DHL Supply Chain has announced a series of investments in Australia and New Zealand that will result in the company having the largest automated life sciences and healthcare warehouse footprint in the southern hemisphere.
Commencing in 2025, these developments are a part of DHL’s US$150m investment in robotics and automation in the region announced in 2022.
The investments include a US$28m upgrade of its Horsley Park (New South Wales) Life Sciences and Healthcare site that will feature the latest-generation automated picking system combined with an additional 1,350m2 cool room, storing products for up to 30 customers at temperatures between 2°C-8°C.
The company will also spend US$10m on automating New Zealand’s most advanced life sciences and healthcare site near Auckland Airport. The new site features DHL’s first New-Zealand based goods-to-person (GTP) automation system – running 41 Geek+ robots – to deliver efficient and accurate goods distribution for up to 20 DHL customers.
DHL is investing a further US$8.5m on a Hai Robotics at its Skyline site in Horningsea Park, New South Wales. From Q4 2025, this site will run 12 bots and five GTP pick stations, managing over 14,500 totes through six packing stations. This system will give the site capacity for over 20 customers.
These sites combine with DHL’s life sciences and healthcare site in Erskine Park, New South Wales, which is currently running Locus autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to give a floor space of 4,125m².
Global automation
Featuring advanced automated checks and balances to maximize accuracy, order compliance and end-to-end temperature control for each individual product, these sites will serve as blueprints for DHL’s future regional and global automation projects.
DHL Supply Chain ANZ CEO Steve Thompsett commented, “Our global CEO [Oscar de Bok] committed to a significant investment in warehouse automation in 2022 because it allows us to better serve our customers while giving more opportunities for staff.
“Our life sciences and healthcare customers and their customers who depend on the safe delivery of their products, which may require very specific temperature conditions, will reap benefits from the development of these sites for many years to come.
“We always look for the best automation solutions and partners to meet DHL’s and our customers’ needs, and we appreciate the input of all our project partners involved in these builds.
“Our Global Strategy 2030, which aims to accelerate sustainable growth, has a strong focus on addressing the shifts in the pharma market and these sites will help us to deliver for our customers.”