Medline said Dec. 21 it plans to open a $70 million distribution center in Richmond Hills, Ga.
The 1.2 million-square-foot facility will bring Medline's total-grade U.S. warehousing footprint to more than 27 million square feet.
The new location is less than 30 miles from the Port of Savannah (Ga.). The facility will also have direct access to I-16 and I-95 expressways, which will allow supplies to be distributed to the Southeast and Midwest in one- to two-day drives. Distribution will also be enhanced through Medline leasing a portion of the new facility to FedEx Ground.
The investment is the latest in Medline’s Healthcare Resilience Initiative, a national capital expenditure campaign that included $1.5 billion in new distribution centers, manufacturing capabilities and IT upgrades.
"There has been a lot of talk about how supply chain shortages are impacting the retail industry, but you aren’t hearing as much about the risk they place on the healthcare industry," said Bill Abington, president of operations for Medline. "The reality is, hospitals, surgery centers, nursing homes, and providers across the entire continuum of care are feeling these disruptions, and Medline is continuing to invest to mitigate any impacts felt today and ensure product availability for the long term."