UPS has opened a new package centre in Prato, near Florence, to expand its Italian network capacity and help businesses in the Tuscany region boost their exports.
The 8,000 sqm logistics centre, which replaces a smaller centre in the region, features scanning, sortation and conveyer technology that rapidly moves packages through the facility, while capturing data to increase delivery accuracy. It serves the surrounding provinces of Arezzo, Florence, Pistoia and Prato. In line with UPS’s sustainability goals, it is equipped with photovoltaic panels and set for future installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
The new Prato facility is part of a network of 21 UPS locations in Italy, offering efficient connections to the company’s European ground network and its global air network via the airports of Ancona-Falconara, Bergamo-Orio al Serio, Bologna, Rome-Ciampino, and Venice.
“When we laid the cornerstone of this new facility two years ago, no one could foresee the vital role that logistics companies like UPS would play in supporting the global economy. Today we are not only marking the opening of a new facility, but also sending a message to our customers in Italy that we’re here to support them as they resume exporting,” said Karl Haberkorn, managing director, UPS Italy.
“Our customers trust with us their shipments, which are products of Tuscan craftsmanship and emblematic symbols of the ‘Made in Italy’ mark of excellence known around the world. We’re hard at work helping to keep Italy’s economic engine running and supporting businesses of all sizes to seize every opportunity in this delicate transition stage,” he stressed.
As the centre of the Italian Renaissance, Tuscany has been at the forefront of change for centuries, UPS pointed out. The company has been working with Italian firms for over 30 years to provide logistics solutions for renowned industries, including textile producers, the pride of the Tuscan economy and the Prato region for many centuries and who play a vital role in the international fashion supply market.
One of these companies is Lanificio Cangioli, a leading producer of woolen yarns and fabrics. “For twenty years, we’ve relied on UPS to reach international markets, and we’ve developed a trusted relationship based on daily contact. Speed is the distinctive feature that we have in common: with the same speed that we produce fine woolens, UPS ships our 100% Made in Italy products all over the world,” said Alessandro Jentzsch, sales manager for Lanificio Cangioli.
“By investing in this new centre, UPS is showing that it’s a solid partner for Tuscan businesses, allowing export-focused small and medium sized companies like ours to continue to grow,” he emphasised.
UPS added: “Because the economic situation remains fluid, it is more important than ever for Italian companies to focus their export strategies on profitable foreign markets such as Germany and China, destinations that UPS can reach from Italy with delivery times of 24 and 72 hours respectively.”
