We have now opened our new National Distribution Centre (NDC) at the Fairham Business Park, Nottingham, as we are looking to kickstart our next phase of growth. The NDC enables us to service 2,500 orders per day, three times more than previously possible. We have previewed the new facility at the Scientific Laboratory Show and Conference 2024 in May to some of the biggest names in the world of science, including more than 1,400 delegates and exhibitors.
The move comes after a sustained period of growth, which saw SLS become the leading independent laboratory equipment distributor in the UK and Ireland. The NDC has 40,000 m3 floor area, which is more than 2.5x the size of our previous Wilford facility just three miles away. The benefit will be passed directly to customers, as we will have even greater capacity to meet the service requirements and further improve our industry-leading customer service practices.
“Our Wilford facility has served us well, but we’ve outgrown that space, both in number and ambition,” explained Bruce Mowbray, operations director. “This move facilitates big increases in storage and processing space for the 600,000 products in our portfolio, with integrated, automated warehouse management systems and state-of-the-art conveyor belt logistics systems.
“This means quicker deliveries for our customers, speeding up the rate that the UK’s laboratories can perform the cutting-edge research and elite production they’re known for.”
“Our input into the design of the Fairham facility has allowed SLS to put multiple aspects of our core company ethos into practice. To foster creativity amongst our teams we have ensured that our office spaces are full of discussion pods and collaboration areas,” said Ian Roulstone, managing director.
“SLS prioritises sustainability in all our practices, so the NDC has been built to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREAMM rating. It has photovoltaic solar panels that can produce up to 300MWh of energy per year. Eco-friendly staff transport is built-in too, with 12 EV charging points, a bike shelter and a tram stop with links into Nottingham just a couple of minutes away,” continued Roulstone.
We have taken a further step to ensure the modernity of our facility by investing in IT integration. The warehouse at the NDC employs automated warehouse picking and order packing systems. Additionally, enhanced order tracking will provide improved customer order visibility.
To see more about how the NDC is taking us forward, watch the launch video here: