Mammoth Shrewsbury warehouse starting to take shape

Technology Supplies Ltd moved onto the Battlefield Enterprise Park from its former home in Market Drayton in 2012.

Now it is adding another 45,000 sq ft of space to its current 32,000 sq ft warehousing, and bringing the logistics operations of its three sister companies around the country to its new central hub in Shropshire.

The company is the international market leader in supplying equipment for design and technology curricula in countries around the world, and fitted out departments for a number of local schools, including Madeley Academy.

The construction of the new European Distribution Centre (EDC) – for an undisclosed but "substantial" investment – is now well underway by Morris Property in Shrewsbury, from whom the building is also being leased on a 15-year deal.

It will see the logistics operations of three sister companies, Demco Europe in Hoddesdon near London, Timstar Laboratory Supplies in Crewe, and Maudesport Ltd in Walsall, brought together in Shrewsbury.

Their office and sales operations will remain in their current locations, while Shrewsbury will retain a front-end office for the Technology Supplies business. The extended building will be handed over in mid-December, and the companies integrated by mid-2016.

Around 20 jobs will be created, adding to the 78 staff already employed at Battlefield.

The investment will also see new automation systems installed, and a new access road constructed. The shell of the building has appeared in less than two months since building began in July, forming a striking welcome to the business park via Battlefield Way.

Gordon Campbell, team leader at the EDC, said: "It's a substantial investment, in the infrastructure, warehousing, racking, shelving, but also because of the economies of scale involved in bringing all the logistics together we can start to look at automation.

"As the group grows, which is likely, whether it's through further acquisitions, we have the ability to expand here as well.

"The group is now looking for very aggressive growth over the next three years, and this site is very important."

He added: "There has been so much work involved to get to this point.

"To see the tangible benefits of it now is really exciting, and the real scale of it is being brought home. It's an exciting time for Technology Supplies, for the group as a whole and for the employees who see the investment here and know jobs are secure for the future, which is tremendous."

The company is part of the Wall Group, based in Madison, Wisconsin in the USA, and achieves revenue of around £14 million.

The Wall Group employs 800 people through its various subsidiaries, and achieves total annual revenue of approximately 200 million US dollars (£130 million). The new EDC will recreate a similar operation established for its American markets in Madison.

Mr Campbell added: "The focus is on improving customer service, making sure we provide a superb logistics service for our customers across the group."