Because DPD’s existing building in the city of Mechelen had become too small, the French company began looking for a new location to expand. At its former Mechelen site, a maximum of 8,000 parcels per hour could be processed at peak moments. At the new Vilvoorde facility, this figure more than doubles.
E-commerce has been on the rise tremendously since COVID. But the market will still develop much, much more. This is just the start of the growth phase.
At the 4,500-square-meter depot in Vilvoorde, subcontractors pick up packages every morning. Below, you’ll find a fully automated sorting center where DPD can handle 20,000 parcels per hour during peak times. “The e-commerce world is characterized by high peaks,” says Richard de Haas, DPD Belux’s new top executive. “With the new hub, we are increasing our parcel import capacity by 50%.”
DPD’s HQ for Belgium and Luxembourg is also moving to Vilvoorde. At the new site, the French parcel delivery company will mainly receive and send shipments from and to international markets. As Northern European countries are primarily served by DPD’s facility in the Netherlands, the group’s new Flanders-based logistics center in Vilvoorde will mainly target Southern European markets.
The new DPD hub in Vilvoorde forms a major link in the parcel group’s European network. But it doesn’t end there. The French company also went green with this investment project in Flanders. For example, it installed 734 solar panels on the roof. What’s more, up to 160,000 liters of rainwater can be collected and reused on site. Several green areas have also been created on the surrounding property where rainwater can seep into the ground.
