Menlo increases presence in Singapore with new state-of-the-art facility

Menlo Worldwide Logistics LLC, a third-party logistics (3PL) subsidiary of freight transportation services provider Con-way Inc., announced this week it opened up a new 37,000 square meter state-of-the-art warehousing and retail distribution management center in Singapore.

Menlo will provide various services for shippers out of this facility, including dedicated contract logistics, warehousing, distribution and transportation management, supply chain engineering, and other value-added services across multiple industries, according to company officials.

Menlo President Bob Bianco told LM that Menlo entered this market more than a decade ago because Singapore has been, and will continue to be, a key regional distribution hub for business throughout South Asia.

“First and foremost that’s because of the secure and effective trade and customs regulations of the Singapore government,” he said. “Secondly, has been the support of the Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) and its policies promoting the development of a ‘future ready’ logistics infrastructure. And lastly because of Singapore’s excellent sea and air transportation connectivity, capacity and infrastructure.”

Bianco also said that Menlo was the first company to go into the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS), which at the time was a groundbreaking development for Singapore’s logistics industry, as well as Menlo’s foothold in Singapore.

The opening of this facility represents Menlo’s continued investment in the Singapore market, he said, and just as Singapore has expanded, matured and become regarded as perhaps Asia’s best logistics hub, so, too has Menlo followed a similar path.

“From those early beginnings we have grown our footprint, adding facilities, employees and capabilities as we added customers,” explained Bianco. “All along the way, the Singapore Economic Development Board, and Singapore Customs have been there to support us, encourage us, and help us to be successful.”

Menlo officials noted that this new facility brings its total number of Singapore-based facilities to seven, totaling 195,000 square meters. The company has 380 employees in Singapore whom provide dedicated and multi-client inventory and distribution management. And it serves more than 100 Singapore-based businesses and multi-national companies in various sectors, including automotive, high-tech, consumer goods, industrial, aerospace, and wine and spirits distribution.

What’s more, this new facility will serve as its most advanced warehouse for storage and distribution, high-value-added services such as picking and packing operations, customized labeling, and return management services.

They added that Menlo’s presence there is focused on what it said are ‘tangibly’ green operations through a joint investment between Menlo and its development partner, Second Development Pte Ltd. As a result of this investment partnership, the new Singapore facility, said Menlo, features advanced building design and construction materials that emphasize environmental sustainability and high levels of energy and water-use efficiency—from the use of recycled concrete aggregates, to sustainably sourced office carpet and ceiling board, to high-efficiency air-conditioning and Philips T5 florescent lighting.

“The expansion provides more capacity for Menlo customers to expand their distribution in Singapore for the Southeast Asia region,” he said. “Singapore is the best logical location for regional hub distribution because of its strategic location and good transportation connectivity.”

When asked what the next steps are for Menlo in Singapore, Bianco said it is wise to look at how the company got to the present first.

“Five years ago we nearly doubled our presence here, investing US$34 million to acquire Cougar Express Logistics, which increased our resources dramatically in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, and allowed us to expand into finished vehicle logistics, wine and spirits distribution and customs brokerage in Singapore,” he said. “The [new] facility will help us continue that expansion. We already are considering two more expansion projects, that will be as big as or bigger than the [the new] facility. Singapore is a high-demand market for warehousing and distribution services and we plan to expand to meet the growing needs of our customers, as well as new market opportunities.”

The Menlo chief added that Singapore remains a primary strategic market for Menlo and its intent is to continue growing its business, expanding operations and capacity and adding new capabilities and services. Going forward, he said Menlo will continue to build out its footprint as required to support customer supply chain needs and position Menlo with competitive advantage in this important market.

“Menlo’s innovation in sustainable supply chain solutions is a further testimony of Singapore’s leadership in world-class supply chain management,” said Kelvin Wong, Executive Director of Logistics, Singapore EDB, in a statement. “Such development in sustainable and high productivity operations is a move in the right direction to transform the logistics industry to support a more competitive and productivity-led economy.”