Logistics and parcel delivery provider DHL Supply Chain launched its Advanced Regional Center (ARC) in Singapore on April 19, 2016. Built at an investment of more than 90m (US$100m), the new 970,000ft² warehouse includes a 10.6m (US$12m) multi-customer automation system featuring advanced robotics.
The pioneering system uses 130 robotic shuttles to pick and store products from 72,000 locations spread across 26 levels, improving picking efficiency by 20% and utilizing 40% less space than conventional warehousing operations.
The new system is the first of its kind deployed by DHL globally and creates a model for the future of warehousing in land-scarce countries and dense cities where land availability is limited and expensive.
Frank Appel, CEO, Deutsche Post DHL Group, said, “As an organization our spirit thrives on a hunger for new knowledge and innovations that we can bring to customers to meet the challenges of Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution. We see the Asia region as a swift adopter of technologies for enhanced productivity and efficiency. By 2020, Asia will constitute 30% of our total revenue. Facilities like the ARC offer a ready model of innovations that reduce complexity, improve accuracy and maximize opportunities for productivity gains.”
As well as high processing speeds, the ARC offers DHL customers bespoke solutions to cater to specific industry needs. This includes clean rooms for life sciences and healthcare businesses, specialized infrastructure for aerospace operations, and customized storage solutions for managing service parts for technology customers.
Oscar de Bok, CEO, Asia-Pacific, DHL Supply Chain, said, “We’ve seen a swift uptake from multinational companies using the ARC as their regional or global logistics hub.
“By providing this solution in a multi-customer environment,
it uniquely opens these types of solutions and advantages to a wider customer base. The system is modular in design and can be expanded depending on customer needs.”
Co-located within the ARC is the DHL Asia Pacific Innovation Center (APIC), DHL’s first innovation center outside of Germany and a joint development with the Singapore Economic Development Board. Launched in 2015, APIC is the first dedicated center for innovative logistics services in the Asia-Pacific region and showcases futuristic technologies.
April 19, 2016