New Logistics Technologies Introduced at DHL Global Chicago Hub

A recent visit to DHL’s Chicago Gateway highlighted new NFC, RFID and automated weight and dim technologies the company is introducing, as well as its life sciences and healthcare logistics operations.

DHL Logistics Operations
DHL Life Science Cold Chain Certified Competency Center

DHL Global Forwarding has been operating in Chicago for 75 years, and in 2015 it opened a $35 million, 434,000 square foot facility that is the company’s largest air export gateway. The building is designated a Foreign Trade Zone, and is DHL’s largest world-wide facility, handling international freight for specialized customers in the high-tech, pharma and food & beverage industries.

David Goldberg, CEO, US and Philip Steffen, Global Commercial Head of DHL Same Day, took Healthcare Packaging on a tour of the updated facility, to look at new supply chain investments the company has made, including its 9,882 square-foot Life Science Cold Chain Certified Competency Center.

Able to process pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices that need to be in a temperature-controlled environment, the life sciences facility has specialized storage dedicated to life science and healthcare goods - including temperature controlled large short-term storage for both 2-8 C and 15-25 C and smaller frozen capability.

DHL has recently launched a newly updated SmartSensor temperature data logger, providing temperature-controlled packaging and Smart Sensor technology for climate-sensitive products. This is important, said Steffen, “as we move towards more specialized medicines that require a certain range of temperatures.”

Using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, sensors log in-transit ambient environmental temperature conditions during shipping, functioning at temperatures between -40 and +60 degrees Celsius. The sensors allow uploading of temperature data directly to the DHL mobile app and LifeTrack web portal, making them cost effective and easy to use without the need for specific scanners or devices. According to Steffen, DHL has seen a 40% increase in operational capabilities using these scanners.

List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report