Issue 3 2008 > The Expansion Continues
Crown Diversification
The Expansion Continues
China Expanding Ahead of Schedule...
Crown Shanghai’s second phase is underway. In June, 2005, Crown announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art office and warehouse building in Shanghai’s Logistics Development zone. This three-story building spans 8,000 square meters (86,000 square feet) and will soon expand to twice the size. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on January 8, 2008 to celebrate the commencement of the construction.
Jim Thompson, founder and chairman of the Crown Worldwide Group stated, “The continuing success of Crown’s business in Shanghai has allowed us to begin phase two of our modern warehouse complex well ahead of plan. The second phase will incorporate many new features that will accommodate our fine arts and logistics clients as well as our wine cellar club members. We’re delighted to see our business in China grow at such a dynamic pace.”
Indonesia Expanding Across its Archipelago…
Crown Jakarta was established in 1973. It was the fourth branch of the Crown Group to be opened since the Group’s inception in 1965. The local team has been proudly serving the local expatriate community ever since. In line with their success, Crown Jakarta recently began construction on a new office and warehouse complex.
The first phase of the new building will be 7,000 square meters (75,000 square feet). State-of-the-art features include a high-value vault, an electronic media storage center and 24-hour onsite security, including motion and heat detectors.
Crown Balikpapan, in the province of Kalimantan, was officially reopened on January 1, 2008. Balikpapan is a timber, oil and mining town with a population that includes Indonesians from all over the archipelago and a large number of expatriates mainly from the U.S., France and Australia. Expatriates work mainly in oil, mining and other related industries. The branch manages several multinational clients and is expected to grow with increased exploration in the vast untapped natural resource region around Kalimantan.
India Expanding with Another Brand New Facility...
Crown Mumbai’s new building construction is now officially underway. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on March 13, 2008 to celebrate the commencement of the construction. A “Bhumi-Poojan” (a “prayer for land”) was held in a “Mandap” (a “special tent”). The facility is located in Taloja, an area of New Mumbai. Crown Mumbai joins seven others in the country including Crown Chennai, which completed construction on a new warehouse building in 2007 that exceeds 4,500 square meters (50,000 square feet). Crown established its first operation in India in 1998, marking this year as its ten year anniversary. Crown is the only wholly-owned global relocation company in India, making the company ideally qualified to help businesses and individuals with their relocation needs.
Europe Expanding Across the Region...
Crown Venice joins Milan and Rome as Crown’s third facility in Italy. Venice, the capital of the Veneto region has a population of approximately 300,000. The new facility is situated in the city of Treviso, near Venice– world-famous for its canals–in the north-eastern section of Italy. Treviso borders Slovenia and is considered the doorway to Eastern Europe and many important industry sectors that are represented there, including numerous shipping lines, a major Italian insurance company, steel producers and numerous shoe manufacturers. The area is also a popular destination for retirees who enjoy the ocean and the fine arts.
Crown Paris recently moved to a new, ultra modern facility site in Poissy, in the Parisian suburbs. Choosing Poissy was of strategic importance due to its close proximity to the commercial center of La Défense and to the western urban region, where many expats live. The new site is 7,000 square meters (over 75,000 square feet) which is five times larger than the former site. It features modern security systems and is climate-controlled, enabling secure storage services such as those required for the storage of fine arts.
Crown Barcelona, a leading economic center in Southern Europe, joins Crown Madrid as Crown’s second facility in Spain. Barcelona is positioned in the important European city where Spain meets France and the rest of Europe. Its main industries are textiles, pharmaceutical, automotive, logistics and tourism. With a population of 1.7 million people, the Spanish Mediterranean coast is home to retirees from the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. To support the multinational companies that have a presence in Barcelona, Crown’s first objective is to expand its offering in household goods shipping, global mobility and records management services.
Crown Munich joins Frankfurt as Crown’s second facility in Germany. The new branch is conveniently located in Munich-Riemerling, a modern technology park where many multinationals are located including technology and aeronautics companies. Commenting on the expansion, country manager Olaf Striboll said, “Munich is a region with a high growth rate and is home to many globally operating companies.”