Panalpina has opened its new purpose build logistics centre in Singapore, located on Pioneer View, covering an area of 3.5 football pitches.

The facility is constructed over six floors and offering 25,800 m2 of usable warehouse space, of which the majority is already rented out to customers.

Speaking at the official opening of the facility, chief executive officer Stefan Karlen explained that Singapore is very important to Panalpina and 96 of its top 100 global customers have a base in Singapore.

He says: “Singapore is a very important consolidation hub for ocean and air freight. The nation-state is investing in the expansion of its ports, and a third runway is under construction at Changi Airport.

“Against this backdrop, Panalpina plans to offer air and ocean freight services including value-added logistics services to companies, particularly in the energy, healthcare, high tech, manufacturing, consumer and retail, as well as fashion industries.”

Panalpina plans to test and use new technologies in Singapore including the Internet of Things, augmented reality and various automation systems.

The new facility could also run 3D printers on behalf of customers, potentially making it a hub for distributed manufacturing in the future.

Karlen, who has once based in Singapore, took time to meet and chat with Panalpina’s front-line staff, as well as with attending dignitaries, including the Swiss ambassador to Singapore, Fabrice Filliez.