23-04-2024
NZ Post Chief Executive David Walsh says the Auckland Processing Centre (APC) has more capacity than any parcel sorting facility previously seen in New Zealand. “NZ Post is evolving to meet the needs of New Zealanders. This is a generational investment to ensure the ongoing success of NZ Post.”
“We are investing to meet the expected long-term growth in domestic and international eCommerce, as we continue to evolve to meet the future needs and growth ambitions of our customers. Our unmatched delivery network will allow NZ Post to manage the transition to a commercially sustainable mail delivery service as we progress our strategy toward a single network for mail and courier delivery.”
“Our new 30,000sqm hub of international and national processing will bring together NZ Post, Customs and MPI on one site, continuing our long working relationship with both agencies. The APC is bigger than four rugby fields, and capable of processing more than 30,000 parcels per hour at peak capacity. We’ve also invested heavily in better technology, which means better accuracy and more visibility of where parcels are in our network, removing manual handling and sorting,” says Walsh.
NZ Post General Manager Processing and Automation Marie Watson says the new site will run an automated processing operation for domestic parcels, packets, small packets, international inbound and outbound parcels.
“This site is the third to open under NZ Post’s $200m investment in parcel processing infrastructure, with the Wellington Super Depot and the Southern Operations Centre upgrade both opening in 2022.”
“With six sorters on multiple levels, the APC more than doubles our current processing capacity per hour from the previous Auckland Operations Centre – from 13,000 to 30,000 at peak capacity. It’s an impressive multi-story site, and the integration with international product under one roof sets it apart from anything seen before. The APC is a key part of our aim to increase our parcel processing capacity to 190 million items per year by 2033.”
“We’re proud to continue to work with Customs and MPI and to co-locate with these agencies on site later in 2024. With MPI and Customs also located within APC, parcels will be processed and shipped directly to the airport via our hydrogen truck meaning less handling and transport requirements,” says Watson.
Biosecurity New Zealand Deputy Director-General Stuart Anderson says “new screening technology and enhanced processes at the APC for identifying biosecurity threats will reduce the chance of foreign pests and diseases arriving in New Zealand with international parcels and other mail items. The centre will put New Zealand in a strong position to respond to expected rising volumes of international mail and parcels, and changing biosecurity threats in the future.”
Customs Deputy Comptroller Operations Bill Perry says “the project initiative, which reaches a key milestone today, enabled both government agencies to work in collaboration with NZ Post for the construction of a purpose-built automated facility. Customs is looking forward to the move, with access to new technology and data tools, which will help enhance our ability to be more effective and efficient when identifying border threats while allowing legitimate mail and parcel items to flow through more quickly.”
The APC has been designed with sustainability at its core. Rated a NZGBC five-star Green Star Rating, APC includes equipment built from recycled materials and chutes made from bamboo. Day-to-day practices were also approached with sustainability in mind, with the use of electric forklifts and all of APC’s soft-plastic waste to be redistributed for recycling.
Source: NZ Post