DHL Supply Chain to invest £550m in UK and Ireland automation
DHL said it was deepening strategic partnerships with technology companies to co-develop, test and scale robotics systems. It currently has more than 2,000 robots deployed across the UK, Ireland and the EMEA region
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DHL Supply Chain is to invest £550m to expand its infrastructure and speed up automation across operations in the UK and Ireland, targeting growth in e-commerce and life sciences healthcare.
The move builds on the €1bn (£861m) the contract logistics firm has spent on automation over the past three years. More than 3,200 digital projects have already been rolled out across the UK, Ireland and the wider Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. DHL said it planned to scale up its UK and global operations through to 2030, with automation, robotics and digitalisation central to that expansion.
Saul Resnick, chief executive of DHL Supply Chain UK and Ireland, said: “Our investment reflects the growing opportunities across the UK market. Customers are increasingly recognising the benefits of digitalisation and, to date this year, we’ve already surpassed the number of deployments achieved last year.
“What’s more, the integration of robotics and automation in customer operations is becoming more sophisticated, so customers are seeing greater benefits and faster ROI.This momentum is only possible with the right infrastructure and expertise in place, tailored to support high-growth industries like e-commerce and healthcare.”
He added: “That’s why we’re investing for long-term impact, ensuring we are the go-to supply chain provider.The UK’s new trade strategy reinforces this direction by supporting fast-growing sectors and enhancing access to global markets – priorities that closely align with our investment focus and customer needs.”
DHL said it was deepening strategic partnerships with technology companies to co-develop, test and scale robotics systems. It currently has more than 2,000 robots deployed across the UK, Ireland and the EMEA region.
More than 750 assisted picking robots from Locus Robotics and 6 River Systems are active at 18 sites, and DHL has recently deployed the first Boston Dynamics Stretch robot for container unloading in the UK. The Stretch robot can unload up to 700 boxes an hour, reducing physical strain on warehouse staff and increasing efficiency in fast-turnaround environments such as e-commerce
