Gefco has invested €350,000 ($467,000) in a new facility in Mangualde, Portugal to externalise inbound logistics operations for the neighbouring PSA Peugeot Citroën plant which makes Citroën Berlingo First and Peugeot Partner Origin vehicles. The new activity builds on distribution of finished vehicles from the plant, which Gefco has been supporting for some time.
Gefco’s new 4,500m2 facility is dedicated to the reception of parts, warehousing and distribution.
The facility will better serve the planned extension of the PSA plant at Mangualde, which is due for completion by the end of 2010. The extension is part of a project worth €21m that will be joint-funded by Portugal’s government, which will contribute a 35% (around €7.3m) share of the cost in refundable grants and low interest loans.
PSA is planning to fully assemble a new version of the Berlingo as well as the Partner Tepee at the Portuguese plant by mid-2011 but while pre-series production has begun, full vehicle assembly is currently being handled at PSA’s Vigo facility in Spain until the completion of the Mangualde extension.
The expansion of the plant incorporates the existing road infrastructure (route EN16) in front of the facility necessitating the upgrading and development of an existing corridor linking with route EN234.
In other news, Gefco has been selected by Kawasaki to provide warehousing and distribution of its motorbikes, jet skis and all terrain 4-wheel vehicles to the UK market.
Vehicles will be delivered to Gefco’s facility in Coventry for distribution to dealerships using Gefco’s shared-user 2Wheeler network.
