DHL Express Canada opens new ‘mega facility’ in Brampton

BRAMPTON, Ont. — DHL Express Canada has opened its new Canadian headquarters in Brampton, Ont., a self-proclaimed “mega facility” that consolidates the company’s operations in the Toronto region into a single location. The centralized facility encompasses a 34,000-sq.-ft. office space with a brand-new 100,000-sq.-ft. warehouse, and houses 383 employees under one roof.

“The consolidation is the next step in continuing to expand our international services, increase routes and better serve the growing base of global customers looking to do business in Canada and around the world,” said Greg Hewitt, president of DHL Express Canada. “Additionally, all of our Toronto-based employees in both operations and corporate functions now will be housed in a single facility which will unify our corporate culture and allow our teams to better work together, benefiting both our employees and our customers.”

The Toronto market was previously supported by three facilities: Brampton (service center and corporate offices), Markham service centre (pickup and delivery) and the Brampton National Office (corporate offices and call centre).

When selecting the location for the new head office, Hewitt says the company wanted to be in an area where its pickup and delivery service would have the best access to service its customers from Burlington through to the Durham Region.

“We’re close to Pearson Airport and we’re right at the hub intersection of the 427, the 409, the 401 and the 407 just to the north, so you’ve got fantastic access to transportation and to access the market, and we’ve always had a great relationship with the City of Brampton,” Hewitt told CT&L at the recent grand opening.

Company officials say the new centre is designed to reduce costs and improve operating procedures and bring new focus to the international expertise of DHL employees. All DHL international facilities have upgraded to Global Standard Operating Procedure standards and will allow the teams in Canada to enhance Certified International Specialist Training, the company said.

The facility will house a service centre for international pickup and delivery, corporate offices and a call centre. The new space will also provide capacity to process packages from 57 international routes with the capacity to increase to 90 routes as the international business continues to expand. Hewitt says at present, the facility can process 5,000 inbound deliveries and send 2,000 outbound each night, but long-term plans will see a steady expansion of those numbers.

“We wanted to get a location that positions us for growth for the next 10 years,” Hewitt says. “The intention over that 10-year period is to more than double the business.”

To view our video of the grand opening celebration, visit here.