DHL Supply Chain has announced it is investing US$70 million to further expand its life sciences and health care capabilities in North America.

The firm said in a release that the committed fund will be used to develop additional specialized warehousing infrastructure and deploy new technologies in support of its pharmaceutical and medical devices customers.

The fund builds on the US$150 million investment that DHL Supply Chain already announced in June 2019 to expand its US distribution network for the industry and bring critical healthcare products closer to trade partners and patients.  

“DHL Supply Chain was already well-positioned to support its customers in recent months, thanks to its footprint in North America and the investments it has made in fully licensed sites that meet their storage and handling requirements. At the same time, we recognise that demand will only intensify in the future as the market develops its response to the Covid-19 pandemic and adjusts to new ways of addressing patients’ everyday healthcare needs,” said Scott Cubbler, president of life sciences and healthcare at DHL Supply Chain North America.

Platform for further growth 

“By making this investment, which will also allow us to expand the use of efficiency-boosting new technologies, we are providing our customers with a platform for further growth, as well as the flexibility they need to respond as essential services in a fast-changing environment,” he added.

DHL Supply Chain currently operates 30 specialized facilities with over 11 million square feet of temperature-controlled and certified infrastructure in the US.

The new investment will include the development of new customer sites in Memphis, TN and Indianapolis, IN as well as the deployment of emerging technologies, such as the LocusBots collaborative robots that enhance picking productivity rates and site throughput. The company announced plans earlier this year to increase its fleet of LocusBots to 1,000 by the end of this year.