Ceva Logistics has opened a multi-client logistics hub in Italy, worth 65 million euros, known as the City of Books.
After eight months of construction the site dedicated to the publishing sector, will handle over 90 million books per year on behalf of customers like RCS Libri, Messaggerie Libri and Pearson.
Ceva will manage some 400,000 tonnes of printed and bound paper, equivalent to 3,000 loaded lorries, or 100,000 pallets. A staff of 200 will be employed to cater for the distribution of books to 4,000 points of delivery throughout Italy.
The traditional publishing supply chain has been shortened by integrating inbound and finishing activities. Sharing warehouse areas, IT systems, automation processes and specialised staff is also expected to reduce overall costs for the publishers involved.
The Stradella site near Pavia in Italy was chosen as the location of the new hub because of its strategic position in the centre of the country.
Ceva collaborated with AKNO Business Parks to extend the area of the warehouse from 80,000 sq m to over 150,000 sq m.
The site in is also a focus for Ceva’s initiative for green warehousing. By the end of the year a photovoltaic plant will be installed totalling more than 35,000 modules, covering an area of 6,500 sq m. Ceva reckon this will produce 3,780 MWh annually, saving on average of 1.6 million kg of CO2 emissions.
