DHL Supply Chain is accelerating its expansion in the healthcare logistics sector with the opening of a new, large-scale distribution center in Annville, Pennsylvania. Covering approximately 93,000 square meters, the facility is designed to enhance speed, reliability, and compliance in pharmaceutical and medical product distribution across the U.S. East Coast.
This strategic investment underscores DHL’s commitment to building a resilient, future-ready healthcare supply chain in response to rising demand for specialized medical logistics.
1. A Strategic Location Built for Speed, Compliance, and Sustainability
The Annville distribution center has been purpose-built to shorten transit times and improve service reliability for healthcare customers throughout the East Coast region. Located near major highways, the site enables faster connections to key population and healthcare hubs.
The facility is equipped with temperature-controlled zones for sensitive pharmaceuticals, ensuring product integrity throughout storage and handling. In line with DHL’s sustainability goals, the center also features solar power systems and electric vehicle charging stations, reducing its environmental footprint.
By the end of this year, the site will operate as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), allowing for streamlined customs procedures and reduced tariff-related delays—an important advantage for international pharmaceutical supply chains.
2. Responding to Industry Pressures and Evolving Healthcare Needs
According to Mark Kunar, CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America, pharmaceutical companies today face mounting challenges, including shifting trade policies, increasing cold-chain requirements, and stricter regulatory compliance.
“In an environment where pharma companies must adapt to tariff changes, growing cold-storage needs, and tighter compliance standards, proven logistics capabilities are essential,” Kunar said. He described the Annville facility as a key milestone in DHL’s long-term healthcare strategy.
The new hub is designed to handle higher shipment volumes while ensuring faster and more consistent delivery performance—critical factors in time-sensitive medical supply chains.
3. Strengthening the Last-Mile Healthcare Ecosystem
The Annville project forms part of DHL’s broader expansion into the life sciences and healthcare segment. Earlier, the company acquired SDS Rx, a U.S.-based medical courier network with more than 200 locations specializing in last-mile healthcare delivery.
Following the acquisition, Kunar emphasized that last-mile distribution is a critical link in the healthcare logistics ecosystem. It enables DHL to better serve specialty pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and hospital systems—markets that require precise, compliant, and reliable delivery solutions.
By combining its new Pennsylvania hub with its expanded last-mile network, DHL is positioning itself as a leading force in U.S. healthcare logistics, at a time when demand for specialty pharmaceuticals, biologics, and tightly regulated medical products continues to rise.
