PostNL yesterday opened its 19th parcel processing and distribution centre in the Netherlands, its largest facility to date under its long-running capacity expansion programme.
The 9,400 sqm building in Nieuwegein, close to the city of Utrecht, has created 450 jobs and includes a cargo and pharma & care hub. These temperature-controlled halls are home to the transhipment and distribution of goods and medicines.
The central location of the new parcel processing and distribution centre in Nieuwegein contributes to the national coverage required to guarantee deliveries throughout the country 7 days a week, PostNL said.
Because consumers are also ordering large goods, such as garden furniture, online to an increasing extent, this distribution centre features additional facilities for large parcels that do not fit in the processing machine.
The building has been awarded the BREAAM Excellent certificate, because of the investments in sustainable materials, solar panels and heat recovery systems, the Dutch postal operator said.
Liesbeth Kaashoek, Director of Parcels and Logistics at PostNL: "In order to respond to the growth of e-commerce, we have invested in our parcels and logistics infrastructure. Based in Nieuwegein, we deliver parcels to local consumers as well as companies, wholesalers, hospitals and pharmacies throughout the country. We can serve a large part of our online market from this location.”
More and more parcels are sent in the Netherlands every year. Last year, for example, PostNL delivered 177 million parcels, an increase of 13%.
PostNL pointed out that it also has a special Pharma & Care network for temperature-controlled transport. This new location in Nieuwegein features a pharma & care hub for the temperature-controlled transhipment and distribution of medicine to wholesalers, hospitals, pharmacies and care homes.
The company said it abides by the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) standard, meeting the high standards it sets for the transport of medicines, medical devices and equipment. The Nieuwegein centre boasts temperature-controlled facilities at 15-25° Celsius and at 2-8° Celsius. Bulk transport of bulk materials, pallets and roller containers takes place in the cargo section of the building.
