Columbia Electric Supply Inc., Brockton, Mass., plans to open a new 27,000-square-foot distribution center/branch in Taunton, Mass., this month, as part of a major expansion plan unveiled in February.
The new warehouse in the Liberty & Union Industrial Park, adjacent to the intersection of Routes 140 and 24, includes four loading docks and high-bay storage with 30-foot clear height and space for 1300 pallets, effectively tripling the 75-year-old firm's storage capacity. The facility will replace the company's existing branch location in Taunton, offering customers a state-of-the-art training center for seminars and programs, as well as an expanded merchandising area.
“In our industry, a warehouse distribution center is the lifeblood of the operation,” says Geoff Murphy, company president. Murphy said the new center's increased size will allow the company to increase its inventory threefold, protecting pricing for contractor clients and also assuring an ample supply of all materials needed.
He added that the location is far more geographically desirable for client contractors. “No one wants to navigate back streets and city traffic for supplies, and this location eliminates that hurdle. We see this facility as a hub for future expansion.”
Columbia Electric may add as many as three new locations to its existing operations in Brockton, Taunton and Fall River over the next two years, said Murphy.