DHL Supply Chain has announced new investments in Australia and New Zealand which will result in the company having the largest automated life sciences and healthcare warehouse footprint in the southern hemisphere.
Commencing from 2025, these developments are a part of DHL’s $150m investment in robotics and automation in the region announced in 2022 by global Chief Executive Officer, Oscar de Bok.
DHL has signed an agreement with technology supplier Dematic and is investing $28 million upgrading its Horsley Park (New South Wales) Life Sciences and Healthcare site. From 2027, the site will feature the latest generation automated picking system combined with an additional 1,350m2 cool room, storing products for up to 30 customers at temperatures between two to eight degrees Celsius.
In New Zealand, DHL is supporting the growth of the industry with a $10m investment in automating the country’s most advanced life sciences and healthcare site. Located close to Auckland Airport, the new site features DHL’s first New-Zealand based goods to person (GTP) automation system – running 41 Geek+ robots – to deliver efficient and accurate goods distribution for up to 20 DHL customers.
The recently opened 14,100 sqm site manages the demands of the life sciences and healthcare industry with 11,000 temperature-controlled pallet spaces and other measures to manage cold chain, security and packaging requirements.
DHL has invested a further $8.5 million on a Hai Robotics at its Skyline site in Horningsea Park, New South Wales. From Q4 2025, this site will run 12 bots and five goods-to-person (GTP) pick stations, managing over 14,500 totes through six packing stations. This system will give the site capacity for over 20 customers.
These sites combine with DHL’s life sciences and healthcare site in Erskine Park, New South Wales, which is currently running Locus autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to give a floor space of 4,125m²
DHL Supply Chain ANZ CEO, Steve Thompsett, said these automation rollouts are leading to a new era in life sciences and healthcare contract logistics in the region.
Each site’s systems have also been designed to pair with DHL’s custom reusable Cool Green Cell packaging products, which have been successfully deployed to our customers focused on compliance, re-usability, efficiencies in packing and reduction in transportation costs for our customers. These solutions are designed for spoil-free goods transport ranging from two to eight degrees Celsius, 15 to 25 and minus 20 degrees Celsius, enabling a wide range of choices for our customers.
While the sites use different technology providers and approaches to automated stock management, all systems improve safety, reduce foot traffic in warehouses and allow staff to work in more meaningful, higher-skilled roles.
“Our global CEO committed to a significant investment in warehouse automation in 2022 because it allows us to better serve our customers while giving more opportunities for staff,” Thompsett said.
“Our life sciences and healthcare customers and their customers who depend on the safe delivery of their products, which may require very specific temperature conditions, will reap benefits from the development of these sites for many years to come.
“We always look for the best automation solutions and partners to meet DHL’s and our customers’ needs, and we appreciate the input of all our project partners involved in these builds.
“Our Global Strategy 2030, which aims to accelerate sustainable growth, has a strong focus on addressing the shifts in the pharma market and these sites will help us to deliver for our customers.”
