Poczta Polska: Construction of the second Warsaw sorting plant begins as part of the modernization of the logistics network
Warszawa II is a complex of buildings acquired by the Company as part of its strategic Logistics Network Architecture project. The investment aims to optimize logistics processes, which will translate into improved timeliness, throughput, and service quality. The facilities will be completed by the end of 2023. The facility will be developed by Panattoni, a leader in industrial real estate in Europe.
Poczta Polska is undertaking a number of activities aimed at modernising the current logistics network and introducing machinery into it, which in the coming years will allow the Company to achieve its goals, which constitute one of the pillars of its strategy, including further business development in the areas of CEP (courier, parcel, express), e-commerce and logistics services.
" The State Treasury is investing in the development of Poczta Polska's logistics infrastructure. Last year, the Ministry of State Assets decided to recapitalize Poczta Polska with PLN 190 million. Funding from the reprivatization fund allows for the modernization and construction of logistics centers, as well as their modernization. Thanks to the ongoing Logistics Network Architecture project, Poczta Polska will be able to compete even more effectively with the largest players in the promising courier and parcel services market. Our national operator should be associated with the highest quality of services, and we, as the Ministry, are supporting one of the oldest domestic companies in this endeavor, " noted Jan Kanthak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets, who oversees Poczta Polska.
From the market perspective and in order to gain a competitive advantage, it is very important to have a properly planned network of connections, optimally located halls adapted to local needs and equipped with modern sorters for automatic processing of shipments.
Construction work on a new Poczta Polska sorting plant, known as Warsaw II, will begin near Radzymin soon. The official inauguration was a symbolic cornerstone laying ceremony on December 7, 2022. Guests at the event included Jan Kanthak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets, and members of the Poczta Polska Management Board – President Krzysztof Falkowski and Vice President Andrzej Bodziony.
" Acquiring a new logistics facility directly in the Warsaw area will enable us to handle the growing volume of parcel and pallet shipments and automate logistics processes. It will also translate into increased efficiency across Poczta Polska's entire logistics network. This increased efficiency of the logistics network will improve the standards of services provided, particularly their timeliness , and will enable the optimization of shipment processing costs. It will also significantly benefit ergonomics and work organization ," emphasizes Krzysztof Falkowski, CEO of Poczta Polska.
In May of this year, Poczta Polska and Panattoni signed a lease agreement for over 50,000 square meters of operational and logistics space. The general contractor for the complex is Harden. The investment will consist of two facilities, intended to serve as a distribution hub for handling parcel and pallet shipments arriving from other distribution hubs across the country and from within the company's own service area, including those sent by bulk customers.
"We are delighted that Poczta Polska has once again trusted Panattoni to deliver its strategic project. We have already delivered space in Kalisz and Białystok, and now the time has come for a key location near the capital. The tenant aims to maintain a competitive position in the e-commerce market, and we are a proven partner in the industry. In Poland alone, we have already developed over 4 million square meters of space dedicated to online sales. This vast experience pays off in new investments," says Marek Dobrzycki, Managing Director at Panattoni.
These facilities will include a cross-dock warehouse with an area of over 12,000 m² and a warehouse and operations hall with an area of over 26,000 m² . Additionally, support and technical support areas will be located. The functionality of the facility, as planned by Poczta Polska, will be complemented by over 400 parking spaces located in the immediate vicinity of the operations halls and at the entrance to the facility.
At the same time, a tender has been launched to select a contractor for the sorting system for the facility under construction. The machine, which Poczta Polska will purchase, will be the largest and most modern sorter ever used for the automatic sorting of courier shipments. The machine will be constructed using "Cross-Belt" technology. Equipped with over 300 chutes (directional and vertical), the sorter will enable dynamic sorting of shipments down to the drop-off points and delivery areas. The highly efficient device is designed to sort up to 15,000 shipments per hour. Thanks to its high level of automation, the efficiency of parcel sorting will significantly increase, which will translate into timely service delivery.
"Automation at Poczta Polska is gaining momentum. Investments in modern machinery will enable us to compete more effectively in the demanding courier market. Thanks to the projects we are implementing, the scope of work automation will increase, and consequently, it will translate into much faster processing of sent parcels. This will benefit both customers, who expect the highest quality of our services, and employees, who previously performed many tasks manually," says Andrzej Bodziony, Vice President of Poczta Polska.
As part of the Logistics Network Architecture project, in 2023 further new sorters will start operating in halls in Wrocław, Lisi Ogon near Bydgoszcz and Lublin.
The logistics network of Poczta Polska includes 14 regional sorting centers and 13 local sorting centers, which, combined with a network of 7,600 post offices, constitute the infrastructure base for the development of logistics.
