Recovery from heavy rains in Western Japan Hongo Automated Warehouse Resumes Operation

News Release

Apr 27, 2020

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc.

Recovery from heavy rains in Western Japan Hongo Automated Warehouse Resumes Operation

Working towards stable supply by resuming operation of automated warehouse

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. (Headquarters Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & President Calin Dragan; hereafter “CCBJI”) on Monday, April 27 resumed operation of its Hongo automated warehouse (located in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture) after repairing major damage from the 2018 heavy rain and flooding in Western Japan and upgrading the facilities with the latest automation technology.   

The recovery of this large-scale warehouse facility, the tallest high-rise automated warehouse in Japan, is an important part of our ongoing “Project Shinsei” logistics network optimization efforts, and is key to the company’s product supply in the Chugoku/Shikoku region.  During the restoration, we overcame multiple technical hurdles, and with the cooperation of the Mihara City government, we were able to renew and improve this innovative automated warehouse.

Storage capacity of the warehouse is 12,000 pallets, unchanged from before the disaster.

▲ External appearance of new warehouse

■ Comments from Bruce Herbert, Executive Officer, Head of Supply Chain, CCBJI

We have successfully resumed operations at the Hongo automated warehouse, having overcome serious flooding damage. Together with this important milestone, our full recovery from the natural disasters of 2018 is nearly complete, as we make great progress on the construction of our new Hiroshima Plant to replace the flooded Hongo Plant.

In resuming operations at our Hongo logistics and distribution center, the recovery of the automated warehouse was our biggest challenge, and I would like to thank all those who contributed to the successful completion of this project. This facility will help us to ensure sufficient storage capacity and stable product supply in the important Chugoku/Shikoku region as we plan to start up operations at the new Hiroshima Plant later this year. 

With the new Hiroshima Plant that will be launched in June, we look forward to playing an even stronger role in the recovery and development of the Hiroshima Region. 

<Reference>

【Overview of CCBJI Hongo warehouse】

Storage volume of automated warehouse: 12,000 pallets

Floor stack warehouse: 10,000 pallets

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