The 69,000ft2 depot, a multi-million pound investment for Lathams, offers 39% more capacity than the former Ossett site nearby as a new storage system allows for storing at increased heights in the warehouse.
Depot director Andrew Wright said the old site had suffered from bottlenecks in operations which had restricted its potential. Separate areas for deliveries and customer collections at the new site have improved operations dramatically.
“Getting customers to come here and see the new depot has been fantastic,” he said.
Suppliers with stands at the open day included Finsa, Kronospan, Egger, Dendrolight, Hif Finesse, Bausen flooring, Hi-Macs natural acrylic stone, Stakapal and Latham Direct Timber.
Demonstrations of Egger’s visualisation software in the depot’s visual design studio showed visitors how Egger’s furniture and flooring decors looked in finished projects.
Poor weather meant planned helicopter flights over the facility had to be cancelled, but a Caribbean barbecue by TV chef Barrington Douglas added to the sense of occasion.