Panalpina said its recently opened 32,800-square-foot logistics facility in North China will become the Swiss logistics group's hub in the growing region.

    The company said Tianjin is primed to become the logistics hub for North China because of the city’s geographical advantages and infrastructure, which includes the region’s largest port, an international airport and high-speed rail connections. Bosch Automotive Diesel Systems will operate in about half of the facility.

    “We are establishing a truly integrated supply chain network in China that combines international air and ocean freight with comprehensive value-added logistic services and supply chain services,” said Mike Wilson, global head of logistics.

    Panalpina, which plans to open more logistics facilities in China over the next three years, said the Tijiana facility will “provide VAS, together with cross-docking for air and ocean freight shipments.”

    Tianjin has seen a boom in manufacturing in recent years, largely because companies have shifted production to northern China as labor costs rise in the south. The city’s major economic development zone has attracted more than 100 of the top 500 global companies, including Unilever, Total and Thyssen Krupp Elevator, according to China Daily.

(Source:JOC)