DHL has opened a new international €170 million hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, a facility which is ten times larger than the previous site. Over the last six years, DHL has also invested €80 million in their French infrastructure.
On Tuesday (October 5, 2021), DHL Express announced the opening of their new International hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The company invested €170 million in the new facility, which is ten times larger than the previous site, marking their largest investment in France since their arrival in 1976. Additionally, the company has invested €80 million in French infrastructure over the past six years, as they strengthen their foothold in France. The new facility will help DHL increase global trade by shortening delivery times and enhance parcel tracking and security, while further improving working conditions for team members.
In Tuesday’s announcement, DHL Express’ CEO, John Pearson, said,
“The DHL Express hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport will play a key role in our international network. This is the fourth largest hub in our European network in terms of size and parcel processing volume, after Leipzig, East Midlands and Brussels. It is one of our 23 hubs around the world, 12 of which are in Europe. The new facility is another step towards fulling our mission: Connecting people, Improving lives.
“Our role was decisive during the Covid-19 crisis. Even at the height of the pandemic, we managed to maintain the link between countries to ensure global trade. Our agility, supported by the strength of our global network, and the commitment of our teams have enabled us to deliver more than one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to more than 160 countries. With ultramodern infrastructures fitted at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and our presence in 220 countries around the world, we have all the tools needed to meet the new challenges of an increasingly connected world.”
Also commenting on the opening of the new hub, DHL Express France’s CEO, Phillipe Prétat, added,
“The hub is a nerve centre for our network in France, but also in Europe. This new location comes at the right time, as e-commerce is booming. The trend was already under way, but has accelerated with the Covid-19 pandemic and looks set to continue. We are here to support this unprecedented growth. I am proud that the 3,350 DHL Express employees in France can count on next-generation infrastructure which is up to the challenges. DHL Express will support all those who want to trade under the best conditions with the rest of the world. The consolidation of our network will benefit our long-standing business as well as individual customers.”
DHL Express’ new Paris-CDG facility includes a new €45 million ultramodern sorting system that can process 38,000 pieces per hour, 15 times more than the previous facility. The facility employs nearly 720 team members, including almost 240 new recruits, who will be running the 32,000 square meter center around the clock. Overall, the hub is located in a 91,000 square meter space, the equivalent of 13 football fields. Construction on the new facility started in March 2020 and took 20 months to complete. The expanded facility was designed to meet capacity needs over the next 10 years, with an option for additional future expansion.
Source: DHL Express