Regal Logistics announced it purchased a new distribution center at 1980 Technology Drive, Charleston SC 29492, 866-300-5580, regallogistics.com.  A multi-million dollar investment, Regal opened for business 351,000 square feet of public warehouse designed for high-volume, quick-turnaround shipping.  A modern tilt-up concrete panel facility, it's centrally located three miles from I-526, four miles from Port of Charleston’s main Wando Welch Terminal, and offers foreign trade zone and drayage zone status for less expensive container transportation to ports.

“Regal's expansion in the U.S. Southeast is in direct response to manufacturers, importers and exporters’ demand for an ideal east coast ship point to satisfy major retailers like Walmart,” said Regal Logistics Vice President Garry Neeves. “Regal's facility is already attracting new business to the area in the form of manufacturers and importers shipping product through the Port of Charleston for distribution to major retailers in the East.”

Regal provides distribution, pick & pack, export/import shipping, consolidation, cross docking, transloading, drop shipping, administrative support and value added services at its new facility, which is fully equipped with the latest information technologies including WMS, EDI, ASN, RFID and real time inventory and shipment dashboard. 

“The new Charleston warehouse complements our Pacific Northwest distribution center operation, for a total of 1.3 million square feet of space, and brings not only the benefits of bicoastal distribution—fuel savings, e-commerce shipping, reduced transit time, and advantages of the expanded Panama Canal route—but also Port of Charleston pier efficiency and deep water passage,” continued Neeves.

Logistics analysts agree that the widening of the Panama Canal is changing the supply chain strategies of major retailers, manufacturers, importers and exporters. Shippers believe that 40% of U.S. imports from Asia will pass through the Panama Canal upon it’s completion in 2014. Much of that will head east, when it’s the most direct route considering volume, time, cost and ultimate destination. Anticipating increased volumes, Southeastern ports are building infrastructure to accommodate today’s post-Panamex superships—capable of ferrying 8,000 TEUs now and eventually 12,000 TEUs—headed for the most direct route to 60 million U.S. consumers stretching from New York to Florida.

The Port of Charleston is the deepest port in the Southeast and one of the busiest ports among those located in the Southeast and Gulf coasts. The Charleston Customs district ranks as the nation’s eighth largest in dollar value of international shipments, with more than $62 billion in cargo annually.  Regal’s new facility, expected to generate 30 new full-time jobs, and 50 to 100 seasonal jobs, is welcome news to the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina State Ports Authority. 

“Regal Logistics’ investment in our state is evidence that the Port of Charleston, along with our exceptional market access, business-friendly climate and reliable workforce are working to attract new jobs and investments here. We welcome Regal Logistics to South Carolina and look forward to a long mutually beneficial relationship with them in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“The Port of Charleston leads in delivering high-performance, low-risk and cost-effective port solutions,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. “We join the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Berkeley County in welcoming Regal's expansion of operations in Charleston.”