New distribution center for GPC Asia Pacific

Construction of the facility commenced in January 2022 with completion due for Q1 2023

GPC Asia Pacific has announced a partnership with leading Asia-Pacific logistics specialist, LOGOS, to build an advanced 39,000sqm distribution center in the new Broadmeadows Logistics Estate in Melbourne. GPC Asia Pacific is an automotive parts business which includes Repco, NAPA Auto Parts, AMX, McLeod’s, Rare Spares, and Sparesbox, with a store network of over 550 stores servicing retail and automotive trade customers across Australia and New Zealand. GPC partnered with business transformation consultancy TMX on its regional Australia and New Zealand supply chain network strategy and operational design, with TMX now assisting GPC in procuring its new sites and project managing the developments. The brand-new facility in Broadmeadows will feature best-in-class logistics operations and state of the art automation technology, supporting GPC Asia Pacific’s position as a leader in the market, as well as ambitious future growth plans. “We’re delighted to have secured a new facility at LOGOS’ Broadmeadows Logistics Estate,” GPC Asia Pacific Executive General Manager Logistics, Jon Longbottom, said. “As a business, we’ve experienced significant growth over the past three years, and we look forward to integrating advanced technologies within a new state-of-the-art facility in Melbourne to improve our customers’ experience. “By partnering with LOGOS and TMX, we have been able to race ahead with our ambitious growth plans with confidence. “Our new Broadmeadows Distribution Centre will feature the cutting-edge technology and operations, that will allow us to better support our stores, resulting in better support and service to our entire customer base. “We are excited at the opportunities this brings for our Business, and the investment signals just how committed we are to the future success of the Automotive Aftermarket.” Broadmeadows Logistics Estate is a 25-hectare premium site, which on completion, will comprise circa 127,000sqm of sustainable, high quality warehousing space across five facilities. “We look forward to working with GPC Asia Pacific to deliver this important new facility and support their growth across Victoria, and all of Australia,” LOGOS Head of Australia and New Zealand, Darren Searle, said. The new GPC distribution center is the third commitment at the Estate and will comprise circa 39,000sqm of high quality and efficient space, and integrated state-of-the-art technology. “We are proud to be supporting GPC in its Australian supply chain network transformation. This new facility will offer an automated ‘goodsto-person’ shuttle and ‘very narrow aisle’ storage system, which will boost cubic capacity across GPC’s wide product range and support their future growth strategy,” TMX Director of Property, Sam Dellios, said. For more information, visit www.repco.com.au or www.gpcasiapac.com

ARNOTT ACQUIRES JRI SHOCKS

The combination of Arnott and JRi Shocks will bring air suspension products to a wider range of customers

Arnott – which says it is a global leader in the development and production of air suspension products for passenger vehicles – recently announced that it has acquired JRi Shocks. The acquisition enables Arnott to expand its industry-leading air suspension product portfolio within the SEMA performance market to reach additional customers including street cars, Jeep vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and UTVs. JRi Shocks will continue to serve its existing markets and customers but will now be better positioned to grow those markets even further while also expanding into new ones. Customers should see no change in the day-to-day operations of the business. “Arnott has exceptional engineering capabilities and has a reputation for producing highperformance products,” Arnott Chief Executive Officer, Joe Santangelo, said. “AccuAir, added to the Arnott portfolio last year, provides the leading air suspension management system on the market today. “Bringing JRi Shocks into the fold enables Arnott to offer the best aftermarket replacement air suspension, the leading air suspension management system, as well as some of the best performance shocks in the world.” Arnott says JRi Shocks is well known for its shock absorber technology, which has a history of championship performance in various forms of motorsports. Founded in 2007 by Jeff Ryan, the company was co-owned by Jeff, Det Cullum and NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham at the time of the acquisition. Jeff will stay on to continue managing all engineering activities for the company, while Det and Ray will remain involved with the company in advisory roles. “The last few years we have focused on expanding our world class racing products, allowing more enthusiasts to experience JRi Shocks,” Jeff said. “It was a natural progression of our expertise and now we will be able to take it even further under the Arnott umbrella.” “After three years of owning JRi, we arrived at a point where our growth potential was being held back by the resources we had at hand. We needed a partner to take the company to the next level,” Ray said. “Arnott’s enthusiasm for what JRi stands for and its track record of leading companies to extraordinary growth made Arnott the perfect fit to become that partner. I look forward to continuing to support the company’s growth.” For more from Arnott, go to www.arnottindustries.com

