DigiKey's Minnesota distribution center wins top projects award

DigiKey, a global commerce distributor offering one of the industry's largest selections of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced that it has been awarded the prestigious Top Projects Award from Finance & Commerce for its Product Distribution Center expansion (PDCe) project. The annual award recognizes achievements in the construction industry and community that were completed in Minnesota in 2022.

In 2022, DigiKey opened the 2.2 million square foot PDCe, one of the largest warehouses in North America, to scale capacity to keep up with skyrocketing ecommerce demand. The company said that its PDCe was designed with growth in mind, allowing plenty of room to expand as order volume continues to rise, as well as increasing the number of new products offered, and stored in the facility, for customers' design and manufacturing needs.

"This award is an important recognition of the talent and teamwork that went into designing, building and operating DigiKey's new Product Distribution Center expansion," commented Chris Lauer, vice president, order fulfillment at DigiKey. "The new facility highlights our commitment as a company to the highest levels of customer service and innovation, and our continued investment in our local community and the state of Minnesota."

Facility details

Per information in a press release, there are over 27 miles of automated conveyor belt in the new facility, and an average product order will travel more than 3,200 feet inside the building.

At 70 feet high and four levels, the facility also includes over 50,000 sprinkler heads and 1,925 tons of cooling, lighting, cabling and software to run the entire system. It also has its own storm sewer and run-off ponds so as not to contribute to any flooding or storage concerns in the community.

The project included a skyway called "the Skybridge" to connect the existing headquarters building with the new PDCe, which spans 328 feet across Barzen Avenue.

The new and old systems are connected via a conveyor that crosses the Skybridge. The interfacility connection allows DigiKey to efficiently transport products from the old warehouse to the new warehouse.

The PDCe was designed by Minnesota-based Widseth. McShane Construction served as general contractor on the project, and more than 80 subcontractors were hired to help complete the job. KNAPP, a leader in warehouse logistics and automation, partnered with DigiKey on the internal automation and operational equipment.

Award details

The Finance & Commerce Top Projects award is a yearly look back that recognizes the developers, designers, builders and financiers who are building Minnesota communities. Projects are judged for their degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and management, and sustainability efforts.

"Finance & Commerce Top Projects represent the best of the region's build environment honoring the best building and construction projects in Minnesota," said Bill Gaier, publisher of Finance & Commerce. "Every year, the projects seem to increase the creativity, level of difficulty and innovative construction technique."

For more information, visit www.finance-commerce.com/top-projects/.

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