to the mandatory compliance deadline of January 26, 2010.”

Trade Tech’s 10+2 offerings include an Internet-based reporting system with a link to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for full supply chain visibility, as well as a full-service option with support staff available for data entry.

Trade Tech’s comprehensive Trade Manager product includes a full accounting program, a purchase order management system, and shipment scheduling capabilities – down to the ability to look up specific shipping companies’ sailing schedules on a real-time basis. The product is backed up by a full customer service staff located in all of the major European and Asian port cities, as well as at Trade Tech’s world headquarters in Bellevue, WA.

For more information on Trade Manager and Trade Tech’s 10+2 offerings, contact Trade Tech via the company website: http://www.tradetech.net.

About Trade Tech:

Trade Tech is an Internet-based supply chain and transportation solutions company owned and operated by industry professionals. Trade Tech is an Application Service Provider (ASP), which licenses and delivers applications in seven key areas, including:

 10+2 Rule Solution Provider

 Cost optimization / Pricing

 Transportation Management

 Supply chain / Purchase order visibility (tracking and tracing)

 Sales / Operations

 Accounting

 AMS/ACI and security related to ocean and air transportation, including all Cargo Security Filing requirements.

Founded in 1997, Trade Tech’s applications help link shippers, importers, Customs House Brokers, consignees, NVOCCs, carriers, truckers, warehouses and forwarders, so that everyone in the community has visibility to the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. Trade Tech clients have access to applications and data anywhere in the world, and receive the latest versions of the applications every time they log on to the Trade Tech network – there are no software downloads required.

Trade Tech has been providing a full-service solution for AMS to its NVOCC customers since the inception of the 24 Hour Rule. Trade Tech currently services over 350 NVOCC customers through its overseas customer service and data input centers.

(LONG BEACH, CA – June 11, 2009) – Apriso®, a leading provider of adaptive software solutions for global Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM), today announced general availability of a new solution to support Lean Manufacturing: FlexNet Lean Material Flow™. The solution was developed in collaboration with Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, to leverage “best practices” gained from years of Lean manufacturing deployments. This new FlexNet® solution fills some of the “white spaces” or gaps around Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications in Lean manufacturing environments, benefiting manufacturers who seek to reduce waste and cut cycle times while improving quality in logistics operations, production and customer responsiveness.

“This solution is a collection of industry best practices Accenture gained by implementing 150+ Apriso deployments at world class manufacturers within the automotive, mill products and consumer goods industries” said Christophe Mouille, Managing Partner at Accenture. “We see this solution as a way to extend and enhance Enterprise Resource Planning deployments, and consider FlexNet as an ERP module, bringing improved adaptability, responsiveness and visibility to our client’s shop floor operations.”

Valeo, a $12B industry leading global automotive supplier, played an important role in the design of this solution by identifying key Tier 1 automotive supplier requirements while ensuring the solution adhered to Lean principles. As an existing Apriso customer, Valeo is now successfully implementing Apriso’s latest FlexNet solution.

This jointly developed solution, built on Apriso’s FlexNet platform, offers a collaborative approach to dramatically improve Manufacturing Operations Management and execution by:

• Synchronizing material flows spanning manufacturing operations to eliminate idle inventories;

• Improving global visibility and control to add efficiency while lowering IT costs;

• Enabling comprehensive traceability and root cause analyses to improve quality;

• Delivering integrated quality execution and packaged logistics with best-in-class label printing and “Poke Yoke” or error-proofing to reduce manufacturing costs;

• Reducing IT implementation and maintenance costs by integrating seamlessly – as an “out-of-the-box” solution – with SAP’s material, quality and production management applications

The new solution is architected to extend the value of ERP by bridging the gap between a manufacturing enterprise’s business system processes (transaction–based) and its plant-floor processes (real–time) to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, compliance and agility, delivering a rapid ROI while improving cash flow. By aligning Apriso’s MOM expertise with Accenture’s ERP implementation success, this innovative solution can be deployed quickly on an enterprise basis. Because FlexNet’s functionality leads the market in supporting enterprise wide deployments, this solution can dramatically increase global IT deployment efficiency, helping to drive down enterprise IT costs while removing waste from operations.

“We are pleased with how our Accenture relationship has evolved, and are now at a point where the experience gained can be packaged into an innovative new solution,” said Jim Henderson, president and CEO of Apriso . “Accenture’s in depth knowledge has certainly helped us expand our reach, as evidenced by Valeo’s implementation, letting more manufacturers benefit from Apriso’s capabilities for improved efficiency through synchronized material flows across the enterprise.”

