DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, will be opening its newest and largest distribution facility in Japan – the Osaka Distribution Center (ODC) at Sakai city, Osaka-fu.
At an investment of JPY 9.9 billion (S$127 million), the new facility is the largest-ever facility investment that DHL Express has made in Japan.
ODC brings together three separate DHL facilities under one roof – the Kansai Airport Gateway, Kansai Airport Service Center, and the Osaka Central Service Center. With 21,000 square meters of floor space in total, the ODC is DHL Express’ largest distribution facility in Japan.
It is equipped with a sophisticated auto-sorting system that will increase DHL’s shipment processing capacity by more than 50 per cent compared to the previous facility at Kansai International Airport (KIX).
DHL Japan will cease operations at its Kansai Airport Gateway and Kansai Airport Service Center.
“Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan’s export activity is recovering and the strong sustained growth in e-commerce will increase the demand for faster and more reliable deliveries,” said Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific.
“We are confident in the economic growth of the country and the ODC will make sure we are well-positioned in the long run to address the increasing demands in e-commerce shipping,” he added.
The ODC relocated from the grounds of Kansai International Airport (KIX), bringing greater convenience to customers in the Kansai region due to its proximity to downtown Osaka city, which is just a 20-minute drive away.
In addition to new sorting systems, state-of-the-art x-ray inspection machines have also been added to meet the ever growing needs of shipment security. Operations at the ODC will cover import and export clearance, bond warehousing, sorting, and distribution.
“As the leading express company in Japan, the new facility is evidence of DHL’s long term commitment to continuously improve to better service our customers in the Kansai region and beyond,” said Tony Khan, President and Representative Director of DHL Japan.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create uncertainty around the world, DHL Express has been essential in connecting people and improving lives. That is why we are investing in the new ODC and enhancing our capabilities, to help our customers in this region grow their business and improve their quality of life,” he added.
