DHL Supply Chain has launched its 160 million Singapore dollar ($119 million) Advanced Regional Center (ARC) in Singapore, which includes 130 robotic shuttles increasing picking efficiency by 20 per cent.
The 90,000 square metre facility includes an S$18.8 million multi-customer automation system featuring advanced robotics with the ability to pick and store products from 72,000 locations across 26 levels. The robotics, which are the first deployed by DHL, improve picking efficiency by 20 per cent and utilise 40 per cent less space than conventional warehousing operations.
Deutsche Post DHL Group chief executive officer, Dr Frank Appel says: “We see the Asian region as a swift adopter of technologies for enhanced productivity and efficiency. By 2020, Asia will constitute 30% of our total revenue. Facilities like the Advanced Regional Center offer a ready model of innovations that reduce complexity, improve accuracy and maximise opportunities for productivity gains.”
The ARC is designed to cater for specific industry needs, with clean rooms for life sciences and healthcare, specialised infrastructure for aerospace and customised storage for managing service parts for technology customers.
DHL Supply Chain chief executive officer Asia Pacific, Oscar de Bok says: “We’ve seen swift take up from multinational companies using the Advanced Regional Center (ARC) as their regional or global logistics hub.”
