Safelite AutoGlass (News - Alert), a well established auto glass provider in America with nearly 4 million customers and a subsidiary of Columbus, Ohio-based Belron US, has launched its new 282,000 sq. ft distribution center in Ontario, California.

 

Expected to be operational by August 1, the facility is claimed to be the company’s largest facility and is said to support distribution of vehicle glass to the states west of the Mississippi River. Reportedly, it will store 120,000 windshields and 30,000 other vehicle glass parts.

 

The launch of this new distribution center was aimed at bringing 35 new jobs to the market, with the potential to grow to 90 jobs as volume increases.

 

“Safelite has operated in Ontario for more than 30 years,” said Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of Belron US, parent company of Safelite AutoGlass.

 

“We feel a strong commitment to Ontario, and are pleased to be able to continue to invest in California's economy.”

 

Feeney also clarified that as part of the company’s commitment in developing ecologically sound practices, its new facility includes a number of ecologically-friendly elements. He said that the new distribution center will eliminate 1 million miles in transport, reducing its primary carbon footprint by more than 1500 tons. Moreover, to support this, the company has also added features to the new building that can further reduce its environmental impact.

 

The distribution center will include efficient electric materials handling equipment, low flow/ motion sensor water fixtures, and highly efficient T5 motion/daylight fluorescent lighting sensors that work in conjunction with roof mounted skylights. The company is also said to be exploring the efficiency of adding photovoltaic cells to its facility's roofline, and is seeking ways to increase its use of recyclable packing materials.

 

The company also said it intends to reinvest $38 million in profits to support growth. In addition to the Ontario distribution center, the company is also focused in opening six new warehouses across the country (in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Texas), relocating ten existing warehouses for added inventory, expanding inventory to allow for cross-border deliveries with Canada, opening its third national contact center, creating 300 jobs in Columbus, Ohio, remodeling numerous store locations and launching a national radio advertising campaign.

 

“In keeping with our new Safelite business model, we are pleased to be both an environmental and economic partner with the city of Ontario and with the state of California,” said Feeney.