Lowe's Cos., Inc. announced plans to build a new flatbed distribution center in Purvis, Miss., a $15 million facility that will supply products to more than 60 Lowe's retail stores in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.

The 200,000-square-foot facility is situated on a 30-acre site. Construction has begun and the facility is expected to begin shipping operations in mid-2008. The facility will initially employ about 35 people.
"Flatbed distribution centers play a vital role in the state-of-the-art distribution network that keeps Lowe's stores supplied with the products our customers need," said Mike Mabry, Lowe's executive vice president of logistics and distribution.
The flatbed center will receive rail and truck shipments of large building materials from suppliers. Products will then be quickly loaded as customized orders on flatbed trucks destined for Lowe's stores in the Southeast. Lowe's currently operates 14 flatbed centers throughout the United States.