Siemens equips high-throughput sorting centre for parcel logistics provider Hermes

Feb 06, 2017: Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL) has been awarded a comprehensive contract from the parcel and logistics service provider Hermes Germany to equip a high-throughput parcel sorting centre near Augsburg (southern Germany).

With the Siemens system, Hermes can sort small parcels, parcels and other packages quickly, reliably and efficiently, and send them on their way to their destination. The parcel sorting centre covers a surface area of nearly 10,000 square meters and is scheduled for completion in spring 2018.

Hermes Germany, an affiliated company of Otto Group, is one of the leading parcel logistics providers in Germany and offers parcel delivery services in more than 20 countries throughout Europe using an international network. In Germany alone, the company delivers more than 300 million parcels per year to private recipients.

Michael Reichle, CEO of Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics, said, "The positive online trade development also ensures ongoing growth in the parcel business in Germany. Our state-of-the-art parcel handling system supports Hermes to boost the efficiency of its services and to further improve its competitive position."

Dirk Rahn, managing director of Hermes Germany, added, "Our business customers can trust in our ability to deliver their parcels on the next working day. We are proud of our delivery rate of nearly 100 percent. With the innovative sorting centre from Siemens, we are able to maintain and further improve this high quality of service."

The core of the system is the high-performance VarioSort cross-belt sorter with a total of seven inductions. The sorting information is automatically acquired with scanners. With a transport speed of 2.5 m/s, the sorter reaches a peak performance of up to 15,000 parcels per hour. The extremely flexible and scalable VarioSort and the future-proof intelligent software ensure that the system’s performance can continue to grow with the future business development of Hermes. The VarioSort is also characterized by its low lifecycle costs: The robust design ensures low wear and tear and thus reduces the maintenance effort.

In addition to the VarioSort, the scope of supply for Hermes also includes several hundred meters of the Siemens VarioBelt conveyor system as well as a total of 70 outlets for smooth discharging of the parcels.

14 of the top 20 parcel service providers worldwide rely on Siemens technology.