On 30 September 2022, the construction of the new DHL Express Service Centre in Courcelles was inaugurated in the presence of Mayor Caroline Taquin (MR) and Alderman for Economic Development Joël Hasselin (MR).The first steps towards a sustainable Service Centre on Rue de Liège? Check! In the summer of 2023, the building took over the activities of the Service Centre in Charleroi. The buildings wants to be the central hub of the province of Hainaut. The fully automated sorting process makes it possible to process 3,000 parcels per hour, the new location is anticipated to accommodate strong growth in DHL Express’ operations in the region. In addition, the building is also fully planned for a CO2-neutral future.
Adjusted for expected growth
The new building is 3,800 m² in size and located on a 15,000 m² site. It is now the central hub of the province of Hainaut. The building has all technological features to accommodate the expected growth of activities in the region over the next 15 years. For example, the site has 350 m of conveyor belt and 130 cameras to guarantee the safety of shipments. A five-sided scanner is also provided, which makes it possible for barcodes to get scanned quickly and efficiently. Altogether, the fully automated sorting process makes it possible to process up to 3,000 parcels per hour.
The 35 employees at the Charleroi site all moved to the new site, where DHL Express plans to expand to 70 employees over the next 3-5 years to accommodate growth.
CO2 neutral and futureproof
DHL Express strives for CO2-neutral buildings. This is no different in the new Service Centre in Courcelles. The building meets the BREEAM standards (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). It’s a method for measuring and certifying the sustainability of buildings. It also meets the DHL Go Green guidelines. Solar panels on the roof provide the building with green energy. The Courcelles site is the first DHL Express building in Belgium to be completely gas-free. Heat pumps maintain the temperature in the offices and warehouse.
The Service Centre in Courcelles is also fully ‘future-proof’. The site will be home to 60 fully electric vans by 2030. To this end, there are already ‘two fingers’. Together, these electrical installations can supply 60 electric vehicles with the necessary energy. There are adequate charging points for employees’ vehicles. All facilities enable the installation of a battery in the long term. In time, this makes it possible to store overcapacity of self-produced green electricity.
Curious about our other sustainability initiatives? Learn more about DHL GoGreen.
