DHL Supply Chain has announced a £550 million investment to expand its infrastructure and accelerate automation across customer operations in the UK and Ireland, in response to growing demand in the e-commerce and life sciences healthcare sectors.
The move is part of DHL Group’s wider Strategy 2030, which aims to reinforce the UK’s role as a strategic hub in global trade and cross-border logistics.
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The announcement coincides with the UK Government’s launch of a new trade strategy designed to enhance competitiveness and expand global market access for British businesses.
As part of the investment, DHL will deploy more than 1,000 additional robots to support operations, building on over €1bn already invested in automation by DHL Supply Chain over the past three years.
The company has already implemented more than 3,200 digitalisation projects across the UK, Ireland, and the broader EMEA region.
A key focus of DHL’s approach is the development of strategic partnerships with robotics firms, moving beyond traditional vendor relationships to co-develop, test, and scale solutions.
More than 2,000 robots are currently in use across DHL’s sites in the UK, Ireland and EMEA, including over 750 Assisted Picking Robots from Locus Robotics and 6 River Systems at 18 locations.
In a UK first, DHL has also introduced Boston Dynamics’ Stretch robot, designed to automate container unloading.
Capable of handling up to 700 boxes per hour, the Stretch robot is intended to reduce physical strain on warehouse workers and improve efficiency in high-volume environments such as e-commerce.
Further investment will see the opening of a new DHL Health Logistics facility in Derby, tailored to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding life sciences and healthcare sector, which the company projects to grow at double-digit rates in the UK over the next five years.
The site will include cold chain and cleanroom capabilities and serve as part of DHL’s global health logistics network.
The investment underlines the UK’s strategic importance within DHL Supply Chain’s global operations. The UK’s robust supply chain expertise and adaptability continue to position it as a resilient logistics hub amid shifting global trade patterns.
DHL’s expansion aligns with the UK’s new Trade Strategy, which sets out to unlock £5bn in new trade opportunities. The strategy highlights the importance of high-growth sectors and resilient supply chains, areas DHL’s latest investment directly supports.
Innovative applications of cobots, manufacturing, AI in retail and e-commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, automotive, transport & logistics, and more will be celebrated at the Robotics & Automation Awards on 29 October 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s robotics and automation sectors!
