An online player boosts its capacity

Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Acme Tools flexed its digital muscles with the opening of a new distribution center for its online business.

Acme Tools, described as a leading authorized online retailer of tools and equipment, announced the start of business operations at its new distribution center in Grand Forks, in support of its growing Internet sales division.

"The online marketplace continues to record rapid year-over-year growth rates," said Steve Kuhlman, VPncorporate operations for Acme Tools. "Completion of the new distribution center centralizes our Internet sales operation and increases fulfillment efficiency, which will benefit our Web customers and retail operations who expect timely order processing and fast, on-time delivery from Acme Tools."

Founded in Grand Forks in 1948, Acme Tools has more than 65 years of industry experience and today is a multi-channel retailer of tools and equipment with some of the largest showrooms in the country. The company stocks over 180,000 products from 3,500 manufacturers. Acme Tools has 10 retail stores in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.

Acme Tools built the new 40,000-sq.-ft. facility on a 9-acre site in the Grand Forks Business Park located adjacent to and west of Interstate 29. Designed to optimize the fulfillment process, the new distribution center opened with 20 Acme Tools employees and employment is projected to double in five years. The Grand Forks Business Park location also provides for future expansion to accommodate additional growth.

The new Acme Tools Distribution Center features a new high-performance precision conveyor system, packing stations and mobile radio frequency technology maximizes product transfer and order fulfillment. 

"Acme Tools continues to offer e-retailing's finest assortment of tools, equipment and accessories in the industry," said Paul Kuhlman, VP merchandise operations and marketing for Acme Tools. "Acme Tools will continue to invest in e-commerce technology and mobile technologies that guarantee response time performance and maximum site availability with excellent consistency for our customers." 

Since its relaunch in 2010 as AcmeTools.com, built on IBM WebSphere Commerce, Acme Tools has set the e-commerce standard for customer service and shopping experience for online retailers of tools and equipment.