UPS opens Shanghai hub

UPS opens Shanghai hub UPS on Tuesday opened a new Asian cargo hub in Shanghai at Pudong International Airport.
   The company said the new facility would become “the key gateway linking China to UPS’s global network.” It has the largest on-site 24/7 customs inspection area in Shanghai and was built to facilitate rapid handling of express packages as well as heavy freight.
   Specifications for the hub include 117 conveyor belts and 47 docking bays, enabling a sorting capacity of 17,000 pieces per hour.
   “To speed the processing of packages and freight, UPS collaborated with Shanghai Customs to deploy an industry-first customs risk management system at the facility,” UPS said. “By merging UPS information with Customs to identify high-risk items for inspection, the system minimizes unnecessary checks and expedites shipment clearance for delivery to recipients. The dedicated customs area is equipped with advanced technology enabling automated import and export inspection, thereby increasing overall package flow efficiency. With a touch of a button, specific packages can be routed off the main conveyor belts for inspection without impacting the flow of the remaining packages.
   The hub also provides a 'shipper build area' at the general cargo handling area, where customers can perform on-site packaging before goods are loaded on the aircraft. This eliminates processing goods at a separate facility, UPS said. 'It also improves service to customers who ship items requiring special handling, such as precise instruments.”