McLane Opens $150M Ohio DC Featuring Robots, Artificial Intelligence
On Friday, Dec. 1, McLane Co. Inc., a supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice solutions, celebrated the opening of its $150 million, 417,338-s.f. grocery distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Governor John Kasich.
“Of our 80 grocery and foodservice distribution centers nationwide, the Findlay facility is the most technologically advanced, combining teammates, state-of-the-art automation, advanced robotics and artificial intelligence,” said Tony Frankenberger, president of McLane Grocery.
The McLane Findlay DC will employ approximately 400 to 500 Ohioans. Of According to McLane, the technology used at the facility will help it to deliver more than 325,000 picks of items per day at peak operation.
The McLane Findlay DC will store approximately 16,000 grocery and convenience store items representing more than 700 suppliers, which will continue to increase in 2018. Robots utilize bar codes on the products to store and transfer pallets of goods, traveling up to 60 mph to fulfill orders. McLane teammates help control and program the robots and load and organize products into bins based on the products’ final destinations.
These items are then delivered to convenience stores, mass merchants, warehouse clubs and drug stores in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Governor Kasich gave remarks applauding McLane’s decision to locate in Ohio and highlighted the positive impact McLane has on the community. He touched on some of McLane’s inclusive hiring policies stating, “That is a huge, huge deal, when we’re giving everybody a chance.”
Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik also attended the ceremony, along with other local leaders. “It’s not just the environment that makes things successful, it’s a competent and committed workforce, one that wants to do the right things, and that’s how companies like McLane continue to be amazing companies and we are so happy that McLane chose Findlay, Ohio to call home,” she said.
“There is an outstanding culture providing a strong workforce place here in Findlay in Hancock County, and when I say strong I mean that in the sense of commitment, respect and teamwork,” said Julie Norris, division president, McLane Grocery Distribution.
The DC employed 500 construction trade representatives during the facility’s 14-month construction. McLane says it is committed to hiring Ohioans and contributing to the Findlay and Ohio economy. Teammates are relocating to Findlay from Toledo, Lima, Indianapolis and Detroit to work at McLane. In addition, McLane has hired more than 95 truck drivers, with plans to hire 75 more.
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