As many as 120 Sunderland jobs could be created following a Japanese warehousing and logistics company’s decision to build its third distribution hub in the city.
The 421,000 sq ft warehouse is being constructed by Hitachi-owned Vantec Europe at Wearside’s Hillthorn Business Park and adjacent to its main client, car maker Nissan. At £23m the expansion is the biggest overseas investment undertaken by the Vantec Corporation, which already has two nearby sites employing close to 1,000 workers.
Due for completion later this year, the new Washington warehouse and offices will allow Vantec, which stores and distributes car parts, to keep pace with Nissan’s own expansion plans. It is gearing up to start production of its new Infiniti Q30 hatchback before Christmas.
Martin Kendall, Vantec Europe’s managing director, confirmed the trio of North-East sites would give his company almost a million square feet of operational space in the region. “This is another major new project for us and a great vote of confidence in our Sunderland operations from our parent companies Vantec Corporation and Hitachi Transport System,” he added.
Sunderland City Council leader, Paul Watson, said Vantec’s decision underlined his authority’s strategy to make the city Europe’s automotive hub. “It also illustrates the continuing success of our business investment team in attracting and securing major investments from global companies to the city, creating jobs and a remarkably strong automotive sector,” he said.
The new warehouse — which will allow Vantec to strengthen its links with Darlington engine maker Cummins — was also supported by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, which is providing finance through its Government-backed North East Investment Fund.
“Vantec’s warehousing in Sunderland is a great illustration of the vigour and ambition of the region’s automotive sector, and the success of Vantec and Nissan in competitive global markets,” said the organisation’s chairman, Paul Woolston.
Although much of its business is anchored to the car industry, Vantec Europe also manages and runs logistics operations for some of the region’s largest “blue chip” manufacturers. Its parent company has similar warehouse networks in North America, mainland Europe, Asia and Australia.
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