The new agreement was signed at Parcel+Post Expo 2024 in Amsterdam on 22 October, and the project has a planned go-live of autumn 2025. Vanderlande’s solution will be installed at the Regensburg depot and this will be capable of sorting 4,500 parcels per hour from four infeeds with belt unloading telescopics to 37 buffer chutes.
MechZB (“mechanised delivery bases”) last-mile depots were developed to help DHL Group meet increasing demand from online orders. The sorting solution includes a unique bulk chute design developed through a collaboration between Vanderlande and the parcel delivery company. This improves productivity, because it allows for up to 200 parcels to be buffered without any action required by operators.
The MechZB transport and sortation systems have been designed so that parcels do not need to be scanned or sorted by hand. Formerly, parcels had to be loaded manually into roll containers, and then unloaded by hand into delivery vans at the output of the system. This process is now automated by the chutes right up to the loading of the vehicles, ensuring less handling and improved ergonomics.
“We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Vanderlande to extend our regional network of sorting depots,” says Dietmar Doll, VP Engineering with DHL Group. “The MechZB programme has supported our business growth, and the sortation technology has also greatly improved working conditions for our operators by automating many manual tasks.”
On a European as well as global level, both companies are further strengthening their business relationships. “In this long-term global partnership, DHL recognises Vanderlande as a like-minded supplier that can bring added value to our operational solutions,” explains Frank Föhr, VP Corporate Procurement for DHL Group. “The next logical step is to further enhance our joint business agenda in parcel systems – and warehouse solutions – also by taking our ESG objectives integrally into account.”
“It’s fitting that as Vanderlande celebrates its 75th anniversary, we are able to extend our collaboration with DHL Group by joining forces on the 75th MechZB project,” says Patrick Verhoeven, Vanderlande’s Executive Managing Director APS EMEA LATAM. “The original programme has proved to be a huge success, helping DHL to increase the speed and efficiency of its last-mile operations.”
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