PostNL opens automated sorting centre for small parcels
The Hague, the Netherlands, 6 October 2021 - Today, PostNL’s CEO Herna Verhagen and Prince Constantijn van Oranje open a fully automated, robotic parcel sorting centre for small parcels in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands. This innovative sorting centre, equipped with diverse robots, is unique in Europe and has been created especially for sorting and country-wide distribution of small parcels. Expanding its delivery capabilities is a top priority at PostNL. Earlier in the year, PostNL opened a regular parcel sorting centre in Westzaan.
The parcels processed at the sorting centre are the size of a good-sized shoebox or smaller. Small parcels mean less packaging material, less air and fewer carbon emissions. Parcels Director Liesbeth Kaashoek comments: “By processing small parcels separately at this sorting centre, we’re creating more capacity in our regular parcel sorting centres. The maximum capacity of this automated sorting centre equals that of five regular sorting centres. This is how we’re making ready for the further growth of e-commerce and for serving our customers and consumers going forward.”
Robots and data
PostNL is increasingly making more and smarter use of data, digitalisation and robotisation. The sorting process at its small parcels sorting centre involves a variety of innovative tools and techniques, including 175 robots for internal transport,?robotic arms to correctly place parcels on conveyors and at postbag filling stations. Small parcels are sorted 24/7 and intelligent software facilitates precise tracking of every single parcel at the sorting centre.
Making the e-commerce chain sustainable
Aspiring to make the e-commerce chain more sustainable together with its partners and innovation start-ups and scale-ups, PostNL today launches an innovation programme in close collaboration with Deloitte and in the presence of Prince Constantijn van Oranje, who, together with Techleap, is promoting the Dutch technology ecosystem and helping ambitious and promising Dutch tech companies to grow both domestically and worldwide. The aim of the innovation programme is to make the entire e-commerce chain sustainable, from check-out at the web shop to delivery on the doorstep. PostNL wants to make it easier for its business customers and consumers to make greener choices and is looking to achieve this by taking air out of packaging, delivering even more efficiently and sustainably, combating waste by reducing returns, and promoting and facilitating circular solutions.
About PostNL
We are PostNL, the mail and logistics solutions provider for all. With our mail and parcel deliverers who get everywhere, our over 4,800 PostNL locations and 11,000 postboxes, we are always nearby. We aim to be our customers’ favourite deliverer by making it as easy as possible for them to send and receive parcels and letters. Our over 37,000 people are right at the heart of society. On weekdays, we deliver an average 1.2 million parcels and 8 million letters across the Benelux region. Our focus is on quality for our customers, creating opportunities for our people and adding value for our stakeholders through growth, digitalisation and sustainability initiatives.
We optimise and support our physical networks by using smart digital solutions and launching new propositions that create value for our customers. We build long-lasting working relationships by acting as a good employer and client for everyone who works for and with us. To make our deliveries as sustainable as possible, we cover a lot of kilometres on foot or by bicycle or e-bike, provide innovative city logistics, use cleaner fuels, and use electric vans and light electric trucks. PostNL NV is a listed company with revenues of €3.5 billion in 2021. We provide deliveries of mail and parcels, logistics solutions for e-commerce, and cross-border solutions.