DHL Express France has opened a new centre for sorting, distribution and customs clearance inLille-Fretin, northern France, to strengthen its air express network in the country.
The new state-of-the-art €1 million facility is part of the company’s large-scale investmentin its European network now interconnected through its international hub at Leipzig/Halle, Germany,DHL France said.
The sorting centre in Lille is very important for the international trade flows of theNorthern France region as it covers three departments (Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Somme) and isconnected to two parcel depots situated at Calais and Amiens.
Three months of construction work were needed to put the sorting centre into operationincluding its sorting chain and the air freight security system. The 2,700 sqm facility has sortingcapacity of up to 600 parcels an hour. In total, there are about 1,900 import and 1,500 exportshipments handled daily at Fretin by 60 employees working at the site. DHL Express employs a totalof 73 people in the area, including staff at the two depots at Calais and Amiens.
Security is ensured by X-ray tunnels to control the outbound shipments immediately andon-site. This equipment is in line with the air cargo security regulations of the French civilaviation authority DGAC.
Florence Noblot, DHL International Express France managing director, said: “This majorinvestment in our air infrastructure underlines the importance of France as a key link in theEuropean network of DHL Express. This new ultramodern facility in Lille-Fretin will allow us tocontinue providing the best service, the best quality and proximity possible to our customers.”
This year, DHL Express has invested more than €15 million in new sites in France with thesorting centres at Villeneuve-la-Garenne on the northern outskirts of Paris and at Vitry, south ofParis, along with new branches in Lille and Metz. The new sorting centre in Lille, where thecompany has been represented for 25 years, is the most important facility in the north of thecountry, DHL France added.
