DHL Express, the international courier, parcel and express mail division of Deutsche Post DHL, will make its largest ever investment in Denmark with a new hub at Copenhagen Airport.
The 26,000m² (280,000ft²) facility will significantly enhance DHL’s capabilities in the Nordic region with a new state-of-the-art automated system capable of handling nearly 37,000 packages per hour, 24 hours a day. The development will cost an estimated €134m (US$152m), create an additional 100 jobs and be completed in 2023.
John Pearson, Global CEO of DHL Express, said, “We want to grow through quality, therefore we are investing in the expansion of our infrastructure to increase efficiencies and improve delivery capabilities. Our international hubs are the backbone of our global network which connects businesses from all industries and private customers alike, enabling them to all benefit from the ongoing growth in e-commerce.”
Packages to and from Denmark usually travel via the DHL hubs in Leipzig, Germany, or East Midlands, UK. However, once the new hub at Copenhagen Airport is built, planes will be able to reach their destination directly, improving delivery times.
“We are experiencing enormous growth in our cross-border online trade,” said Atli Einarsson, managing director of DHL Express in Denmark. “We are also preparing for our customers’ growth, including manufacturing companies within the pharmaceutical and fashion industries. This massive upgrade of our facility will turn it into one of the most modern of our 19 regional hubs worldwide. This demonstrates the importance of our country’s future role in the network. The new regional hub will benefit businesses and consumers in Denmark and throughout the Nordic region.”
DHL Express is currently further strengthening and future-proofing its business. In 2018, the company ordered 14 new Boeing 777 air freighters and five Airbus A330s, expanding the fleet to over 260 planes. In Denmark, the company also broke ground on a new terminal in the central city of Fredericia at a price tag of more than €13.4m (US$15.2m). It is scheduled to open in early 2020.
“The new investments here in Denmark and at other locations in our network are part of our global plan to promote our future growth, efficiency improvements in day-to-day operations, and the quality for which our customers choose us,” added Einarsson.