Sorting 20,000 pieces per hour! DHL opens 100,000 square feet distribution center!

DHL Express has opened a 100,000-square-foot automated distribution center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), according to a news release on July 7.

The $84.5 million fulfillment center can sort up to 20,000 items per hour and is equipped with detection and security screening technology, according to a news release.

The distribution center currently connects 19 cities in the U.S., and DHL plans to add flight connections to Hong Kong (HKG), Mexico (GDL, NLU), the United Kingdom (EMA) and Puerto Rico (SJU) starting next year, a DHL spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive.

DHL aims to increase throughput and transit times through the ATL facility. To help streamline customs clearance of cargo, its new facility has hired an in-house customs broker and is working with on-site U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, the company said.

DHL's ATL hub "reflects our belief in the power of international trade and recognizes the importance of Atlanta and the southeastern United States in the global marketplace," Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Americas, said in a statement.

He added: “By fostering commerce and bridging borders around the world, this hub will not only boost economic growth but also create jobs for Atlanta.”

The spokesperson said that while the distribution center has been in operation since October 2022, the interior decoration and features such as solar panels and other amenities were finally installed this year.

The new ATL center is the latest in a series of strategic investments DHL has made to meet growing demand. The logistics company recently doubled its e-commerce footprint in Orlando, Florida, moving to a larger 129,000 square foot warehouse. In early June, DHL eCommerce Solutions relocated its facility from St. Louis to Kansas City, Missouri, to handle more volume and meet demand.

The company has also invested in automation capabilities at its warehouses to increase order fulfillment volumes and control costs. Last year, DHL Supply Chain expanded its automated fulfillment partnership with Locus Robotics at its Ohio warehouse. Under the agreement, Locus will deploy autonomous mobile robots to support high-volume order fulfillment for one of DHL's retail customers.

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