GLOBAL tech giant Amazon is opening its huge distribution site in Bolton next month. The state-of-the-art centre, on the Logistics North site, will employ 1,200 staff and is the third of its kind in the Greater Manchester area. Business editor Craig Archer was given a tour of the firm's Manchester centre to find out what we can expect in Bolton.

WALKING through Amazon's Manchester distribution centre is like being transferred to another world.

The 270,000 square foot site, based near Manchester Airport, is the equivalent size of three-and-a-half football pitches and is buzzing with noise and excitement.

The size of the operation takes your breath away - but it is the technology that really impresses. Among the miles of conveyor belts are dozens of yellow 'robots'.

They zip around a huge floor in the 'fulfilment centre' transferring goods around to different pods. They are almost lifelike and I was amazed when Senior Operations Manager Tony Carr told me what they could actually do.

"They are so advanced they know where to hide if the water sprinklers go off by mistake so they don't get wet, " he said. "And when they run out of power, they can take themselves off to a charge to charge themselves up."

What? These robots can charge themselves and hide from water? Truly amazing.

But this isn't about gimmicks - the robots are an important part of the picking and packing process and are vital to the company.

A computer finds where the item is and tells one of the little orange robots to move to a shelving unit to pick it and move it on. The robot wheels the unit over to a counter where a human picker takes the item out of the pod. Watching the computers at work is incredible - it is almost like they are dancing and moving in and out of line.

And, watch this space, but when the Bolton factory there is an idea to have a competition to name one of the units after the Bolton News.

For the rest of the tour, I am show where the parcel arrives, where it is taken and where it goes to be shipped off. I am amazed by another computer that stamps people's names and addresses on the packaged items.

It is a very slick operation and seeing this, it is easy to understand why Amazon is such a global success story. I am impressed by the cleanliness of the building and the firm's total commitment to health and safety.

Bolton will be the third Amazon fulfilment centre in the North West and will take the number of permanent jobs Amazon has created in the region to more than 3,500, as it expands its UK operation to meet increasing customer demands.

The addition of Amazon to the growing employment hub, which also houses major sites for companies including Aldi and MBDA, was described as a 'real coup' by town hall bosses when the news was first revealed by The Bolton News.

The company says that its permanent fulfilment centre employees start on a salary on £7.65 per hour, which is raised to £8.15 an hour or more after two years of employment.

A company spokesman said: "Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace with competitive pay and benefits which includes private medical cover, life assurance, income protection, subsidised meals, an employee discount, shares, company pension

"Amazon in the Community Programme seeks to help support children and young people thrive in the digital age."