About Apriso

Apriso Corporation is a software company dedicated to providing competitive advantage for its customers. It does so by enabling organizations to adapt quickly and easily to market changes and unexpected events. Apriso’s FlexNet platform provides visibility, adaptability and real-time control of manufacturing operations across the enterprise and supply chain network. This is accomplished by integrating planning, execution and control, increasing operational efficiency and eliminating errors in the production process. Apriso serves more than 175 customers in 41 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Its customers include General Motors, Lear, Honeywell, L’Oreal, Trixell, Lockheed Martin, Becton Dickinson, Saint-Gobain, Novelis and Essilor. For more information, please go to www.apriso.com.

Apriso and FlexNet are registered trademarks of Apriso Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Five Year Agreement sets Business for Guided Vehicles into Motion

New Castle, Delaware, June 10, 2009 Sky-Trax Inc. (Sky-Trax) and Kollmorgen – A Danaher Motion Company, announced today a five year partnership that provides Kollmorgen with the exclusive rights to distribute navigation and localization products from Sky-Trax.  Distribution of the Sky-Trax products will be under the Kollmorgen brand.

“The agreement with Kollmorgen provides an unprecedented opportunity for our two companies to challenge each other to achieve the next generation of navigation and guidance products for the materials handling world,” said Larry Mahan, President and COO of Sky-Trax.  “Now, as partners we will work together toward the shared goal of introducing new technologies and designing higher performance products for a new class of guided vehicles.”

The strategic alliance between the two companies includes further development in the area of guided vehicles, while expanding their capabilities for materials handling applications. As the demand for Guided Vehicles is expected to increase as distribution centers continue to seek process improvement and optimization; Sky-Trax/Kollmorgen products will be marketed to both traditional forklift truck and automated vehicle operations.  The goal is to enable manned and driverless vehicles to work safely and cooperatively together in today’s warehouse and factory environments.  

“By partnering with Sky-Trax we extend our NDC Suite – the global standard for driverless vehicle controls – with an alternative solution for navigation in warehouse aisles and open floor high stacking of goods”, said Mattias Byström, General Manager, AGV Systems at Kollmorgen.

Each company describes the relationship as a win-win and believes the market is now ready for the new technology and products they will develop together. From this partnership, Kollmorgen, the leader in AGV controls technology, will look to increase its sales and Sky-Trax, the pioneer of Optical Real-Time Location Systems for tracking all indoor assets and inventory, will continue to develop new and innovative warehouse optimization solutions with the collaboration of its new partner. New technologies created thru the partnership will be sold by both companies and made available worldwide upon their release.

About Kollmorgen

The Kollmorgen AGV Systems business unit is an automation technology partner primarily for driverless applications such as Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS) and the recently launched Pick-n-Go^® solution. Kollmorgen is the market share and technology leader of controls for AGVs globally. The solutions are provided via channel partners offering system integration and automated truck/vehicle supply and services. The AGV systems group, located in Gothenburg Sweden, is part of Kollmorgen a global company providing the broadest range of motion control technologies in the industry. 

About Sky-Trax Inc.

Sky-Trax is the inventor and commercial provider of Optical Real-Time Location Systems for tracking goods, vehicles and guiding autonomous vehicles in any size facility. Sky-Trax revolutionary location tracking and automatic data collection systems are designed for indoor industrial vehicles; primarily in warehouses. Applications employing Sky-Trax Optical RTLS are economical and practical to deploy, allowing warehouse professionals to substantially increase safety and improve warehouse efficiency. The results are fewer safety incidents, much lower operating costs, improved inventory accuracy, and greater throughput. For more information, please visit www.Sky-Trax.com.

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Kollmorgen Contact:

Henrik Eriksson

Business Unit ManagerPick-n-Go^®, AGV Systems

Danaher Motion Särö AB

429 80 Särö.

Sweden

Tel: +46 31 938066

Henrik.Eriksson@danahermotion.com  

Sky-Trax, Inc. Contact:

Sarah Brisbin 

Vice President, Marketing

Sky-Trax, Inc

98 Quigley Blvd.

New Castle, DE 19720

302-395-9540

Sarah.Brisbin@sky-trax.com

RALEIGH, NC, June 10, 2009 — When it comes to handling returned product, companies do not measure their returns process with the same rigor they use for outbound distribution. In fact, nearly 40% of companies do not track reverse logistics metrics at all, according to the Supply Chain Consortium’s recent survey of top retail and manufacturing-related companies.

