The new facility comes in response to growing DHL Express shipment volumes in Finland, powered in the past few years by international e-commerce and remarkable growth in demand in all customer segments. "The flexibility, reliability, speed and global coverage of our services are critical to our customers’ supply chain planning. Over the years, we have systematically invested in and strengthened our operations in Finland. With this project, we will significantly increase our processing capacity, ensuring potential for future growth. The new state-of-the-art gateway facility will enhance our ability to continue to create reliable and fast transport services that support the competitiveness of Finnish export and import companies," says Oktay Nuri, Managing Director DHL Express Finland.
Some 150 employees will be employed at the new gateway and the number is expected to grow by several dozens. The head office of DHL Express Finland will be located in separate office premises.
"The new facility will be about 16,000 gross square meters in size, more than double the size of our current gateway in Vantaa. The automated sorting system can handle approximately 6,500 items per hour. 90 direct loading bays enable efficient sorting of shipments directly from the conveyor to the delivery vans. All bays will be equipped with charging stations for e-vehicles, supporting our goal to electrify our entire pick-up and delivery fleet within a few years", explains Janne Appel, Operations Director DHL Express Finland.
Sustainable network development
It is Deutsche Post DHL Group’s mission to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Reducing the carbon footprint of transportation and designing all new buildings carbon neutral are important steps in the sustainability roadmap. Accordingly, the new Helsinki Express gateway will be carbon neutral. Geothermal heat is used as the main heating solution and electricity is produced with photovoltaic systems. An advanced building management system, energy-efficient building materials and processing equipment, and LED lighting are among the environmentally friendly features. The employees will get a spacious and functional working environment, in which safety and environmental aspects have been taken into account.
The new gateway, designed according to global DHL Express standards, will be built by AVIA Real Estate Oy, with Meijou Oy as the main contractor.
The new Helsinki gateway is part of an extensive DHL Express network infrastructure improvement program. A corresponding gateway facility is currently being built in Munich, and a new Nordic Express hub was opened in Copenhagen a couple of months ago. In Finland, a new state-of-the-art 5,000 square meter Express terminal was completed in Pirkkala in 2019.
DHL Express in Finland
DHL Express transports urgent documents and goods up to 3,000 kg reliably and on time from door to door in more than 220 countries and territories. Daily flights from Leipzig and Copenhagen hubs to Helsinki, and vice versa, connect Finland to the global DHL Express network. DHL Express Finland employs some 400 people at its locations in Helsinki-Vantaa, Tampere and Turku. The company is Great Place to WorkTM certified.
