[#272] Supply Chain in Numbers - Feb 10, 2025
BJ's plans a 500k sqft DC, NJ warehouse vacancy at 9%, 2024 saw 3% decline in warehouse automation, UBTech plans 500 to 1,000 Humanoids production, BPR Hub raised $2.6M
Welcome to “Supply Chain in Numbers.” This newsletter tracks significant numbers from the supply chain world. Five prominent numbers are published every Monday. If you have any feedback, please send it to me.
500,000 sqft in a 125-acre site
BJ’s Wholesale Club is building its fourth ambient distribution center in Commercial Point, Ohio. This new facility will enable the Marlborough, Mass.-based retailer to manage its growth more efficiently. In the last five years, the company has opened over 30 clubs, with its 250th location debuting on Jan. 31 in Louisville, Ky. The distribution center, slated to open in 2027, covers more than 500,000 square feet and will include automated pallet storage, case-handling equipment, and mixed-case pallet building for club-friendly replenishment. Situated on a 125-acre site, it allows for future expansion. This center will be a hub to replenish ambient-temperature grocery items and general merchandise across the BJ’s Wholesale Club network. [Super Market News]
9% warehouse vacancy
In 2024, warehouse vacancy rates in New Jersey reached their highest levels in over a decade, driven by a surge in new construction amid economic uncertainty over the impact of tariffs. In an early January update, the real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield reported that the warehouse vacancy rate in northern and central New Jersey at the end of 2024 was 9%, marking the highest rate since the first quarter of 2013. The firm highlighted a “surge in new supply” of 13.1 million square feet of “mostly vacant” warehouse space. Between 2022 and 2024, 40 million square feet of warehouse space was delivered to the market, with 28 million coming online without a guaranteed tenant. [North Jersey]
Decline of 3%
Market intelligence specialist Interact Analysis reported that orders for warehouse automation decreased by 3% in 2024. Its latest analysis indicates that this decline is attributed to economic, political, and market-specific challenges, such as persistently high interest rates in many regions and the lingering effects of an oversupply of warehouses constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, rising competition from Chinese vendors is anticipated to lower prices and hinder revenue growth throughout the forecast period until 2030. [AJOT]
500 to 1,000 units of Walker S Humanoids
Shenzhen-based UBTech Robotics aims to mass-produce its humanoid robots by the end of this year as the struggling robot maker increases output amid fierce competition in China’s robotics sector. UBTech plans to deliver about 500 to 1,000 units of its Walker S Series industrial humanoid robots this year to customers and partners, including automakers, Apple supplier Foxconn, and logistics company SF Express. The company has deployed the Walker S1 in several major automakers' factories. Over 60 percent of the humanoid robots the company intends to deliver this year will be the upcoming model, the Walker S2, which will launch in the second quarter with a lighter and stronger design than the current version. [SCMP]
$2.6million seed funding
BPR Hub, a cloud-based compliance management system provider for manufacturing companies based in San Francisco, CA, and Bangalore, India, raised $2.6M in Seed funding. The company plans to use the funds to accelerate its global mission of empowering compliance for manufacturers, focusing particularly on scaling operations in North America. BPR Hub enhances manufacturing by integrating quality assurance, production control, batch review, inventory management, and asset management into one user-friendly platform. This comprehensive approach ensures that everyone, from floor operators to leadership teams, can manage and monitor compliance requirements effectively. [Fin SMEs]