DHL Express has extended its network in France with investment of €15 million this year in newsorting centres in Paris and two branches in northern and eastern France. It has also launched
flights between Paris and the new European air hub in Leipzig.More than €5 million was invested into the new sorting centre at Villeneuve-la-Garenne on thenorthern outskirts of Paris. DHL also inaugurated a new sorting centre at Vitry, south of Paris,new branches in Lille and Metz, northern France, and two new air routes linking Roissy and Vatrywith Leipzig.
Florence Noblot, DHL International Express France managing director, said: “With thisinvestment, DHL has emphasised the importance of France as a key link in the European network. Thismajor investment in our air infrastructure in France will allow our customers to profit from betterair transport coverage and better delivery times as well as better service quality.” Operationsdirector Michel Naudin added that the investment at Villeneuve and Vitry, together with the newflights, combined customer proximity with efficient airport operations.
The 5900 sqm facility at Villeneuve, completed in March this year, consists of a 5000 sqmwarehouse divided into two parts and 900 sqm of office space. Two thirds of the warehouse area isdestined for sorting activity and the other third is used for distribution. The sorting system hascapacity for up to 5,000 parcels an hour. Some 165 employees work at the site.
Villeneuve is very important for the international trade flows of the Parisian region andNormandy since it handles imports and exports transported through Roissy and Vatry airports, DHLpointed out. Imports are delivered to customers living in the Parisian region and Normandy throughthe DHL Express branches in Nanterre, Roissy, Compiègne, Orly, Le Havre, Rouen and Caen. In return,the same offices collect export shipments which are sorted at Villeneuve ready for onwardinternational air transportation. The facility also handles local distribution for the surroundingregion.
In total, there are about 4,200 inbound and 4,200 outbound shipments handled daily atVilleneuve, amounting to 85 daily truck journeys and 30 air containers. The centre, open 24/7,handles a daily average of 40 tonnes of imports and 55 tonnes of exports.
Security is ensured by X-ray tunnels which scan all departing shipments in line with the aircargo security regulations of the French civil aviation authority DGAC. To improve handling, theconveyor belts are equipped with high-tech scanning technology which enables regular transfer every10 minutes of shipment information for tracking, delivery and pick-up purposes. Solar panelsgenerate warm water and other environmental measures such as selective sorting and training foreco-driving will be implemented by the end of this year.
