CHEP opens new service centre in Adelaide

A new high-tech custom built 12,000m² service centre has been opened by pallet and container provider CHEP.

Located at Direk in the City of Salisbury, Adelaide, the 5.6-hectare site combines two existing CHEP sites into one.

Located off the Northern Expressway and North South Motorway, the multiple platform-site was purpose built for CHEP by national property developer Gibb Group and represents the latest significant investment in the fast-growing Direk business and industrial precinct.

It is expected that the development will support a range of key South Australian industries from farming, fisheries, food manufacturing and winemaking in the region by providing businesses CHEP’s full suite of reusable supply chain platforms including timber and plastic Pallets, reusable plastic containers and produce bins.

According to the City of Salisbury, over 4,000 individuals are employed within the industrial area of Direk and Burton and these precincts contributed over half a billion dollars to the South Australian economy during the 2020/21 period.

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas appeared in person to open the high tech service centre.

“The investment by CHEP and Gibb Group in South Australia is testament to the opportunity for growth that businesses have identified in our State driving job creation and economic growth in the region,” he said.

“The new CHEP Service Centre is strategically located in the Direk industrial precinct. Direk is fast becoming a regional logistics hub, well-connected to intermodal transport routes, delivering efficiencies and enhancing South Australia’s supply chain and logistics capabilities.”

The Direk CHEP Service Centre is the second project that national property developer Gibb Group has been involved in delivering for CHEP following the 10,000m² CHEP Service Centre in Kenwick WA it completed in 2020.

The new facility incorporates cutting-edge repair and automation technology, nail rollers and digital quality checkers with the capacity to repair approximately four million pallets and wash six million bins and containers annually.

It also features best-practice sustainability measures and technology including a 250kW rooftop solar system, LED and motion sensor lighting, rainwater harvesting and reticulation system.

CHEP Australia General Manager Renee Holbrook said the new facility was designed to create a seamless service for CHEP customers.

“We’re incredibly proud to open CHEP’s newest facility. The design is centred around creating an outstanding experience for our customers through advancements in product quality, faster service speeds and availability of CHEP’s full suite of platforms all delivered in the one convenient location,” she said.

“The site will also improve our team’s experience by creating more career opportunities, an outstanding work environment, as well as generating 20 new jobs for the local Salisbury community.

“CHEP is committed to investing in its pallet and container capacity to best serve our customers and optimise local supply chains. With the Direk facility’s advanced repair and quality assurance processes our customer will receive a consistent high-quality supply, which is the foundation of the CHEP circular, share and reuse model.”

Matthew Gibb, Gibb Group CEO, acknowledged the dedication of the project team who overcame industry challenges to successfully complete the centre.

“This purpose-built facility is the latest addition to CHEP’s far-reaching service centre network, being the second facility we have worked on with the team over the last three years,” he said.

“We’re pleased to have partnered with CHEP again to successfully deliver a cutting-edge building that reflects our commitment to quality and affirms both ours and CHEP’s focus on delivering market-leading services for its customers,” continued Gibb.

“This project was completed amidst challenging conditions across the construction industry, with our dedicated team supported by leading subcontractors, suppliers and financiers who stepped up to navigate and overcome the complexities”.

Part of Brambles Limited, CHEP is considered a global leader in managed, returnable and reusable packaging solutions, serving many of the world’s largest companies in sectors such as consumer goods, fresh produce, beverage and automotive.