With the economy appearing to be on the upswing, Bruce Tompkins, Executive Director of the Supply Chain Consortium and author of the Distribution Center Operations Report, believes that now is the time to prepare for increased sales volumes, market and channel expansion, and subsequently, increased returns.

“So little attention has been paid to returns for so long that this area is like a huge bucket of missed opportunities just waiting to be tapped,” says Tompkins. “Creating a sound customer service process for returns is essential to keeping today’s customers satisfied and loyal. Not only do companies need to worry about customer satisfaction at the front end of the sales process, they also need to take care of the customer at the back end with a solid returns process.”

The new report lists the six top reasons for returning product, which represent nearly 75% of all reasons for returns. Interestingly, only the sixth reason is clearly an error made by the company. They are:

1. Customer ordered incorrect product or size

2. Customer decided product not needed or wanted

3. Customer returned with no reason given

4. Product did not fit description on website or in catalog

5. Product did not fit customer’s expectations

6. Company shipped incorrect product or size

Tompkins adds, “In the end, from the customer’s viewpoint, it really doesn’t matter who caused the product return. The customer wants to return the product with as few difficulties as possible, and the company wants to retain their customer and keep costs down. Returns are inevitable, so why not use metrics to monitor and improve reverse logistics activities? Developing and implementing a solid returns process can save organizations a lot of headaches, reduce costs and maintain a satisfied customer base.”

For initiatives used to improve returns programs, the Consortium has several interesting findings, which include discontinuing products with high return rates, improving packaging, expanding product descriptions on web sites, and tighter constraints on accepting returns. (See figure for how participants ranked the returns program initiatives.)

The Supply Chain Consortium is the premier source for supply chain benchmarking and best practices knowledge. With 280 participating retail, manufacturing and wholesale/distribution companies, the Consortium sponsors a comprehensive repository of 17,000-plus benchmarks complemented by search capabilities, online analysis tools, topic forums and peer networking for supply chain executives and practitioners. The Consortium is led by the needs of its membership and an Advisory Board that includes executives from Campbell Soup Company, Hallmark Cards, Hewlett Packard, Ingram Micro, Kraft Foods, Miller-Coors, The Coca-Cola Company, Target, and True Value Hardware. To learn more about how your company can become a member of the Supply Chain Consortium, contact John Foley, 919-855-5461 or visit www.supplychainconsortium.com.

CONTACT: Keri McManus, 919-855-5516

kmcmanus@tompkinsinc.com

ChemLogix LLC has experienced a very successful year with its BulkTainer intermodal operations since acquiring the business from Union Pacific last April.  To support its growing business, the chemical logistics services provider has expanded its intermodal operations through the recent acquisition of  20 new ISO tank containers.  The intermodal tanks will be used for shipping bulk liquids long distances by integrating both truck and rail modes of transport. “The combination of lower rates and the shift towards more environmentally friendly business practices is making intermodal transportation a more attractive alternative to over-the-road tank trucks,” states Stephen Hamilton, Managing Director, ChemLogix Global.  “In addition to offering customers access to state-of-the-art ISO tanks and equipment, our Transportation Management Group offers 75 years of combined experience, enabling us to provide best-in-class customer service and very competitive rates.” Both lightweight and assembled with US fittings, the ISO tanks that ChemLogix deploys are built specifically for the North American market.  “Ease of use is critical in getting customers to move away from expensive long haul trucks to the more cost effective and green intermodal mode,” notes Hamilton. “We stress modal shifts to our customers to help save on transportation costs.” A single intermodal train takes up to 280 trucks off our highways, reducing traffic congestion and pollution in the process, Hamilton adds.  “While our current clients realize the benefits of shipping via intermodal, the word is getting out to the few shippers that don’t already utilize this service.” For more information on ChemLogix BulkTainer intermodal services, refer to our web site at: http://www.chemlogix.com/solutions/intermodal or contact Stephen Hamilton at hamilton@chemlogix.com or 215-461-3825. 

SANTA FE SPRINGS, California – Weber Distribution, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider, celebrates its 85th anniversary this year.  This marks the company as one of the longest operating privately-held third party logistics providers in the industry today, while continuing to expand its service offerings with supply chain modeling and network optimization solutions.

