Walmart Distribution Center celebrates 20 years

The same associates who helped get things started at Greencastle's Walmart Distribution Center 20 years ago were front and center for a rededication and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Mayor Sue Murray and Chamber of Commerce representatives Tammy Amor and Laurie Hardwick were on hand for the event.

Twenty years is a long time to stay at a job. To have worked at a facility for its entire existence is also a remarkable accomplishment.

Walmart Distribution Center 6022 recently honored 42 of its 658 associates for doing both things.

Of the 47 associates with the center who have served Walmart for 20 or more years, all but five have served at the Greencastle facility since its 1991 opening.

So when DC 6022 recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, time was also taken to honor the 20-year associates who have been part of the team from the very beginning.

During a Tuesday, Nov. 1 rededication ceremony, it wasn't a manager or a local dignitary who cut the ribbon. Original employees were called to the front to do the honor.

The past 20 years have seen a lot of growth and traffic for DC 6022. The original facility was 937,000 sq. ft. but two expansions have increased it to 1,515,000 sq. ft. That's the equivalent of 35 acres under one roof.

The length of conveyor belts in the building has also increased, nearly doubling from 8.5 miles to more than 15 miles.

In 1991, the Greencastle center served 172 stores, two regional distribution centers and utilized 10 ship lanes.

Today, the numbers have gone up to 765, stores, 164 Sam's Clubs and 24 ship lanes.

Since shipping its first freight on Dec. 13, 1991, the center has shipped and received a total of 866,606,145 cases. In that time, there have also been 262,531 trailers unloaded and 277,145 trailers loaded.