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DHL Opens Dublin Facility Supporting Tech and Healthcare Growth

Posted on 15 July, 20251 August, 2025 by David Priestman

The new facility harnesses renewable energy and sustainable solutions, achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and LEED ‘Gold’ classification

DHL Supply Chain today announces the opening of a new multi-user facility in Dublin, as part of the €637 million investment into the UK & Ireland region. The site is optimised for customers in the technology, life sciences and healthcare sectors, and delivers a range of specialist services.

These sectors are growing at pace, with a strong presence in Ireland which is host to 9 of the top 10 global software companies and 20 of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in the world. The new Dublin-based site leverages DHL’s specialist services to directly address the unique needs of businesses in these industries.

From expert compliance support to customs clearance tools to full supply chain visibility, DHL delivers the right programmes and solutions to enable seamless operations and informed decision-making at all stages. For example, life sciences and healthcare customers at the new site benefit from the guarantee of zero time out of refrigeration for relevant products, with unloading docks sealed to vehicles. This enables temperature to be fully maintained at all times, an innovative feature which sets an industry standard.

Designed with sustainability at the fore, the building is certified as BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and LEED ‘Gold’, featuring several sustainable solutions including solar panels. The fleet operating out of the Dublin facility also harnesses renewable energy with a mix of electric vehicles and biomethane trucks helping to minimise carbon emissions on the road. DHL is also delivering innovative circular solutions, enabling DHL and its customers to extend the value and lifespan of products, reducing environmental impact by returning, recovering and reusing materials wherever possible.

With over 265,000 square feet of operating space, including 60,000 square feet of mezzanine flooring and 33,000 pallet spaces, the facility is located at the Quantum Distribution Park in Kilshane. The site and its customers benefit from strong transport links, situated close to Dublin Airport, Dublin Inland Port and Dublin Port.

Patrick Corbett, Managing Director Ireland, DHL Supply Chain says, “As the technology, life sciences and healthcare sectors continue to scale rapidly in Ireland, we are delighted to be opening a cutting-edge facility that caters to their needs with our specialist services. These are sectors which need flexible and resilient operations and our innovative supply chain solutions help them to maximise growth opportunities while minimising risk. The new site has been designed with longevity in mind, building in sustainable solutions across warehousing and transport.”

Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment said: “DHL’s latest investment in Ireland marks a bold step towards the future of sustainable and high-tech logistics. By embracing innovation and sustainability, DHL is not just expanding its footprint but setting new standards for the industry. DHL’s investment in their cutting-edge Quantum facility will support our drive to build on our nation’s international competitiveness.”

Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: ‘’DHL’s announcement further cements Ireland’s position as a leading location for global firms in the supply chain industry. This new facility demonstrates DHL’s further commitment to embedding themselves in our vibrant business community.’’

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AMRs Deployed in Irish Pharma DC

Posted on 30 May, 202325 July, 2025 by David Priestman

United Drug, Ireland’s largest pharmaceutical distribution company has partnered with Locus Robotics, an industry leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for warehouse fulfilment, to deploy 21 LocusBots at their Baldonnel Dublin distribution centre to improve customer order fulfilment productivity. The innovative, robot-driven warehouse automation system will also ensure order pick accuracy and improve workplace quality, ergonomics, and safety. The Dublin site deployment is the first of its kind in Ireland.

With the rapid increases in online volume, coupled with the lack of available labour, health care distributors have been challenged to rapidly scale to meet growing wholesale and consumer demand for quick, accurate, and cost-effective order fulfilment. Deploying Locus AMRs within United Drug’s Baldonnel warehouse will proactively position them to meet these demands with a scalable, proven, and cost-effective solution.

“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to deploy innovative logistics solutions that use advanced technology to address increasingly complex fulfilment challenges,” says Paul Malone, Head of Operations for UDD & UDC at United Drug Ireland. “In a tight labour market, the Locus solution helps us to efficiently optimise productivity across our existing labour force so that we can enhance our customer service levels.”

“We are proud to partner with United Drug to deploy our powerful and efficient multi-bot solution to support their warehouse operations in Baldonnel, Dublin,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics (pictured). “Our purpose-built robotics solution seamlessly addresses the needs of United Drug’s distribution warehouses by eliminating unproductive worker walking time to dramatically improve picking volumes and shorten order cycle times. In addition, Locus helps to ensure key worker health, ergonomic, and safety.”

Powered by LocusOne, the industry’s smartest, fully integrated warehouse orchestration and execution platform, LocusBots are engineered for maximum warehouse efficiency, delivering optimal productivity utilising the latest navigation and vision system technologies. LocusBots navigate autonomously through the warehouse working closely and safely with associates to improve order picking productivity and throughput efficiency. They can be flexibly and seamlessly deployed as demand changes, supporting a diverse range of picking strategies and workflows.

Locus Robotics is the world leader in revolutionary, enterprise-level, warehouse automation solution, incorporating powerful and intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human workers to dramatically improve product movement and productivity 2–3x. Named to the Inc. 500 two years in a row, and winning over 17 industry and technology awards, the Locus solution dramatically increases order fulfilment productivity, lowers operational costs, and improves workplace quality, safety, and worker ergonomics. Supporting over 100+ of the world’s top brands and deployed at 250+ sites around the world, Locus Robotics enables retailers, 3PLs and specialty warehouses to efficiently meet and exceed the increasingly complex and demanding requirements of today’s fulfilment environments.

Thermo King opens R&D facility in Galway

Posted on 4 July, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Thermo King has launched a new research and development (R&D) centre adjacent to its sustainable manufacturing operations in Galway, Ireland. The R&D centre, with capacity for up to 70 engineers, adds to the company’s electrification design and engineering capabilities in Europe, which includes an R&D centre in Essen, Germany. It is part of the company’s more than $100 million investment to deliver fully electric products in every segment of the cold chain in Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) by 2023 and in the Americas by 2025 over time.

“Our new R&D centre generates another space for innovation, creativity and learning,” said Francesco Incalza, president of Thermo King EMEA at Trane Technologies. “The technologies developed on-site will add to the more than 40,000-strong fleet of Thermo King electric and fuel-efficient transport refrigeration units delivering food, vaccines, medicines and other critical goods across Europe and beyond.”

“Yet again Galway is leading the way in technology research and development. The unveiling of this new dedicated electrification lab is symbolic of Thermo King’s confidence in Galway, and the West of Ireland, as a good place in which to expand and lead the charge in the development of zero emission technology solutions,” said Hildegarde Naughton, Irish Minister of State. “I would like to congratulate the entire team behind today’s announcement, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of Galway’s newest specialised Research and Development centre.”

The centre also helps advance Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments including its Gigaton Challenge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by one billion tonnes, while aligning with the European Union’s latest nearly zero-emission building (nZEB) standards.

“Today’s announcement from Trane Technologies follows the opening of its automation and robotics centre in Galway City last year, further aligning with IDA Ireland’s continued focus on sustainability and transformation,” said Martin Shanahan, CEO, IDA Ireland. “I wish Trane Technologies and Thermo King every success with this expansion.”

“Congratulations to the Trane Technologies team on this new Research and Development Centre for Thermo King,” said Leo Varadkar, Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. “With its rich talent pool and world-class education institutions, this is the perfect location for this project. The best of luck to the entire team.”

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