DHL expands Cologne parcel center capacity to 50,000

DHL Group's German delivery unit has officially opened an expansion at its Cologne-Eifeltor parcel center. The upgrade increases the facility's sorting capacity to nearly 50,000 pieces per hour, the company announced Tuesday.

The expansion is a response to growing package volumes from businesses and individuals in northwest Germany. Cologne is a major economic and logistics hub in one of the country's most populous regions. The project allows DHL to hire 250 additional workers, bringing total employment at the site to 750.

DHL's Post & Parcel Germany division is investing more than 1 billion euros annually over several years to restructure its network. This investment, equivalent to $1.16 billion, addresses declining letter volumes and the rising popularity of e-commerce shipping. The modernization program includes rightsizing facilities, automation, and digitalization.

"With the expansion of the Cologne-Eifeltor parcel center, we are making a targeted investment in the performance of our network," said Marc Hitschfeld, head of operations for Post & Parcel Germany at DHL Group. He added that online retail continues to grow and customers expect fast, reliable delivery.

Facility Details and Capacity

The Cologne-Eifeltor parcel center has been operating since 1994 and currently serves about 1.2 million households. Construction on the new extension began in 2024 and was completed on schedule this summer. A bridge directly connects the new building to the existing center.

The facility's new sorting capacity now matches that of DHL's previously largest parcel center in North Rhine-Westphalia, located in Bochum. Across Germany, only the DHL parcel center in Aschheim near Munich has a higher capacity, sorting approximately 72,000 parcels per hour.

Sustainability Features

The new extension was built on the site of a demolished building and includes modern energy-saving systems. The roof of the extension features a solar array. The main hall uses underfloor heating and automatic ventilation control to minimize air conditioning needs. Demand-controlled LED lighting and a green roof for thermal insulation are also part of the design. DHL states these features reduce energy consumption in winter and protect against excessive heat in summer.

Broader Network Context

Post & Parcel Germany operates under the DHL and Deutsche Post brands. It is the largest postal service provider in Europe and dominates the German letter and parcel market. The division also operates the largest parcel locker network in Germany. This Cologne expansion is one part of its multi-year, billion-euro network investment aimed at handling the structural shift from letters to parcels.

The report was published by FreightWaves.