Online retail giant Amazon has begun construction of its largest warehouse in Australia equipped with robots to accelerate order processing times and improve the e-tailer’s competitiveness, in its latest efforts to expand operations in the country.
The 200,000 sq mt advanced storage and distribution facility located at Goodman’s Oakdale West Industrial Estate in Kemps Creek near the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, is expected to create 1500 permanent jobs when completed in late 2021, as well as a further 700 jobs during construction.
It will be the company’s second fulfillment centre in Western Sydney and third in Australia after Melbourne and Perth. A fifth facility in Brisbane is scheduled to open late this year.
Amazon said the fulfilment centre will be equipped with the most advanced Amazon Robotics technology, allowing it to operate 24/7 and store 50 per cent more items per square metre.
The robots will be used to accelerate order processing times by moving shelves to employees to reduce the time taken in picking up to 11 million items for customer orders.
“The Amazon robotics fulfilment centre will more than double our operational footprint in Australia, enhance efficiency and safety for our associates while ultimately providing customers with wider selection and faster delivery,” Amazon Australia Director of Operations Craig Fuller said.
“We look forward to creating more than 1,500 jobs, the majority of which are permanent full-time jobs, with the opportunity to work alongside advanced robotics to deliver the ultimate in service for customers. This investment will also benefit the 10,000 plus small and medium-sized businesses who utilise Fulfilment By Amazon to seamlessly service customers across the country.”
Amazon currently operates more than 175 fulfillment centers worldwide, 50 of them with robotics capability, and more than 40 sort centers.
