DHL Supply Chain has announced a significant £550 million investment to expand infrastructure and accelerate automation across customer operations in the UK and Ireland. This initiative aims to support growing demand in the e-commerce and life sciences & healthcare sectors, further reinforcing DHL’s strategic focus on automation, robotics, and digitalisation.
This new funding adds to the €1 billion DHL Supply Chain has invested in automation over the past three years, during which more than 3,200 digitalisation projects have been deployed across the UK, Ireland, and the EMEA region. The company plans to continue this growth trajectory through 2030, with automation at the core of its logistics strategy.
Saul Resnick, CEO of DHL Supply Chain UK & Ireland, commented:
“This investment reflects the growing opportunities in the UK market. Customers are increasingly realising the benefits of digitalisation, and we’ve already surpassed the number of automation deployments we executed last year. Robotic integration into operations is becoming more sophisticated, delivering greater value and faster ROI for our clients.”
He added that sustaining this momentum will require robust infrastructure and sector-specific expertise, particularly in fast-growing industries like e-commerce and healthcare.
“We are making long-term investments that position us as the supply chain partner of choice. The UK’s new trade strategy aligns with our priorities—supporting high-growth sectors and enhancing access to global markets.”
As part of DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, a new DHL Life Sciences & Healthcare facility will be launched in Derby to support the life sciences sector, which is expected to grow at a double-digit rate over the next five years in the UK. The facility will include clean room environments and cold chain capabilities, making it a key node in DHL’s global healthcare logistics network.
The investment plan also reinforces the UK’s position as one of the most important and strategic regions for DHL Supply Chain. With a resilient logistics ecosystem and extensive trade expertise, the UK continues to play a central role in global commerce amid evolving trade dynamics.
Announced in line with the UK Government’s new post-Brexit Trade Strategy, DHL’s investment reflects a shared vision to strengthen global trade networks and support high-growth sectors. The strategy aims to unlock £5 billion in new export opportunities for British businesses, and DHL’s initiatives in automation align closely with these goals.
Tim Tetzlaff, Global Head of Digital Transformation at DHL Supply Chain, stated:
“We are shaping the future of automation through flexible, sector-specific technologies rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. In e-commerce, where demand is rising rapidly, we use automated systems to simplify high-volume operations and expand delivery capacity. In healthcare, where responsiveness and precision are critical, automation enables us to provide end-to-end visibility and scale complexity efficiently.”
DHL’s innovation strategy relies on strategic technology partnerships that go beyond traditional supplier relationships. By collaborating with leading robotics providers, DHL can test, implement, and scale cutting-edge solutions.
Currently, over 2,000 robots operate across DHL facilities in the UK, Ireland, and EMEA, working in harmony with warehouse staff. More than 750 assisted picking robots from partners such as Locus Robotics and 6 River Systems are deployed across 18 sites in the region. Additionally, DHL has introduced the first Boston Dynamics Stretch robot in the UK to automate container unloading. With the capacity to unload up to 700 boxes per hour, Stretch robots significantly reduce the physical workload for staff and boost efficiency in time-sensitive e-commerce operations.
