Merchants Terminal to operate green DC

Hoffberger Holdings Inc. (HHI) has purchased from Duke Realty Corporation a parcel of land at the former Baltimore (MD) General Motors plant site, now known as the Chesapeake Commerce Center, to construct and operate one of the most environmentally friendly perishable foods distribution centers in the United States.

The facility will be operated under the Merchants Terminal Corporation banner, which has been operating temperature-controlled distribution centers since 1928.

The facility will exceed 12 million cubic feet and offer approximately 32,000 racked pallet positions. ARCO Design/Build of Atlanta has been contracted to design and construct Phase I of the facility, which encompasses 6.1 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled space complete with 16,300 specialized rack positions. Its location is enhanced by two entrances to Interstate 95 within a half-mile of the facility and adjacent rail service.

Using “green” technology and construction materials, this facility will provide one of the most environmentally friendly distribution centers in the nation. It will include a centrally controlled refrigeration system, extra insulation in the walls and roofing, and a white roof that reflects solar energy and is strengthened to accommodate solar panels. Using computer-based technology, Merchants will monitor and then manage peak electrical-use hours on the power grid.

Merchants will use the RedPrairie RF-based Warehouse Management System for efficient placement and retrieval of customer inventories to and from the racking system.

With the addition of this facility, Merchants will operate five distribution centers with 24,000,000 cubic feet of refrigerated and frozen space, serving the ports of Baltimore, Philadelphia PA, and Wilmington DE.