REDARC POWERS SOLAR-POWERED CHARITY LAUNDRY

The world first solar-powered laundry van will support people experiencing homelessness

Australian not-for-profit Orange Sky, supported by Australian electronics manufacturer, REDARC and global visual communications platform, Canva, have launched a solar-powered laundry van to support people experiencing homelessness in Australian remote communities. Orange Sky provides access to free laundry services, warm showers and genuine, nonjudgmental conversation and connection to community members doing it tough, across Australia and New Zealand via bright orange mobile vans. The organisation strives to think outside the box to create smarter and more efficient ways to drive greater impact, with its most recent innovation, the RV3.0 vehicle, doing just that. The Orange Sky innovation team undertook the preliminary ideation, developing the schematic of the vehicle using Canva, with the global visual communications platform integral to rapidly iterating concepts during early stages of design. The RV3.0 vehicle is powered by four 180-watt REDARC solar panels, 600-amp hours in lithium batteries and a battery management and charging system to effectively capture, store and use the renewable energy harnessed, giving the vehicle the ability to produce more power than it uses, reducing electrical consumption by up to 80 percent per shift. REDRAC has signed on to support Orange Sky as a National Power Partner for the next three years. REDARC Electronics Managing Director, Anthony Kittel, says REDRAC believes in the Orange Sky mission to ‘positively connect communities’ – a mission that strongly resonates with REDARC’s values. “We are delighted to partner with Orange Sky to support their remote community expansion plans. REDARC’s mobile power tech provides a more reliable and sustainable mechanism for Orange Sky to deliver their critical mission,” Anthony said. As part of its mission to support the nation’s most vulnerable communities, Orange Sky, in partnership with REDARC and Canva, will be introducing a total of eight RV3.0 laundry vehicles to their fleet, and fitting out three of their current laundry vehicles with the REDARC gear, with all 11 RV3.0 vehicles set to service remote communities. For more information visit www.redarc.com.au/orangesky

OPUS IVS APPOINTS COOLDRIVE AS MASTER DISTRIBUTOR

The family-owned company has been appointed as the Master Distributor in Australia and New Zealand

Opus IVS explains that it helps independent automotive workshops repair the most complex vehicles fast with diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance from OE brand-specific master technicians. As vehicles become technologically advanced, the global company of diagnostic specialists enables independent automotive workshops to get vehicles back on the road safely. Opus IVS says it is committed to helping workshops complete repairs with intelligent vehicle support today, for a safer world tomorrow. The diagnostic solutions leader operates globally via its head offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, as well as its worldwide network of distributors. Opus IVS has expanded its distribution network by announcing the appointment of CoolDrive as its Australian and New Zealand Master Distributor for its range of automotive mechanical diagnostic solutions. CoolDrive Auto Parts is a 100 percent Australian owned family business. Established in 1977 by W.J. Blanchard, the business remains owned and operated by the Blanchard family. CoolDrive presently operates from 33 branches around Australia and New Zealand, with an office and warehouse in Shanghai, China. It employs over 500 people, making CoolDrive Auto Parts Australia’s largest family-owned importer and wholesaler of automotive aftermarket parts. Its worldwide sourcing network and reputation enables it to cover a diverse market range for customers. CoolDrive customers enjoy the benefits of the unbeatable buying power, which is now further enhanced with access to the range of diagnostic solutions from Opus IVS, including DrivePro, DrivePro Elite Diagnostic Kit and IVS 360 support service, which supplies thousands of workshops globally with unlimited access to live diagnostic support from 100-plus OE Certified Master Technicians. Opus IVS is a tested and proven diagnostic scanning, calibration, programming and support resource for workshops globally. Its industryleading diagnostic solutions help workshops reduce repair times and improve customer satisfaction, says Opus IVS. For more information about the Opus IVS range of workshop diagnostic solutions please visit www.opusivs-au.com or www.cooldrive.com.au