In 1924 Weber Distribution began its operations as a single warehouse and trucking company and today it is a full service, complete logistics provider offering contract logistics, shared facility warehousing, nationwide LTL and TL services, freight management, and transloading/cross docking, along with a wide-variety of value-added services such as pick-pack, packaging, light assembly and full automation. Weber specializes in working with importers, retailers, food, beverage and CPG companies, and chemical and paper manufacturers. 

 

“We have longevity and a solid reputation in the markets we service, which is always a positive for customers, especially in these challenging economic times,” said Bill Butler, Weber’s president and CEO. “Many logistics and transportation companies have merged or have been acquired by other businesses as a result of insufficient funding, but we have continued to invest in our employees, new technologies and innovative and value-added services for our customers.”

“The 3PLs who are surviving and even thriving in this economy have an industry knowledge that allows them to expand their existing solutions and find new ways to service their customers such as with supply chain modeling, network optimization and other value added strategies,” said Butler. “Because of Weber’s staying power in the market, many manufacturers have recently looked to us for non-traditional services to save them money and improve cash flow.”

One such customer is California Innovations who recently asked Weber to assemble its product at Weber’s Fontana, California-based facility. “We have peace of mind with Weber,” said Carlos Garrido, California Innovations’ director of operations (logistics & distribution). “They have been in the business a long time which is indicative of their ability to adapt and prosper in the 3PL industry. Their 85 years gives us the confidence that we are partnering with someone who is not a fly-by-night operation.”

Butler said that Weber has also worked hard to create a stable working environment for its employees, even in tough times. “This offers a tremendous advantage to our customers because from warehousing to customer service to drivers to senior management, we have employees who have been with Weber for 15, 20, even 30 years.”

As a result, Weber has been doing business with many of its customers for more than a decade, including VONS/Safeway (20 years), Arkema Inc. (18 years), ISP (18 years), Capsugel (12 years), Agfa (10 years), Franklin Industries (10 years), Georgia Pacific Resins (10 years), Huntsman (10 years), Ocean Spray (15 years), PPG (10 years), Airgas, Inc. (10 years), Regent Sports (10 years), and various divisions of Coca-Cola (10 years).

 

About Weber Distribution

Based in Los Angeles, Weber Distribution has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions.  Weber’s expertise includes non-asset freight management, asset-based LTL and TL services, including temperature-controlled, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

 Import

 Retail

 Food & Beverage

 Consumer Packaged Goods

 Chemical/Specialty Products

 Paper

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Applica Consumer Products, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries.  As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including:

 Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

 Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

 The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies

 Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 50 3PLs

 Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

 Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies’ 100 Great Supply Chain Partners

For more information about Weber Distribution and its services, please call 877-624-2700 or visit www.weberdistribution.com.

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A brief Weber history:

Weber Distribution began in 1924 with one small warehouse in downtown Los Angeles. Today, it operates distribution centers, transportation terminals, and cross-docking facilities throughout the United States.  

The following is a brief snap-shot and timeline of Weber Distribution:

1924  Karl Weber, entrepreneur and successful leader of a manufacturing company, expands Weber Showcase and Fixture Company into the world of third party warehousing and distribution and the company is officially incorporated. 

Given the demand from the food industry at the time, Weber’s first warehouse facility was a food storage warehouse that stored bags of salt, sugar, and flour.  The location was in a converted factory building in Los Angeles, centrally located only a few blocks from the downtown center of Los Angeles.

 

Soon after, the Weber operation expanded its service offering from just storing product to both storing and distributing packaged food items to grocery stores. It also added a fleet of trucks and began delivering the goods it stored. This business model remained stable for the next 40 years.

1961 Weber makes its first high profile acquisition by purchasing 35 additional trucks for its transportation fleet.

1964  The company is acquired by founder Karl Weber’s son, Nick Weber, who had been the firm’s Vice President and General Manager since 1961.

1967 The corporation name is formally changed to Weber Truck and Warehouse.

1968  Weber acquires A and A Transfer and Storage Inc., of Maywood, California, whose operations had consisted of hauling store fixtures from Los Angeles throughout California and to Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Weber operated its family business from its original location for over 40 years before relocating south of Los Angeles and starting on an expansion that, for the first time, brought Weber national recognition as the premier West Coast logistics provider.              

1969  Weber Truck and Warehouse moves to a new 76,000 square foot warehouse in Vernon, California, the industrial center of Los Angeles, to establish corporate and operational headquarters.

