Fonterra’s new dry store hailed as visionary step

<p>The opening of Fonterra’s 50,000-tonne capacity dry dairy store in Hamilton, in New Zealand’s North Island, is being hailed as a visionary stable step in preparation for the logistics changes expected under the new Maersk, P&#38O merger.</p> <p>New Zealand shipping commentator Dave McIntyre said the Waikato facility locked in rail as the primary source of transport to Ports of Auckland and the Port of Tauranga.</p> <p>It also smoothed the opportunity for large-scale container movements between the Port of Tauranga and its inland port, Metroport, and the Waikato and Ports of Auckland, he said.</p> <p>The New Zealand market is waiting to see whether Auckland or Tauranga would be the principal gateway for the 4,100 teu ships under the new merger.</p> <p>The store was designed to perform a supply chain role efficiently, regardless of what port gets the 4100s, Mr McIntyre said.</p> <p>Transport minister Pete Hodgson cut the ribbon on the 50,000 sq m facility &#8211 equivalent in area to nine rugby fields &#8211 on August 22.</p> <p>The facility sis next to Toll’s container rail transfer terminal, container depot and Toll TranzLink truck distribution and receival area.</p> <p>Fonterra logistics manager Nigel Jones said the project with Toll NZ and the Government organisation, ONTRACK, challenged conventional logistics thinking by demonstrating rail could be a viable transport alternative over relatively short distances.</p> <br />