NZ Post has opened a state-of-the-art domestic parcels processing center and international gateway in Auckland, which boasts the most capacity of any parcel sorting facility in New Zealand’s history – more than 30,000 parcels per hour at peak capacity.
The Auckland Processing Centre (APC) is part of the post’s NZ$200m (US$118m) 10-year investment plan and transformation project known as the ‘Te Iho’ program, which includes the Wellington Super Depot and the Southern Operations Centre, which both opened in 2022.
NZ Post chief executive David Walsh commented, “The APC is bigger than four rugby fields [30,000m2], and capable of processing more than 30,000 parcels per hour at peak capacity. We have 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.”
Rated a NZGBC five-star Green Star Rating, the APC includes equipment built from recycled materials and chutes made from bamboo. Workers on site will use electric forklifts, and soft-plastic waste will be redistributed for recycling.
Automated processing
According to NZ Post’s general manager – processing and automation, Marie Watson, the new site will run an automated processing operation for domestic parcels, packets, small packets, international inbound and outbound parcels.
“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,” she said.
“It is 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.”
Key milestone
Supply chain consultant TMX Transform provided full end-to-end technical and program support, including program management, network design, automation procurement and assurance during installation, build design, property procurement and construction advice.
The delivery of the Auckland Processing Centre (APC) marks the key milestone in the execution of NZP’s network strategy which commenced several years ago.
APC is the largest investment in the transformation of NZ Post’s backbone to underpin and support its customer base. Bringing together both its domestic and international processing centers, NZ Post is well positioned for growth in the coming years.
International parcels will follow at the APC when the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) move into the site later in 2024.
This article was originally written by Hazel King and published in Parcel & Postal Technology International on April 23, 2024.