  

Expansion becomes necessary as the company grows as a provider of warehouse and transportation services to the food, chemical, and consumer goods industry.  The company opens up an additional 200,000 square foot facility in Vernon, California.   

1979  The company expands its Los Angeles region presence by opening up a 203,000 square foot distribution center in La Mirada, California.

1980  Weber outgrows its Vernon Corporate headquarters and moves its corporate office to a 125,000 square foot facility in Commerce, California.

1981  The company expands its geographic presence on the West Coast by opening up a 103,000 square foot San Diego facility.

1989  Weber signs a contract with the U.S. Military to serve the military commissaries.  The company becomes known as the leading provider of warehouse and distribution services to the government sector, including all food distribution that served the U.S. Military in the Western United States and the Far East.

In order to grow its presence in the chemical market, Weber purchases a 212,000 square foot Distribution Facility in Santa Fe Springs, California.  The facility has an in-rack sprinkler system, as well as flammable, poison-toxic, oxidizer, and corrosive rooms.

As growth continues in the Southern California region, Weber moves its corporate offices from Commerce to Santa Fe Springs. 

1991  Weber expands its Southern California geographic presence by opening its first distribution center in the Inland Empire, a 275,000 square foot facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  This facility is a DC hub for the Military division.

1992  Weber acquires competitor World Distribution Centers (WDC), a leading warehouse provider to the consumer goods industry. This acquisition expands its Southern California market presence by an additional 185,000 square feet.

Weber obtains permit approval and begins a two-year project to expand its Santa Fe Springs chemical facility by an additional 30,000 square feet in order to accommodate additional storage needs for flammable products. 

1993  Weber expands its Los Angeles region presence by obtaining a 180,000 square foot facility in Norwalk, California. This facility is within two miles of its Santa Fe Springs and La Mirada locations.

Weber runs a 400,000 square foot contract operation in Chino, California for Zellerbach Paper, an international paper company.

1994 Weber sells off its military division and shifts its focus to serving public and privately-held companies.

Weber is selected to run contract operations for Dunlop Tires for the Western United States in Ontario, California.

1997  Weber expands its Los Angeles region presence by completing the acquisition of a second Norwalk facility. This 180,000 square foot facility is next door to the current Norwalk facility. 

In the same year, Weber is selected to run contract operations of a 128,000 square foot facility in Lathrop, California for Best Foods, the maker of mayonnaise and other sandwich spreads.

1998  Weber expands its locations into Las Vegas when Ocean Spray builds a 300,000-square-foot Las Vegas DC about two miles from its bottling plant. Ocean Spray selects Weber to run all operations, including receiving, put-away, picking, returns, repack, consolidation, shipping and drop-trailer management.  

Weber signs a contract with Vons (Safeway) to operate a facility in Henderson, Nevada. This facility supports all of the warehouse and distribution needs for Vons’ Las Vegas region.

1999  The company officially changes its name from Weber Truck and Warehouse to Weber Distribution, LLC.

2000  Weber works with Mitsui Bussan Logistics Inc. to inventory, package and deliver over nine million units of perishable foods and quick turnaround products a month to 1367 7-Eleven stores. The new distribution centers are based in Fremont, California; Burlington, New Jersey; Aberdeen and Capitol Heights, Maryland; and Franconia, Virginia.

Weber is selected to run a dedicated 373,000 square foot operation for Hain Food Group, Inc. in Ontario, California, solidifying Weber’s growing expertise in running contract operations.

2002  Weber expands its West Coast presence by opening up its second Northern California facility in San Leandro, California.

2004  In order to support the expanding needs of its transportation customers, Weber opens a 140,000 square foot cross-dock facility in La Mirada, California that operates 24 hours a day. This brings Weber’s presence in the Los Angeles region to over 1,000,000 square feet and 2,000,000 square feet on the West Coast.

As demand for the Inland Empire region increases, Weber opens a 212,000 square foot facility in Rancho Cucamonga. This brings Weber’s presence in the area to over 500,000 square feet. 

2005  Weber opens a 303,000 square foot facility in Fontana, California to serve California Innovations, the world’s leading provider of cooler bags.

2006  Weber purchases TaB Warehouse and Distribution Co., a leading 3PL to the confectionery industry. Through the purchase of TaB, Weber adds nearly a million square feet of warehousing space in Southern and Northern California, Arizona, and Washington. The acquisition also substantially increases Weber’s freight volumes. To service the increase in freight, Weber announces the purchase of 200 new trailer units, including 135 temperature-controlled units.

