DHL Express opens gateway facility at O’Hare International Airport

The $10 million gateway facility at O’Hare Northeast Cargo Center joins DHL’s two other Chicago facilities as the German forwarder expands its operations in the U.S. Midwest.    DHL Express has opened a $10 million gateway facility at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to expand its Midwest operations, the parcel carrier announced last week.   
   The 54,000 square-foot gateway marks the third DHL facility in Chicago, a location choice that was driven by the company’s current and forecasted shipment growth from U.S. businesses trading internationally as well as the continuing growth in e-commerce shipping, said DHL. Inbound and outbound international shipments for the Chicago area and other Midwest markets are also enhanced by an expanded U.S. Customs operation for faster processing capabilities at the facility.
   “DHL’s expansion in Chicago, which brings new economic activity and jobs to our city, is a direct result of our investments to make O’Hare a top global gateway for air cargo operations,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “The world’s leading companies like DHL are investing in Chicago because O’Hare provides the best connectivity to markets around the globe and has the capacity to keep growing for many years to come.” 
   The facility will also serve as an expedited shipment center for peak season shipments around the November-December holidays. The facility will create 75 new jobs, including import and export agents as well as training and office personnel. According to DHL, the facility can process more than 4,500 pieces per hour, from small parcels to palletized freight. The DHL facility is also on track to be certified by the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), a benchmarking organization for best practices in cargo security handling, in early 2018.
   “DHL remains invested in Chicago as more opportunities arise for businesses in the region to expand internationally and as e-commerce continues to flourish,” said Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express U.S. “Our new gateway is poised for this growth and will help us further serve customers as efficiently as possible. We are grateful to Mayor Emanuel for his leadership, and his city’s leadership, in recognizing the strategic importance of O’Hare as a global leader in the air cargo business.” 
   DHL has other operations at O’Hare, including a 491,000 square-foot office and warehouse building that houses 500 employees. It is the largest freestanding DHL global forwarding building in its worldwide network, according to DHL. Its operations in Chicago connects to five DHL hubs based in London, Leipzig, Shanghai, Incheon, and Hong Kong. 
   O’Hare has been working towards enhancing its cargo operations with the $220 million partnership with Aeroterm at the O’Hare Northeast Cargo Center. Phases I and II of the three-phase project have opened ahead of schedule, creating 600 jobs to date and will eventually provide $600 million of economic benefit to the airport over the life of the agreement.