D&H Distributing just opened a new, 745,000 square-foot distribution center in central Pennsylvania. The new facility replaces the company‘s former Harrisburg-area warehouse. As a comparison, a typical Walmart is 180,000 square feet.

The large, remodeled facility has close to triple the capacity of its previous location. It allows for five times the amount of space to conduct configuration services. This new distribution center will empower D&H to enhance its shipping and logistics capacity. It will also accommodate more inventory to meet still-growing technology demands.

Professional Services Offerings

Due to this increased capacity, D&H says it will scale-up its professional-service offerings. Specifically, it will offer white-glove services that include custom imaging, asset tagging and laser etching of hardware. These investments will also help meet increased demand for modern device deployment programs such as Google Zero-touch and Microsoft Autopilot. The distributor says it has built unique capabilities that enable partners to capture the total solution, including devices, software and services.

In addition, the company is increasing staffing levels at the distribution center. It has appointed Ryan Flynn to a new position as director of modern security and managed services. Also, it will add members to its go-to-market teams to support ongoing growth. D&H expects to continue its growth trajectory, planning to add nearly 90 new positions overall in quarter one of 2022. These positions will be in sales, emerging technology, cloud and more. The new facility has room for 80% more employees to accommodate future growth.

An official ribbon-cutting for the center will take place on March 24. This facility will serve as a blueprint for potential expansions, additions or process enhancements at D&H’s remaining U.S. distribution centers. 

D&H Distributing has adopted a flexible “flow through” floorplan at this facility. It allows the team to transport inventory through the space more efficiently, both for conveyor-bound and non-conveyor-bound products. It also incorporates a new Put Wall system that streamlines the workflows of “pickers” and “packers” in the warehouse. This dramatically increases efficiency and speed of the packaging process, the company said. The new facility will also have enhanced amenities like digital signage and upgraded breakrooms for D&H co-owners.

D&H Distributing’s Dan Schwab

Ecological Footprint

Dan Schwab is co-president at D&H Distributing.

“We have a history of using state-of-the art systems at our locations, from cool-adhesive packaging, reduced packing materials and motion-activated automation to shrink our ecological footprint. At this new [distribution center], the revised floorplan and new Put Wall processes take advantage of the latest innovations in distribution logistics,” Schwab said. “Due to our investments in the channel and our resulting growth, the previous Harrisburg warehouse was near capacity. This new location not only gives us the opportunity to implement improved systems, it supports ongoing expansion while allowing us to increase capabilities that help our partners be more competitive, like our professional and configuration services.”

The new East Coast distribution center gives D&H and its manufacturers considerable ability to scale and expand inventory. This meets partners’ long-term needs, said Michael Schwab, co-president at D&H Distributing.

D&H Distributing’s Michael Schwab

“As a distribution partner, we will constantly evaluate these logistical resources to make sure we stay ahead of the demand curve in terms of infrastructure,” Schwab said. “This effort has led to an increase of almost 100% in D&H’s warehouse square-footage over the last ten years, and we’re committed to seeing that trend continue.”