AMB Property Corporation®

Customer satisfaction drives AMB’s success. Customers recognize AMB as a valued resource for real estate solutions that improve operations throughout the supply chain. AMB’s services bring results for time-sensitive customers such as air express, logistics and freight forwarding companies.

The following profiles illustrate the positive impact that strategically located and highly efficient industrial real estate can have on a company’s global supply chain. AMB’s complete and flexible service solution helps keep our 2,800 customers adaptable and competitive.

Menlo Worldwide Forwarding: acquisition & build-to-suit success

Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, a leading global heavyweight freight forwarding company, owned a building that was functionally obsolete. It did not meet their current or projected network demands for volume of product flow. Additionally, the company was ready to implement its plans for the co-location of its U.S. service center and international forwarding unit. Their building was not up to the task.

AMB’s customer solution began with the development of a new state-of-the-art facility for Menlo Worldwide to meet their build-to-suit needs. In parallel, AMB purchased Menlo Worldwide’s old building and terminated the lease so the co-location of the international forwarding unit with U.S. services could be expedited.

With the execution of an acquisition and build-to-suit plan, the measurable results were increased efficiencies, later cut-off times leading to cost savings, and a vastly improved ability to meet customer demand.

Worldwide Flight Services: lease flexibility success

Worldwide Flight Services, one of the largest ground handling organizations in the world, was in a long-term lease for a facility at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) that became too small to accommodate the company’s growing network demand. While the building’s location was well-suited to their business at one point, construction of a new international terminal made the location operationally inefficient for them.

AMB worked with Worldwide Flight Services to create a solution that enabled them to adapt to growth in their business and the changing landscape of DFW. AMB terminated the existing lease and relocated Worldwide Flight Services to an AMB ramp-accessed cargo facility.

AMB’s customer solution enabled Worldwide Flight Services to accommodate the increasing demand of new customers in an optimally-located and state-of-the-art facility, resulting in a growth of business.

Schenker: acquisition & build-to-suit success

Schenker, a global provider of integrated logistics services, owned a building that was too small to accommodate their growth plans for the Chicago market, and that did not meet the image requirements of an international freight forwarder. Additionally, Schenker needed to be closer to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

AMB developed a state-of-the art facility in close proximity to O’Hare International Airport, providing easy access to the cargo entrance. The facility also more than doubled Schenker’s Chicago presence. In order to make the transition seamless, AMB acquired Schenker’s older facility and leased it back to them during the transition of the company’s operations to the new facility.

AMB’s sale/leaseback approach for Schenker satisfied their capital redeployment objectives, helping a valued customer efficiently execute their Chicago business plan.

Procter & Gamble: build-to-suit & consolidation success

Procter & Gamble—with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands—needed to improve its distribution operations through Mexico. As Mexico’s production levels remained high, the growing middle class in Mexico City was enjoying an increase in purchasing power for consumer goods. Procter & Gamble’s operations were spread across multiple facilities that were too small and inefficient in design, making it difficult to keep up with demand.

AMB worked closely with Procter & Gamble on a solution. Surmounting the difficulties in assembling parcels of land in Mexico, AMB secured a site and developed a build-to-suit facility that Procter & Gamble then purchased. The company consolidated operations from older, smaller buildings into a newer and larger facility of quality high enough for them to purchase.

AMB’s custom solution enabled Procter & Gamble to employ modern distribution efficiencies to meet demand and production levels in Mexico.

DHL Excel Supply Chain: Market Entry & Redevelopment

DHL Exel Supply Chain, the logistics business unit of DHL’s group of companies, came to AMB with a critical distribution facilities requirement — more than 1 million square feet of highly efficient logistics space in Shanghai up and running in just six months. The local team mobilized immediately, identified a prime location, implemented an extensive redevelopment program, and delivered the completed site to DHL in record time.

By identifying the right location and redevelopment plan, in addition to a carefully phased construction schedule, AMB enabled DHL to ramp up operations early and meet the distribution needs of their customers. DHL now leases the three-building industrial park in Shanghai and is able to service the distribution requirements of its international consumer clients. Today, the property is a thriving logistics center for DHL Exel Supply Chain in China.

DHL’s tight timeframe created a great opportunity for AMB to deliver solutions that generate real business results for customers.