Parts Town Unlimited, an Illinois-headquartered distributor renowned for its presence in the appliance parts sector, has taken significant strides in the southwest region with the opening of a new fulfillment center in Arizona. According to a report by the Phoenix Business Journal, this latest facility sprawls across 427,000 square feet in the 303 industrial park, Glendale, marking the company's first foray into both Arizona and the broader Southwestern market. With the doors officially opened earlier in December, the site is pegged to become Parts Town's flagship distribution center.
The new Arizona fulfillment center aims to effectively ramp up Parts Town's distribution capacity, already staffing approximately 80 team members with projections to steadily increase the workforce to 150 by the end of 2025. Designed to rapidly adapt to incoming demands, the facility currently holds an inventory of 35,000 items with plans to expand to 60,000 in the upcoming months. This site uniquely features an expansive 2.5-mile conveyer system designed to, not only quicken but also to streamline overall operations.
Parts Town, as reported by the Parts Town press release, has been recognized for its culture and dedication to employee growth; keeping to this ethos, the Arizona expansion is complemented by programs for upskilling and reskilling the workforce. This harbors a focus on empowering team members to engage with emerging automated technologies confidently.
The automated "Auto Store" within the facility serves as a pivotal innovation, housing 60,000 bins currently with future aspirations set to reach 130,000 items. Clint Holder, the president of Parts Town, told the Phoenix Business Journal, "Having it immediately, having it available and easily procured is a big decision factor for our customers." The deployment of 85 high-tech robots in the Auto Store underscores the company's commitment efficiently to process orders almost four times faster than conventional manual methods.
Arizona's appeal to Parts Town rests on its favorable business climate and the availability of a robust labor pool, making it an optimal location for the company’s largest distribution hub. This operational move is indicative of the industry's broader trend toward increased automation within distribution and fulfillment centers, a shift aimed to significantly enhance efficiency and product delivery. Parts Town’s ever-growing inventory now includes components for commercial and residential appliances, HVAC parts, and the like, underpinning their status as a principal distributor of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts on a global scale.
