DHL to Operate Unilever DC in Surabaya, Indonesia

DHL Exel Supply Chain has begun operating a purpose-built, 8,750 sq m Synchronized Dispatched Facility for Unilever near Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. located on 11,000 sq m of land within Unilever’s factory compound, the new facility accommodates more than 17,000 pallet storage locations, which will provide for planned incremental volume growth up through 2010 for Unilever’s product storage requirements. Earlier this year, Unilever extended its contract with DHL as its operations partner to run the new facility.

The project represents an investment of more than US$5 million dollars by Unilever Indonesia, collaborating closely with DHL’s technical and operations teams in the facility, to establish a pallet racking storage system and mechanical handling equipment and WMS that will facilitate improvements in the product flow while maintaining inventory accuracy and a more conducive and safe work environment.

Tony Hotine, DHL Exel Supply Chain Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific. “By consolidating three existing warehouses into the new state-of-the-art Synchronized Dispatch Facility - which is co-located on site with the manufacturing operations – the significant improvements in operating effectiveness and efficiency will allow enhanced flexibility in accommodating the specific needs of Unilever’s customers more competitively in an increasingly dynamic and price sensitive market.”