DHL relocates, consolidates operations in Los Angeles
DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, part of the logistics division of DHL, announced today it has relocated and consolidated its three Los Angeles, Calif.-area operations into a single facility, an important step in effectively meeting customer needs during the peak shipping seasons and managing the rapid long-term growth of trans-Pacific import volumes.
Located in Redondo Beach, Calif. near the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles International Airport, the 200,000 square foot facility houses DHL Danzas Air & Ocean's Los Angeles gateway operations; air, ocean and U.S. domestic services; customs brokerage, warehousing and Customer Program Management activities. Previously, the company's Los Angeles operations occupied three buildings located several miles apart.
The new facility includes a 143,000-square foot warehouse and 51,000 square feet of office space, as well as a 12,000 square foot dedicated security cage. The building's capacity is 20,000 square feet larger than the three previous sites combined.
"The relocation and consolidation of our Los Angeles operations underscores our commitment to support the growth of businesses operating in the Asia-North America trade lane, as well as for customers who use our domestic and international services," said Brian E. Lindholm, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, North America, DHL Danzas Air & Ocean. "Los Angeles is one of our four North American gateways, and its prominence will only increase as Asian import traffic continues to grow. By taking this step, we have positioned the gateway to better manage the opportunities and challenges accompanying this growth," continued Lindholm.
DHL Danzas Air & Ocean projects annualized double-digit increases in Trans-Pacific ocean imports to the Port of Long Beach, with traffic from China and India expanding by 20% to 30% per year.
The newly expanded and centralized operations enables DHL Danzas Air & Ocean to expedite the breakdown, processing, clearance and release of inbound cargo, accelerating the frequency and improving the efficiency of cross-docking operations. Through this facility DHL has doubled its capacity of air import break bulk operations to handle and process larger volumes of inbound shipments, a critical factor for businesses needing expedited deliveries during peak season and beyond.
DHL Danzas Air & Ocean's Los Angeles-based Customer Program Management (CPM) team, which builds value-added customer solutions leveraging the company's diverse product portfolio, will work side-by-side at the facility with product executives to collaborate on innovative customer-driven programs.
"The work of our CPM team extends across all of our product lines," said Lindholm. "Having our CPM and product professionals under the same roof improves communication and decision-making, fosters the free and open exchange of ideas, and will ultimately improve the speed and quality of the innovative solutions our customers expect."
The newly consolidated facility is one of many initiatives DHL has undertaken to improve network efficiencies, cost containment, and connectivity system-wide. Last year, DHL Express announced a $1.2 billion network investment program in the U.S. market which has resulted in a newly expanded primary air and ground hub in Wilmington, Ohio, seven new Regional Sort Centers, and a recently completed West Coast distribution facility. DHL has maintained its leadership in the global delivery market over the course of 35 years through the continuous expansion of its transportation network, the enhancement of its portfolio of international shipping services, and superior customer service to meet the needs of a growing, global customer base.
