DHL makes 250m euro sortation investment

The newly-developed medium-format sorter is designed for processing small and medium-sized shipments measuring up to shoe box size (45x35x25cm) and with a maximum four kilograms in weight.

The new sorting system separates formats and boosts sorting capacities. Deutsche Post DHL is investing some EUR 250 million in the new technology which will be piloted in Greven and subsequently installed in eight additional parcel centres by 2023.

“With the continued strong growth in the e-commerce market, we need to generate new sorting capacity in our parcel network so we can meet additional demand in the regions we serve. We’re seeing a strong increase in small to medium-sized shipments. The new medium-format sorter developed by Beumer Group is specifically designed for use in processing these kinds of shipments, giving us additional capacity and boosting efficiency in the respective parcel centres,” says Thomas Schneider, chief production officer post & parcel Germany at Deutsche Post DHL Group.

The pilot parcel centre will receive a 35-metre-wide and 126-metre-long extension measuring some 4,400 square metres which connects the two wings of the existing U-shaped building. Installation of the new sorting system will start in May. This will increase sorting capacity at the parcel centre by more than 40%, making for an additional 14,000 items and an overall total of 45,000 shipments per hour. The new sorter will be ready for use at the Greven parcel centre in time for the pre-Christmas peak season this year. 

After successful piloting in Greven, the new medium-format sorter will also be used at the Regensburg, Speyer, Neuwied and Neumünster sites from 2022. Four additional sites are planned for 2023. The new medium-format sorters in the nine parcel centres will then enable an additional 126,000 shipments to be sorted per hour across DHL’s parcel network.