DHL Express upgrades Melbourne capacity to handle growth

DHL Express has restarted operations at its refurbished Port Melbourne facility in Australia, after an A$4.5m investment programme to handle growth in the region. The company said its refurbishment programme means the facility in Australia’s second largest city can now manage all pick-up and delivery services, as well as shipment processing for exports.

The new facility has a 600 square metres of operations space as well as 4,645 square metres of warehouse space.

More than 90 staff are based at the location.

DHL Express said the state of Victoria currently had some of the most confident exporters in the country, with 52% predicting an increase in their orders in 2013.

The engineering, manufacturing and apparel industries are currently driving accelerating growth in the region, the company said.

Along with the Port Melbourne site, DHL Express has also upgraded its Melbourne Gateway site at Melbourne Airport.

The various improvements have been brought in ahead of the busy Christmas period, allowing greater efficiencies for DHL at its peak period.

Gary Edstein, the DHL Express senior vice president for Oceania, said Melbourne was home to key industries and some important DHL global customers, including Pacific Brands, Quiksilver, Sealite, Nissan and Black Magic Design.

“With significant volume growth over the last two years and the continued surge in overseas online shopping, it has been necessary to develop this new facility which will accommodate up to 50 DHL delivery vans,” he said.

“Along with the twice-weekly dedicated inbound 747 freighters from the USA, we are well positioned for future growth in the international express market.”