CDG is site of DHL Express’ new international hub

The largest investment the company has ever made in France, covering an area the size of 13 football fields. DHL Express is well-poised to handle and benefit from the e-commerce explosion.

38,000 shipments an hour can run through DHL Express’ newest, state-of-the-art international hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, which recently opened after 20 months of construction work (since MAR20). €170 million – the largest investment the company has ever made in France since it first began there in 1976, and the biggest recent European investment - went into the construction of the new facility which is sized to absorb the growth of the next 10 years, with an option for further expansion. The facility is ten times the size of its predecessor, and set to consolidate the company’s French market presence which has seen an additional €80 million in infrastructure investments over the past six years, to improve delivery times, enhance shipment tracking, security, and further improve employees’ working conditions.

Mission to connect and improve
John Pearson, CEO DHL Express, explained: “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.”

Perfect timing
The timing is perfect, given the boom in e-commerce during the pandemic. Thus, the €45 million investment in the facility's 24/7 32,000 m² ultramodern sorting system, enabling 15 times the hourly parcel throughput of the previous facility, is money well spent, and has resulted in 239 additional jobs at the 91,000 m² hub - the equivalent of 13 football fields.
Philippe Prétat, CEO DHL Express France, added: “The hub is a nerve center 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.”

Keeping the carbon footprint minimal
Every effort has been made to meet strict environmental criteria and enable the further reduction of DHL Express’ onsite carbon footprint. The facility has been equipped with motion-detector operated LED lighting, a sorting system with IE4 high-efficiency motors, and energy-efficient air conditioning - all in line with meeting the Deutsche Post DHL Group’s 2050 zero-emission target. In addition, DHL Express France’s intermediate milestone of 70% of pick-ups and deliveries being carried out using green transport by 2025, is being worked towards with an existing fleet of over 100 clean vehicles, delivering to more than 50 city centers with zero-emission solutions. Other innovative solutions, such as on-demand deliveries, collaborative deliveries by bike or on foot, consignments and Relais Colis service points, are also being developed.

One could perhaps say : “Allez les Verts !”

Brigitte Gledhill