Donaldson Co Inc has officially opened its expanded 45 000 sq m distribution facility in Bruges, Belgium.
The US filter company has doubled the size of the Bruges distribution facility which serves 164 countries and has an annual outbound goods volume of 17 million filters and parts.
The expanded facility was first put into service in 1996 as a 10 000 sq m factory to support Donaldson’s gas turbine filtration applications. In 2006 the company converted the facility to a distribution centre, increasing its size to 22 000 sq m.
“In support of our growth strategy and commitment to having a global reach with a local touch, we continue to invest in new capacity around the world that aligns with our focus on in-region customer support,” said Tod Carpenter, Donaldson’s chairman, president and CEO. “This latest investment recognizes Bruges for its strategic location, strong transportation infrastructure and superior workforce. We are excited about having this new capacity available to drive future growth with our customers in Europe.”
“More than a quarter of Donaldson’s sales last year came from Europe and a third of the total turnover of our European sales passes through our Bruges distribution centre,” said Wim Vermeersch, Donaldson’s vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With this investment, customers will be able to consolidate orders and receive products from fewer locations, which provides our valued customers with the high-quality customer service experience they have come to expect from Donaldson.”