DHL Supply Chain Italy officially launched a highly automated storage system on the Health Logistics Campus in Livraga (Lodi Province) in northern Italy on July 3, 2025. The site, which is part of the strategically important pharmaceutical logistics district south of Milan, is specifically tailored to the needs of the Life Sciences & Healthcare (LSH) sector. With an investment volume of over 14 million euros, an automated warehouse covering more than 7,000 square meters has been established. 138 robots work there with the “Skypod” Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) from the French provider Exotec, enabling a powerful, flexible, and secure logistics solution.
Automated High-Bay Warehouse for Viatris
and DOC Pharma
This is DHL's first automated high-bay warehouse for the LSH sector in Italy. The main customers at the site include Viatris and DOC Pharma. The system is part of a comprehensive strategy for digitalization and automation of logistics processes within the company.
The new site is also completely CO₂-neutral, representing another step by DHL towards sustainable logistics solutions. In recent years, DHL has increasingly employed collaborative robots in Italy, such as integrating Locus robots into existing processes. This experience is now being incorporated into the expansion of automation. Additionally, new technologies like RFID for real-time monitoring of pharmaceutical products have been implemented to ensure seamless
control and high service quality.
According to Antonio Lombardo, President and CEO of DHL Supply Chain Italy, the Livraga Campus is among the key innovation locations in the European DHL network for healthcare logistics. The goal is to provide patients and customers with technologically advanced solutions and further enhance the competitiveness of the Italy location in the field of healthcare logistics.
In Hesse, DHL has also recently invested in pharmaceutical logistics and established a logistics center with special infrastructure for biopharmaceuticals and clinical studies.
Stretch, IoT, and Intelligent Devices: DHL Is Serious About Automation and Digitalization
The logistics provider DHL is very active in the automation of processes
in other regions as well. In May 2025, for example, the DHL Group signed a memorandum of understanding with Boston Dynamics. The partners committed to the joint development and global deployment of over 1,000 “Stretch” robot solutions.
The Stretch robot model handles up to 700 boxes per hour with a gripper and aims to relieve employees of physical strain while increasing efficiency. The agreement entails further developing Stretch—specifically for case picking—and actively crafting adaptable solutions aligned with logistics processes.
The initiative complements DHL's ambitious automation strategy, which has already invested more than one billion euros in robots, IoT sensor technology, and intelligent devices in the contract logistics sector
