DPD has completed an 8.5m (US$10m) expansion project for its Essen hub in Germany, including the construction of two new state-of-the-art sorting halls and an unloading area. The 18-month project has almost doubled the hub’s sorting capacity from 6,000 to 10,000 parcels per hour.
The Essen facility will initially process approximately 50,000 parcels per day, although DPD expects this number to rise to 70,000 in future. The operator also expects the number of delivery drivers to be doubled from 100 to 200.
Dr Jörg Schmeidler, regional director, DPD Germany, said, “DPD is registering very strong rates of growth, caused in particular by the boom in online retailing. After our expansion operations we are well prepared for future growth. We therefore regard the investment of 8.5m (US$10m) as a long-term commitment to Essen and to the jobs at this location.”
The expansion program will result in the Essen hub serving a greater number of cities in the Ruhr area, starting with Oberhausen and Bottrop. Large parts of Gelsenkirchen, Velbert and Hattingen will follow in September 2016.
In addition to the city of Essen itself, the depot has traditionally served Bochum, Mülheim, Herne and Gladbeck. DPD currently employs a team of 250 at the depot.
May 5, 2016
