BEUMER Group to extend DPD’s parcel handling hub in Athlone, Ireland

30th September 2015

Logistics BusinessBEUMER Group to extend DPD’s parcel handling hub in Athlone, Ireland

Key Facts:

  • Major extension to national parcel handling hub 
  • Based on low-energy LS-4000CB sorter 
  • Capacity of over 8,000 items per hour expandable to 15,000 

BEUMER Group – a leading global supplier of automated material handling systems for conveying, loading, palletising, packaging, sortation and distribution – has been awarded a contract to supply a fully automatic parcel sortation system to DPD Ireland as part of the extension to its sortation hub facility in Athlone.

The hub currently operates two line sorters, both of which feed the same 40 chutes used to sort parcels to its network of 38 depots across Ireland. This facility is to be upgraded with a seven-bay building extension, doubling the size of the current premises.

As part of this project, BEUMER Group will install an energy-efficient Crisplant LS-4000CB cross-belt sorter comprising three induction units and four chutes in the extension. The new installation will link to the system in the original building, where it will service the existing 40 chutes. There will also be a fourth induction unit installed in the original building enabling the existing system to reach the four new chutes in the extension, and to take input from the rework area.

The system is designed to handle more than 8,000 items per hour using the four induction units, and when future handling requirements demand, it can be expanded to a capacity of 15,000 items per hour with a total of eight induction units.

The installation of the sortation system is scheduled for completion on 31 July 2016.

DPD’s Chief Executive Officer, Brendan O’ Neill, comments: “DPD is Ireland’s largest dedicated parcel carrier. Our parcel volumes continue to grow as a result of improved market conditions in Ireland and with the ongoing growth in e-commerce and online shopping, it was essential for us to expand the capacity and efficiency of our Athlone hub in order to maintain and improve the service levels to our customers. The hub’s location, right in the centre of Ireland, together with the new BEUMER sortation system, are the perfect combination.”