DHL announces the opening of its new Atlanta-based Americas region hub

Late last week, Plantation, Fla.-based global express delivery and logistics services provider DHL Express heralded the opening of its new Americas region hub, which is located at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The company said it invested $84.5 million in this new 100,000 square-foot hub, and it added that the hub establishes direct connections between 19 cities in the Southeast and various global markets, which include Europe and major global DHL hubs. And it also noted that it plans to add flight connections to Hong Kong, Mexico, the UK, and Puerto Rico.

What’s more, the company said that this new hub has a major focus on sustainability, in various ways. One key way is by generating up to 50% of its on-site energy consumption through 65,000 sq. ft of rooftop solar panels, which DHL said prevents the release of 380 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, with the remaining energy consumed on-site is sourced from renewable sources through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), guaranteeing zero emissions from electricity consumption. Other sustainability-focused efforts at the hub are comprised of hub employing environmentally conscious features like LED lights, electric forklifts, dock seals, and rapid rise doors, which further minimize its environmental impact, said DHL.

“The new DHL Express Atlanta Hub represents a milestone in our ongoing pursuit of sustainability and technological advancement. It also exemplifies our belief in the power of international trade and recognizes the significance of Atlanta and the Southeast U.S. in the global marketplace,” said Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express Americas, in a statement. “By fostering commerce and bridging borders worldwide, this hub not only generates economic growth but also creates job opportunities in Atlanta. We take great pride in contributing to the prosperity of the communities where people live and raise their families.”

A company spokesman told LM that a major driver for the rollout of this new hub is that DHL is constantly looking for ways to increase capacity, shorten transit times and add resilience to its express network for the benefit of its shipping customers.

“Our new state-of-the-art facility at the Atlanta International Airport is doing just that, and plays a key role in connecting the Southeastern U.S. with the rest of the world,” he said. “Atlanta was the perfect spot since it’s centrally located for us in the Southeast, it has a great trucking network, as well as great air connections to the rest of the Americas region and the world, and it also acts as a continency facility for our Miami hub.”
In terms of the key services this new Atlanta-based hub provides, the spokesman explained that the hubs in the DHL Express network, like Atlanta, are key to connecting the beginning and the end of the pickup and delivery process. 

“We leverage our relationships with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and our own trade professionals to clear shipments timely through our international network,” he said.

DHL added that this new hub operates as a fully automated facility, which is equipped with cutting-edge technology that can sort up to 20,000 pieces per hour. It also has in-house Customs brokers and works with U.S. CBP personnel, while also utilizing advanced threat detection and security screening technologies that effectively prevent the entry of illegal and hazardous commodities into its network.