DENVER — Gates Corp. has said it will close its Salt Lake City, Utah, distribution center in the summer of 2009. The center currently services automotive aftermarket customers, and employs 42 associates.
The company said efficiencies in inventory management and transportation created the opportunity to consolidate. “With improvements in transportation and inventory management, Gates has been able to reduce its inventory while providing excellent service and support for our customers,” said Scott Burr, vice president of North American distribution and demand management. “These improvements allow us the opportunity to consolidate our inventories to a distribution center that is more centrally located and closer to our manufacturing base. This decision is in no way a reflection of the performance of the Salt Lake City operation. They have performed at a very high level since 1991.”
In a statement issued yesterday, Gates said it is appreciative of the work of its associates and the community, which has supported the Gates distribution center in Salt Lake City since it opened in December 1991.
