DHL Supply Chain New Zealand (DHL) has opened its most advanced Life Sciences and Healthcare (LSHC) logistics facility in the country. The new site on Te Kapua Drive in Auckland boosts DHL’s total health logistics square metre capacity in New Zealand by 20 per cent. The advanced automation expedites the delivery of medicines and healthcare products nationwide, even to remote locations, by enabling new direct-to-patient and direct-to-pharmacy distribution models with the highest levels of safety, quality control, and traceability. 

The 14,100 square metre site is designed to serve the rising demand for healthcare in New Zealand. As part of the DHL Health Logistics network, the new site provides additional capacity for growth for existing customers and supports new entrants to the country’s healthcare market. It also serves the logistics requirements across the healthcare sector, including natural medication, biopharma, biotechnology, veterinary products, generic medicines, medical devices, and consumer health.

Operated under the aegis of DHL Health Logistics, the Te Kapua site is simplifying the management of complex, cross-border supply chains for LSHC customers and to meet their evolving needs. Approximately 80 staff will be based there, including the country’s largest health logistics Quality Assurance team, and increasingly staff with skills in data analysis, mechatronics, and robotics. 

“The Te Kapua site future-proofs our ability to efficiently, safely, and sustainably distribute critical and life-saving pharmaceutical and healthcare products to patients and consumers throughout New Zealand,” says Javier Bilbao, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific.

“This highly innovative facility supports our Strategy 2030, which aims to better connect and integrate healthcare supply chains through a fully inhouse managed, end-to-end supply chain model. This reflects what DHL Health Logistics truly stands for - not just a brand promise, but a fully integrated supply chain service that connects every step along the value chain, in New Zealand, across Asia Pacific, and around the world”, Bilbao added.

Matt Casbolt, Managing Director of DHL Supply Chain New Zealand, adds, “Advanced health logistics are critical for improving healthcare outcomes for New Zealand’s growing population and addressing the sophisticated care needs of our aging community. At Te Kapua, we are developing highly customised warehousing capacity, and building new skills in robotics and quality assurance, strengthening our ability to support customers throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.”

On site productivity is driven by Goods-to-Person technology underpinned by 41 Geek+ robots - the largest number operated by a New Zealand 3PL provider - as well as Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) pallet storage and retrieval. The automation will help reduce manual handling risks, with the robots assisting with heavy lifting and repetitive physical tasks. Locally based warehouse automation integrator Automate -X installed the Geek+ robots and trained DHL’s team to manage ongoing calibration and maintenance.

Inside, there are 12,000 temperature-controlled pallet storage spaces in VNAs to maximise efficiency. Additional specialised storage protects pharmaceuticals that require humidity control, with temperature environments varying from 2°C to 8°C and down to -30°C. Furthermore, an adjoining 2°C to 8°C antechamber enables preparation and packing of temperature-controlled product, thus minimising risks of temperature excursions. The facility also provides dangerous goods storage and specialist packaging room for secondary repackaging of LSHC products under license.

The five Green Star building uses 100 percent renewable electricity (with Renewable Energy Certificates), LED lighting with an efficient lighting control system, smart energy metering, cool roofing, rainwater reuse, and energy-efficient HVAC systems. DHL’s reusable Cool Green Cell packaging products reduce transportation waste and costs for customers, supporting spoil-free goods transport for temperature-controlled goods.