On August 15, 2014, 100 years will have passed since the inauguration in 1914 of what is still one of the most important engineering works in the world: the Panama Canal.
In today’s international logistics, serving a global market, maritime freight transport plays an essential role, being by far the most economical method of logistics transport for large loads and the most used in international exports.
With the exponential growth of electronic commerce, the supply chain faces increasing demands at the end of the consumer, requiring to have stock both on the metal shelves of the warehouses of urban logistics as in the automated warehouses and palletized warehouses of the large distribution centers.
With the globalization of markets, the transit of goods between continents has increased in volume and importance, and the Panama Canal continues to play a decisive role.
The logistical interest in a canal linking the Atlantic and the Pacific
Interest in a channel that would allow crossing the American continent would already arise at the beginning of the 16th century. After drawing up the plans to establish a route between the two oceans, it would be considered an impossible feat for the time.
It would not be until the end of the 19th century when a French initiative would launch the first attempt to build a canal. Far from being completed, it would take several more years until, at the beginning of the 20th century, the United States began the construction of what would definitely be the Panama Canal, which was officially inaugurated on August 15, 1914.
The expansion of the Panama Canal and the Post-Panamax
With the increase in globalization and the economy of scale, the use of increasingly larger cargo ships was promoted, giving rise to the Post-Panamax, so called for exceeding the maximum size necessary to cross the canal, which led to to raise the Panama Canal expansion project.
With this initiative in operation since 2006 and which is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2016, the canal will be provided with a third set of locks, with capacity for larger ships and which will allow the volume of traffic to be considerably increased throughout the canal.
ATOX metal shelving in Panama
ATOX Storage Systems, with a history of more than 50 years, has positioned itself as a leading manufacturer of metal racks and warehouse automation solutions at an international level, contributing significantly to the optimization of the supply chain.
With a wide presence in both Europe and Latin America, ATOX has demonstrated its commitment and dedication to the development and enrichment of institutional and commercial relations between Panama and Spain. As a result of this, ATOX Storage Systems hosts the Consulate of Panama in Asturias with an office in its facilities in Gijón.