2007  Weber opens a new service center hub located in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon to meet its customers’ increasing needs for both less-than-load trucking and cross-docking services in the Pacific Northwest.

2008   As part of its expanding distribution network in the Inland Empire, Weber leases 564,000 square feet in Redlands, California. Weber provides food and retail customers, including Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Elmer’s Products Inc., with ambient storage as well as transportation and distribution services.

 

Weber signs an agreement with Applica Consumer Products, North America’s leading marketer and distributor of a broad range of branded small household appliances, for contract operations of their 993,986 Redlands, California facility.

Weber Distribution now operates over 4,200,000 square feet of warehouse space on the West Coast.

Media Contact:

Melissa Bradley

bradleycomm@frontiernet.net

928-854-1721

Supercharged supply chains to accelerate global recovery, note Tompkins and Ganster

  RALEIGH, NC and SHANGHAI, CHINA, June 1, 2009 — Global business consultants Jim Tompkins and Steve Ganster view this week’s meetings between U.S. and Chinese economic policymakers as a key stepping stone to worldwide economic recovery that is already underway in the U.S.  On his first official visit to China, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is focusing on ways to end the global economic recession.

“It’s clear that the U.S. is in recovery mode,” says Tompkins, CEO of global supply chain consulting firm Tompkins Associates. “The U.S. consumer is driving this comeback, and the return of consumer confidence will lead to an increase in business volume and capital investment in China. We are now seeing that China’s manufacturing sector has expanded for a third month, and U.S. manufacturing and construction spending is looking more optimistic. Thus, having the world’s first and third largest economies convening now to solidify strategies is very important.”  

Tompkins, author of The Great Recession Gives Way to the Great Comeback, notes that one impetus behind the rapid, deep spread of the recession was organizations’ super-fast and super-efficient global supply chains. “These same supply chains will now lead us out of the downturn,” Tompkins says. “It will take all the stimulus weapons of the U.S., China and Europe – plus the supercharged supply chains – to complete the Great Comeback globally.” 

Ganster, Managing Director of Technomic Asia, knows the economic heartbeat of China well, having worked and lived there during previous downturns while helping U.S. companies establish operations. “During the U.S. recession of 2001 when China was at the threshold of entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), forward-thinking U.S. companies who saw both the impact of China becoming a member of the WTO and the quick return of the U.S. economy were establishing China operations. They reaped the benefits for the next 8 years of China’s nearly double-digit growth,” he says. 

More recently, Ganster has been connecting the dots between government stimulus and growth in China’s consumer goods sector. “I just met with the leader of the supply chain initiative for China’s largest grocery store chain. They are building a state-of-the-art distribution center in part with government funds,” he reveals. “This is one of many examples that lead us to believe that the Great Comeback is underway.” 

As Geithner talks with Chinese officials, some of the U.S.’s top industries will be hitting their economic bottoms and gearing up for a post-recession return to recovery, growth and prosperity. Tompkins urges companies to look beyond the macro economic headlines of the China talks and focus on their sector’s details to convert today’s comeback plans into tomorrow’s profits. 

“While the May Consumer Confidence reading of 54.9 surprised some, our research in such industries as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and inexpensive consumer electronics shows that these sectors are on the upswing,” Tompkins adds.   

Tompkins Associates (www.tompkinsinc.com) designs and integrates global end-to-end solutions for companies that embrace supply chain excellence. For more than 30 years, Tompkins has evolved with the marketplace to become the leading provider of global supply chain services, distribution operations consulting, technology implementation, material handling integration, and benchmarking and best practices. Subscribe to Tompkins Associates RRS feed. 

Technomic Asia (www.technomicasia.com), a division of Tompkins Associates, is a business strategy and supply chain consultancy with more than 25 years of experience helping clients plan and execute Asian growth and operational strategies. Technomic Asia assists companies in entering the Asian market or in expanding their business by providing critical market insight, an understanding of business potential, and assistance in designing the optimum strategy for success.  

Resources for Western Business in China: Great Comeback Blogs, Caught Between the Tiger and the Dragon (Book), The China Ready Company (Book), China Business Blog and Podcast, Asian Sourcing Cost Reduction (podcast)

 CONTACT:  Myra Schwartz, 919-855-5533