Dignitaries attend opening of new Hochiki Europe warehouse facility in Kent

To be known as Apex House, the facility is designed to support increased production capability at Hochiki’s other Kent site. Covering an expansive 24,000 square feet and equipped with the latest technology and resources, Apex House will expand Hochiki's European hub for warehousing and distribution, as well as the company’s sales and administrative capabilities.

In addition to political dignitaries, the grand opening ceremony was attended by senior members of staff, guests from Hochiki (including chair Akio Yamagata), Government officials, industry leaders and media professionals.

Now in its 30th year of European operations, this latest milestone marks a significant step in Hochiki’s commitment to investment in the region and the company's dedication to innovation and excellence in the fire industry.

Key features of the new facility include state-of-the-art storage and shipping units affording a capacity increase from 480 to 2,450 pallets. Picking and packing capability is now more than doubled from three to seven items per minute. This ensures an efficient supply of life safety devices and systems.

The facility also includes collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation and encourage partnerships with industry stakeholders. Hochiki Europe aims to create a collaborative ecosystem that will drive advancements in life safety technology.

Shinsuke Kubo, managing director at Hochiki Europe, observed: “The new facility will play a pivotal role in advancing life safety technologies not only here in the UK, but also across the whole of Europe. We are proud to bring together the finest minds in life safety technology under one roof, driving innovation and setting new standards for safety worldwide.”

Hochiki Europe has provided cutting-edge fire detection and life safety systems for over three decades now and this new facility will enable the company to continue pushing the boundaries of life safety technology.

*Further information is available online at www.hochikieurope.com