Larger Global Footprint. Lighter Carbon Footprint.

What do we mean when we say Fastenal is a “global supply chain partner”? A partner brings complementary capabilities to help you do more of what you do best as an organization. In the context of supply chain, this means helping you reduce cost, waste, and risk so you can operate more productively. The global aspect reflects today’s economic reality. Supply chains stretch across continents and time zones; a supply chain partner needs to broaden its footprint accordingly.

This is why Fastenal now operates in 25 countries worldwide, including 15 countries in Europe. We opened our first European branch (Netherlands, 2003) with a skeleton crew. Less than two decades later, Fastenal Europe comprises 71 branch and Onsite locations, 3,124 active vending devices, two manufacturing facilities, and 580 employees – a foundation to engage and execute locally while ensuring consistent programs across borders.

Since 2003, this network has been supported by our distribution center in Dordrecht, Netherlands (known internally as “EHUB”). In 2020, we opened a second distribution center (“BHUB”) located in St. Helens, United Kingdom. And in 2021, the EHUB team moved to a modern and much larger facility in Dordrecht to keep pace with our fast-growing business. These facilities work in tandem to service branches and customer sites throughout Europe, no matter which side of the Channel they’re on.

SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY

Today’s businesses are measuring success not just in terms of their productivity and profits but also by their impact on the planet. As a global supply chain partner, Fastenal has an important role to play on two fronts. One is within your facilities, using tools like point-of-use technology and analytics to help you avoid overconsumption, excess inventory, redundant purchases, emergency deliveries, and other forms of waste. The other is upstream, reducing waste in our own operations to make our shared supply chain more efficient.

The new EHUB facility is a great example of sustainable distribution.

Powered by wind turbines and solar panels and equipped with the latest efficiency fixtures, the facility is a model for sustainable operations.

FACTS AND STATS - EHUB Dordrecht, Netherlands

• BREEAM-certified property and building
• 5,650 square meters
• Electric vehicle charging stations
• The industrial park has four wind turbines and its own solar farm
• The park is carbon-neutral: no gas; electricity is 100% powered by renewables
• Rainwater capture for irrigation

HOW DOES BHUB FIT INTO THE PICTURE?

On a basic level, having two strategically located DCs means shorter fulfillment routes and fewer emissions. In the bigger picture, it scales the efficiencies of our customer-centric distribution system. We know who our customers are. We know what they use, and what those usage patterns look like. This allows us to be extremely efficient in terms of inventory modeling and fulfillment. The system is further streamlined by the FMI Technology program in Europe – thousands of point-of-use devices installed at customer sites, each providing 24/7 visibility to inventory positions and usage activity. (In addition to its other responsibilities, the BHUB and EHUB teams customize, install, and help maintain FMI Technology solutions at customer facilities across the continent.)

On the back end, we work to consolidate spend and source product within EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) to continuously improve our supply chain carbon footprint. Heading into 2022, over 65% of the MRO product sold by Fastenal in Europe was produced outside the Asia Pacific region.

All are aspects of a sustainable supply chain vision that also includes plans to transition to a fleet of electric delivery vehicles and aggressively expand the FMI Technology program in Europe – not only the number of devices installed but also the range of products supported by them, providing visibility to an ever-greater scope of planned product needs. With these and other investments, the Blue Team is excited to extend an increasingly proactive, efficient, and sustainable supply chain to our business partners in Europe.

HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME FACTS AND STATS - BHUB St. Helens, UK

• 1,440 square meters
• Servicing 20-plus branches and Onsite locations
• Consistent weekly shipments to all servicing locations
• LED lighting throughout the facility
• Electric forklifts and pallet stackers

Electric Fleet Development

Fastenal has initiated a program to transition from Benzene-powered delivery vehicles to hybrids and electric vehicles. Our goal: significantly reduce vehicle emissions while continuing to support customer needs across the continent.

Looking for a greener supply chain?

Email our European Regional Sales Support team at [email protected].