DHL Express has opened a new US$32m state-of-the-art service center in McCook, Illinois that will enable it to triple its handling capacity to 4,500 conveyable pieces per hour.
The 9,290m2 facility is more than twice the size of its previous service center in Franklin Park and will be used to processes both international and domestic shipments. It also features a retail ServicePoint counter for direct customer service.
The McCook center utilizes automated shoe sorters, singulation, accumulation slides and state-of-the-art robotic flyer sortation to streamline processing, accelerate delivery times and improve safety for staff.
“Our new facility in the Chicago market represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to technology, efficiency and service excellence,” confirmed Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express US. “By leveraging advanced automation, we’re not only enhancing our operational capabilities but also ensuring that our couriers can spend more time serving customers on the road.”
The automated sortation system reduces morning sort time from more than two hours to under an hour, enabling DHL couriers to start their routes one hour earlier, enhancing time-definite delivery service, particularly for noon deliveries. Additionally, many routes from the current service center will be managed at the new McCook facility, improving service in Chicago’s central business district by providing access to additional load capacity and automated sorting infrastructure.
With its expanded capacity, the new facility also increases vehicle load positions from 35 to 96 to accommodate future growth. Supporting DHL Group’s sustainability goals, the service center includes 96 PowerFlex charging stations to aid in the electrification of 66% of its pickup and delivery fleet by 2030.