PLAINFIELD, IN — UPS revealed plans this week for a new $260 million package processing facility in Plainfield, IN, on 91 acres west of Indianapolis. Together with improvements to existing buildings on 81st Street, 16th Street and in Castleton, UPS expects to add more than 575 new full-time equivalent positions over the next five years in addition to gaining new flexibility for routing through its network.
“Central Indiana is a logistics gateway for efficient transportation networks that enhance UPS reliability and service,” said Kevin Church, president of UPS’s Ohio Valley District that includes Indiana, Kentucky and Southern Ohio. “Support from local and state leaders lets us be nimble to apply new technologies and equipment together with our people for flexibility to manage growth from e-commerce, healthcare and manufacturing.”
A portion of the 893,000 square foot hub will open this fall for trailer processing with a delivery operation to dispatch the familiar brown trucks in time for the busy holiday season.
Already, Indianapolis has been an early market for the rollout of new UPS Saturday ground delivery and pickup service that began in the broad community in late April and is one element fueling retail fulfillment and residential delivery growth in the area.
“This major investment by UPS is more evidence that Indiana is a global logistics powerhouse,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “Our state’s top-ranked infrastructure network has been key to growing our economy—especially in the manufacturing and logistics sector. That’s why state lawmakers doubled-down on roads and bridges this year, advancing a 20-year, data-driven infrastructure plan. As companies like UPS connect Hoosier businesses to customers around the globe, we’ll do our part to strengthen Indiana’s status as the crossroads of America—and of the world.”
The Plainfield facility build-out will be completed in late 2019. Advanced package scanning and sortation equipment will allow flexibility to make dynamic changes as volume is routed through complex systems of conveyors and belts in the building or directed in transit to other area facilities. Customers will benefit from speed and processing accuracy that can scale daily fluctuations or manage a surge from the latest promotion or change due to weather contingencies.
UPS will continue training and benefits, including tuition assistance, as employees expand their opportunities to build skills. Recruiting for part-time operations begins later this summer at upsjobs.com for training at Indianapolis facilities before workers transition to the initial operations at Plainfield this fall.
“The Town of Plainfield is incredibly pleased to be the home for this new UPS hub and the prestige this will add to our growth plans,” said Robin Brandgard, Plainfield Town Council president. “UPS is a quality employer, and project details match with the Town’s desire to bring good, high-paying jobs into our community.”
Today, more than 9,500 Hoosiers are employed by UPS across an enterprise that provides package delivery, ground freight, forwarding and contract logistics and support services in Indiana.
When completed the UPS Plainfield hub will have a UPS Customer Center for convenient service. The company is evaluating infrastructure availability for alternative fuels at the new building. Indiana was one of the first Midwest locations when UPS expanded natural gas for its tractor trailer fueling in 2013. UPS already has surpassed its then-stated sustainability goal for the UPS alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet to travel 1 billion miles by the end of this year.
