Hermes Logistik opens new EUR 34m hub in Hückelhoven (North Rhine-Westphalia)
German parcels operator Hermes Logistik has put into operation its new hub in Hückelhoven, North Rhine-Westphalia, which is directly linked to an expanded distribution centre of German teleshopping company QVC, a key Hermes customer. The hub will also help the parcels operator further expand its European B2C activities.
Hermes said it has invested EUR 34 million in the building and sorting technology at the 12,000 sqm facility which will handle up to 50 million shipments 360 days per year. Some 125 new employees will sort up to 22,000 parcels an hour.
Construction took about one year. One technical innovation is the volume measurement of each shipment in order to calculate capacity loading exactly and optimise route planning.
The hub is directly connected to the neighbouring QVC distribution centre which has been expanded to 35,000 sqm during the same time. The teleshopping company will feed up to 11,000 shipments an hour into the Hermes hub. QVC plans to invest EUR 45 million in the overall extension of its central distribution centre, with completion due in spring 2008.
