The e-commerce boom is fueling international trade growth, and DHL Express is expanding to suit.
The courier company has invested $4 million to expand its service center operation in Hartford, Conn., and said a larger facility equipped with new state-of-the-art equipment will maximize processing capabilities and enable earlier deliveries. This, in turn, benefits international shippers in the greater Hartford market and throughout the state.
The addition of 16,000 square feet of warehousing space brings the facility’s size to 38,000 square feet, giving it the capacity to stage more than double the number of vehicles around its sorting belt, ultimately leading to faster movement to DHL delivery vehicles.
“As industries, including e-commerce, aerospace, manufacturing, machinery and equipment, and technology, continue to boom in the Hartford market, we needed to expand to ensure we had the capabilities and capacity to best serve our customers as they continue to operate within a competitive global marketplace,” said Reiner Wolfs, vice president and general manager for the Northeast at DHL Express. “We are confident that with the expanded facility and efficient design, we will be able to further exceed customer expectations for faster shipment deliveries and high-quality service.”
DHL Express saw revenue rise 0.5 percent to 4.2 billion euros ($4.66 billion) in the second quarter ended June 30. Volume per day in the core business of international time-definite deliveries rose 6.6 percent year over year.
Located at 141 South Street in West Hartford, the facility’s pickup and delivery service area encompasses the greater Hartford area, along with areas north to Amherst, Mass., west to Torrington, Conn., south to Long Island Sound and east to the Rhode Island border. Staffed by 50 DHL certified international specialists, this expanded service center doubles the inbound sorting capacity for international shipments.
The facility is also connected to the DHL network globally through direct flights to and from the company’s Americas Hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, as well as by ground to and from the DHL JFK International Gateway in New York City.