Exciting Developments in Memphis: FedEx Unveils New Sorting Facility
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a remarkable event for the local community and the logistics industry, FedEx has officially opened the doors to its newest sorting facility at the Memphis hub. The ceremony took place on a bright Wednesday morning, marking a significant milestone in the company’s $1.5 billion investment project known as Secondary 25. This ambitious endeavor aims to modernize hub operations and enhance package sorting capabilities.
A Glimpse Inside the New Facility
The newly unveiled facility is nothing short of extraordinary. Spanning an impressive 11.3 million square feet—equivalent to the length of three football fields—this state-of-the-art sorting center is fully automated and designed to keep up with the ever-growing demands of global logistics. With the ability to sort an astounding 56,000 packages per hour, this technological advancement is set to transform how packages are processed and delivered.
Richard Smith, COO International and CEO of FedEx Airline Division, expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “Ten years of tireless work by our team has made this state-of-the-art facility a reality. So today, we celebrate a giant step in our transformational journey toward realizing our vision to help customers compete and win the world’s most flexible, efficient, and smartest logistics network.”
Innovative Features for Enhanced Efficiency
One of the standout features of the new facility is its incorporation of six-sided scanning technology. This innovative approach captures both size and barcode information in a way that drastically reduces sorting times. And it’s not just the sorting system that’s upgraded—FedEx has also built a new hub operations control center that is now three times larger than its predecessor. According to Lisa Lisson, President of Air Operations, this new command center will manage the entire operation in Memphis, not just the Secondary 25 facility.
Prepared for Any Weather
In a proactive move to ensure uninterrupted operations, FedEx is constructing its own power substation on Democrat Road, just north of the hub. Camille Diggs, a FedEx communications specialist, explained the necessity of this decision: “When we have an outage, we have to reboot systems, and that can interfere—costs, delays—with the sortation process.” This addition aims to keep things running smoothly, no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
The Legacy of The Captain
This facility, while officially dubbed Secondary 25, carries a special nickname—The Captain. This name pays tribute to FedEx’s founder and executive chairman, who revolutionized the overnight package and delivery service more than 51 years ago. Richard Smith noted this achievement in his remarks, saying, “This facility is a critical milestone in the future of FedEx as a company.”
Ready for the Holiday Rush
As the holiday season approaches, the timing for the launch of Secondary 25 couldn’t be better. FedEx reported that the facility is fully operational just in time to manage the expected surge in holiday shipping. This means that customers can look forward to their packages being handled more efficiently than ever before.
In summary, the opening of this new sorting facility represents not only a significant advancement for FedEx but also a bright future for logistics in Memphis. With enhanced efficiency, innovative technology, and a commitment to ongoing improvement, FedEx is well-positioned to meet the demands of the ever-evolving logistics landscape. So, whether you’re sending gifts to loved ones or ordering online, you can rest easy knowing that the packages are in great hands!
