Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, announces that it will open a 600,000 square foot distribution center, along the I-22 Highway, in Olive Branch, Mississippi.
"PIP is truly excited to build our new world-class distribution center in Olive Branch, and we look forward to contributing to the economic development in the area", says Joe Milot, president and CEO of PIP. "This new facility will facilitate our continued growth and help provide an even better service to our customers. Our customers are always the primary driver of our business decisions."
"Our current distribution center in Lamar served us well for over 15 years. With the recent acquisitions and expanded product lines, moving to a larger, more modern facility, made economic and business sense—especially considering PIP's future growth plans, " adds PIP COO Thomas Fry.
The new center is currently being outfitted with state-of-the-art pallet locations, logistics software and hardware systems that will result in increased efficiencies on all levels as well as an improved work environment. This large, cross-docked facility increases inventory holding capacity by three times and will make employees much more efficient.
A key driver of choosing this building was the close proximity to the company's current distribution center. It will make the transition easier for PIP, logistically, and for current PIP employees. The company stresses its commitment to retaining current employees as well as providing new opportunities for area workforce.
In the announcement, PIP celebrates the value of the encouragement by the local leaders in both DeSoto County and Olive Branch.
"They gave us tremendous confidence to make a substantial investment here," says Milot. "PIP has a track record of respecting its employees and valuing communities where its facilities are located."
PIP expects to be operational at the new facility by September 1, 2019.
