Hunter Engineering Canada has completed the remodel and redesign of its distribution center in Aurora, Ontario, adding new warehouse space and improved functionality to significantly reduced lead times for shipping Hunter products and equipment across Canada.
“Our customers depend on Hunter Canada to deliver solid, reliable equipment quickly, so they can continue to provide the best service for their customers,” says Dan Martin, divisional sales manager. “As our market share grows, it became clear that we needed to increase our warehousing capacity to continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”
With an eye towards expected future growth, Hunter says the five-month project created a more streamlined operational layout, reducing lead times to 14 days or less. And with a horizontal expansion of the 35,000 sq.-ft., warehouse not an option, capacity had to be gained vertically and by repurposing existing space.
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Hunter says its redesign included the creation of a new pallet flow system, new cantilevers to increase the capacity for lift runways and five new aisles to allow more skid spaces, essentially doubling the facility’s inventory capacity.
Additionally, a 5,000 sq.-ft. bay was reconfigured into a parts room with a more sequential layout, cutting picking time in half. The previous parts room will now be used for faster processing of high-demand items, the company says.
Hunter also notes the enhanced efficiency was realized even as the remodeling was taking place, without missing a single workday.
“Not only did we not miss any work, but we actually set new records,” says Distribution Center Manager Bradley Greaves.
