Avnet, Inc., a global technology distribution and services company, has broken ground on a 10.000 m2 expansion of its Tongeren, Belgium, central distribution centre, which houses both a pan-European distribution and logistics operation and an integration centre, primarily serving Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA customers. The total area will be 34.000 m2, doubling the size of its current integration services area.
The facility houses Avnet's fully automated, centralised European logistics and integration services centre, which is ISO 9001 certified for quality standards and ISO14001 certified for meeting environmental management standards. A wide range of high value-added integration and logistic services for Avnet's business partners are delivered from the Tongeren facility. In 2007, more than eight million enterprise servers, storage devices, thin clients, wireless mobility devices and other information technology equipment components were shipped through the centre.
Dick Borsboom, president of Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA, said, "This new expansion will provide the needed capacity to meet Avnet's growth in EMEA Doubling our integration infrastructure will underpin our strategy of delivering high value-added services for our business partners."
Avnet opened the Tongeren facility in July 1999. Since then, it has been instrumental in Avnet's ability to serve customers throughout Europe. Real-time bar code locating systems are used to track shipping, invoice and inventory performance. The system integration practice boasts an electrostatic discharging (ESD) environment. Integration services are delivered by a team of 130 skilled people and include pre-sales support and validation of configuration, production, testing of designs and assembly of systems, integration to customer specifications and vendor standards, software loading and bundled applications, custom technical documentation, and reseller training and support.
In addition, Avnet provides logistics services from the centre, including supply chain services, demand planning, warehousing, transportation management and logistics network design. Jim Smith, president of Avnet Logistics, said, "With double the current capacity for integration services and high bay, narrow aisle storage, the expanded Avnet distribution centre will allow us to offer even better service to our customers throughout EMEA."
About Avnet Technology Solutions
Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) representing US$6 billion in annual revenue for fiscal year 2007, with locations in more than 30 countries. As a global technology sales and marketing organisation, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions focused on specific customer segments and a select line card strategy enabling an exceptional level of attention to the needs of its customers and suppliers.
About Avnet
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and technology services and solutions with more than 300 locations serving more than 70 countries worldwide. The company markets, distributes and optimises the supply-chain and provides design-chain services for the products of the world's leading electronic component suppliers, enterprise computer manufacturers and embedded subsystem providers. Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities, such as maximising inventory efficiency, managing logistics, assembling products and providing engineering design assistance for its 100.000 customers, accelerating their growth through cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, Avnet generated revenue of $15.68 billion.
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