Leonardo’s new logistics hub
September 18, 2024
On 18 September 2024 Leonardo held a ceremonial opening of its new £30 million Single Site Logistics Hub for helicopter maintenance at Yeovil. The new hub is replacing eight ageing buildings with a new state-of-the-art integrated facility. Leonardo collaborated with Kuehne+Nagel in the development of this new hi-tech facility, drawing on their expertise in green technologies to make it a landmark of sustainability.
Murray Gascoyne, National Contract Logistics Director at Kuehne+Nagel noted that: “Following four years of partnership with Leonardo Helicopters UK, we’re delighted that the single-site fulfilment centre has been officially opened. Our shared strategic vision has come to fruition. This has been founded on, and is testament to, our unwavering commitment to sustainability, the development of people skills and the power of collaboration. We are very proud to be part of the Yeovil community.”
The new Hub was constructed using more than 25,000 cubic metres of reused demolition material in its construction. It has LED lighting throughout, and there is a heat recovery system in the main warehouse to complement the temperature control system in the building’s office facilities. The building has a bank of electric vehicle charging points in support of Leonardo’s Green Travel plan for employees and the Hub will use a brand new fleet of electric commercial vehicles to distribute components to the company’s manufacturing facilities.
The Hub will also revolutionise the way in which Leonardo services its global helicopter fleet, using digital technologies and a high level of automation to deliver replacement parts more efficiently and responsively for its domestic and international customers.
Adam Clarke, the Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK said that: “We are proud to open this impressive new Single Site Logistics Hub here in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters,” said “This strategically-located facility will be able to draw on the region’s robust supply chain and skilled workforce and, by incorporating the latest digital and automation technologies, will enable us to offer an even better maintenance service for our UK and international customers.”
One such customer, Mr Mark Langrill, DE&S Director Helicopters, said: “We welcome Leonardo Helicopters’ development of their new Logistics Hub and applaud their focus on sustainable design. Such investments in skills and infrastructure are an important means of contributing to regional prosperity and, in this instance of improving support to some of the UK Armed Forces’ helicopter fleets, procured by DE&S, which play an essential role in defending our national interests.”
Though the new hub represents a major new investment in UK infrastructure in the South West, it is just one element in the company’s wider investment in skills and infrastructure around the UK.
Yeovil has been officially recognised at the ‘Home of British Helicopters’, and is the nation’s only onshore end-to-end helicopter design and manufacturing facility. Leonardo has built a highly skilled helicopters workforce that is 3,330 strong, including 430 design-focused engineers who, the company proudly points out, are: “proficient in the 87 essential skill sets for executing high-value helicopter design work.” Yeovil supports a thriving UK-wide helicopter supply chain and more than 12,000 jobs.
