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DHL eCommerce Americas Distribution Center Tour
Introduction
Welcome to DHL eCommerce Solutions' distribution center located in Avon, New Jersey. This 200,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility opened its doors in 2018, effectively doubling our regional capacity.
Facility Overview
The automation within this facility spans the footprint of four football fields, resulting in a 40% increase in efficiency. We process volume 24 hours a day, six days a week, and during certain times of the year, our operations expand to a 24/7 schedule. Our comprehensive systems are designed to ensure maximum efficiency and accuracy, whether your products are heading to customers in the United States or to any of the 220 countries and territories we service worldwide.
Security Measures
To maintain the integrity of our facilities, our loss prevention team is dedicated to establishing a secure network. This is achieved through cutting-edge access control systems that include over 120 video surveillance cameras and manned entry points at each distribution center. Additionally, every employee undergoes pre-employment drug screening and background checks.
Receiving Process
Our process begins at the receiving dock, featuring 64 dock doors that manage all incoming and outgoing trucks. We handle approximately 95 trailers daily. As pallets are offloaded, the receiver verifies the shipper's bill of lading, producing a work order that details how the packages will be processed—whether going via ground, expedited, expedited max, or to international destinations.
Once the shipment information is confirmed, packages are transported to a designated lane for encoding. This step involves officially recognizing the packages within our network, either manually or using automated parcel encoders. Encoding captures critical piece-level data, including weight, destination, mail type, and tracking numbers. For packages destined for abroad, country-specific details are included. All captured data is accessible through various reports on our customer web portal.
Sorting Operations
After encoding, all packages are placed directly onto a conveyor for further processing. Our automated singulators time the packages for injection into the two-level sorter, ensuring increased throughput. Notably, around 80% of the volume received at this facility is bound for other distribution centers across the country.
Initially, the packages pass through the outbound sort, where they are automatically sorted into the appropriate chutes and containers based on their final destinations. The outbound shooting system accommodates sorting for our larger volume distribution centers, minimizing unnecessary handling and accelerating processing times.
Inbound Induction
Next is the inbound induction, where packages from other distribution centers arrive at this facility. These packages, already encoded, are positioned onto a conveyor where they merge with those destined for local delivery. Through our work share partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS), packages are sorted into sacks based on zip codes using specialized chutes.
We manage approximately 1,200 five-digit sack sorts, enabling packages to reach their final destinations as efficiently as possible. These sacks are then consolidated and transferred to local Destination Delivery Units (DDUs) via our regional carrier network. The USPS finalizes delivery, enabling your business to reach more than 160 million addresses across the United States.
International Operations
For packages heading outside the United States, these sacks are sorted into airfreight containers prepared for flights on both commercial aircraft and DHL freighters for overseas delivery. Our international delivery service provider network ensures reliable transit to global customers.
Commitment to Innovation
At DHL eCommerce Solutions, we are committed to continuously investing in automation and expanding our network to meet the ever-growing demands of the e-commerce industry.
Keywords
- DHL eCommerce Solutions
- Distribution Center
- Avon, New Jersey
- Automation
- Efficiency
- Security Measures
- Receiving Process
- Encoding
- Sorting Operations
- USPS Partnership
- International Delivery
FAQ
What is the size of the DHL eCommerce distribution center in Avon, New Jersey?
The distribution center is 200,000 square feet.
When did the facility open?
The facility opened in 2018.
How much has efficiency increased due to automation?
Efficiency has increased by 40% due to automation.
How often does the facility operate?
The facility processes volume 24 hours a day, six days a week, with some operations running 24/7 during peak times.
What security measures are in place at the distribution center?
The center uses advanced access control, over 120 video surveillance cameras, and requires background checks and drug screenings for employees.
How are packages encoded?
Packages are encoded either manually or automatically, capturing essential piece-level data for processing.
What happens to packages destined for international delivery?
They are sorted into airfreight containers for overseas flights, utilizing our network of international delivery service providers.