Homeplus Expands Logistics Investment to Prepare for 'Post-Corona'... Opens Ham-an Ambient Temperature Logistics Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Homeplus is expanding its investment to prepare for the post-COVID-19 era and to strengthen the efficiency of its logistics operations.

On the 28th, Homeplus announced that it will expand the Ham-an Ambient Logistics Service Center in Daechi-ri, Chilseo-myeon, Ham-an-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, and operate the Ham-an Logistics Service Center as the main logistics hub responsible for daily necessities in the Yeongnam region.

With the expansion of the Ham-an Ambient Logistics Service Center, Homeplus will integrate logistics operations, which were previously divided between Ham-an and Miryang, into a single location in Ham-an to improve efficiency and support faster and more stable supply of daily necessities in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, including Yeongnam. Previously, fresh food in the Yeongnam region was supplied separately from the Ham-an Fresh Logistics Service Center and ambient products from the Miryang Ambient Logistics Service Center.

The Ham-an Ambient Logistics Service Center has a total floor area of 22,886㎡ and a building area of 22,288㎡. The entire Ham-an Logistics Service Center has expanded from the previous total floor area of 21,532㎡ and building area of 20,691㎡ to a total floor area of 44,418㎡ and building area of 42,979㎡, equivalent to the size of six soccer fields. This expansion enables product supply to a total of 114 stores (42 Hyper stores and 72 Express stores) including Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and parts of Honam region.

Along with the physical expansion, a strategic logistics management system was strengthened by applying state-of-the-art equipment. The automated sorter increased the maximum daily processing capacity of ambient logistics by about 25% compared to the Miryang center, enabling the handling of 9,000 boxes per hour and 216,000 boxes per day.

The logistics system for small-scale stores, such as Express stores where demand continues to grow, was also enhanced. By applying the automated sorting system (DAS), various sizes of products can be sorted quickly and accurately, reducing the error rate to below 0.2%.

Additionally, to provide logistics services tailored to the characteristics of small-scale stores, management of fresh and ambient products for Express stores was integrated into a separate sector, and workspaces for frozen, refrigerated, and ambient products were separated and strictly managed to enhance cold chain safety.

The space design also features improvements to enhance the safety and convenience of delivery drivers and employees. The entry/exit and parking spaces were expanded by 200% compared to the Miryang center, reducing loading and unloading waiting times. Products are loaded onto separate pallets by category for delivery to enable easy and quick unloading and display at stores.

Kim Won-jun, head of the Homeplus Ham-an Ambient Logistics Service Center, said, “The message COVID-19 delivers is the importance of the ordinary.” He added, “We will continue to reorganize our systems and strengthen our capabilities to ensure stable supply of products customers want under any circumstances.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.