On November 17, 2021, an event was held at Vilnius Airport to mark the start of construction of the new DHL Lietuva express terminal. During the ceremony, a symbolic time capsule was cast into the building’s foundations, signifying the importance of this building for our times. The construction of the innovative and sustainability-oriented terminal build-to-suit The type project is managed by the UAB Eika Real Estate Fund (EREF) fund of the investment management company UAB Eika Asset Management (EAM). The completed building will remain in the ownership of this fund, and it is planned that the project investments will reach 6.3 million euros. The end of the project construction is planned in a year, in the 3rd quarter of 2022. The general contractor of the terminal, which is also responsible for the design process, is UAB Eikos statyba.
“Our and our partners’ investment in the international express terminal is particularly relevant at this time, as the world has been plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020. For a large part of this time, our region, as well as the rest of the world, was under quarantine, and people’s movement was restricted, which led to disruptions in logistics processes around the world. Express shipments, which until then were only a convenience, have become an absolute necessity of everyday life for every resident of the country.”
It is significant that the building’s customer and first user is DHL Lietuva, part of Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), the world’s largest logistics company, which is also widely known as an innovation leader with a strong focus on sustainability, which is extremely important in the logistics sector in 2021,” says EAM CEO Viktorija Orkinė.
The express parcel terminal meets the highest requirements of the international parcel company DPDHL and is designed based on the best practices acquired by this company. The building will border the territory of Vilnius Airport, which will allow for prompt service of parcels transported by air. The 4,800 sq. m building will consist of administrative and parcel terminal distribution parts, and 12,000 sq. m of premises.
Innovative technologies will be implemented in the new terminal not only to improve process efficiency, but also to take into account the well-being of employees. For example, the terminal will be equipped with a two-level distribution line that will be able to process more than 3,600 packages per hour, which will both significantly speed up the process and significantly reduce the amount of physical work for employees.
The DHL Lietuva project, managed by EREF, will significantly contribute to DPDHL’s ambitious goal of becoming a climate-neutral business. Geothermal energy solutions will be used for the heating and cooling needs of the entire building. Specially treated glass is used for the windows to ensure a comfortable working environment and reduce energy consumption. The building will also be equipped with a state-of-the-art building management system (BMS).. Building management system, BMS).
Along with the opening of the new terminal, DHL Lietuva plans to take another decisive step towards sustainability: the entire fleet of minibuses operating in Vilnius will be equipped with electric charging infrastructure, thus gradually transitioning to only electric vehicles. DHL Lietuva office employees will also be given the opportunity to charge their electric vehicle batteries free of charge at the new terminal.
“We are pleased that the construction of the DHL Lietuva terminal and the company’s investments in Vilnius Airport will ensure the successful development of the express parcel business in Lithuania. The automated parcel sorting system, implemented process efficiency solutions, and attention to environmental aspects will allow us not only to provide the highest quality of services to DHL Lietuva customers in Lithuania, but will also significantly contribute to the sustainability commitments of the DPDHL company by reducing CO2 emissions in parcel transportation.”
DHL was globally recognized as the best place to work in the world this year, and with new investments we do not intend to abandon this position. It is planned to install a leisure area for employees on the roof of the new office building, where they will be able to watch planes taking off and landing during their break, a gym and other spaces adapted for effective work or full-fledged relaxation are planned,” says Mindaugas Pivoriūnas, CEO of DHL Lietuva.
This project is a successful result of cooperation. It will significantly contribute to the improvement of cargo handling infrastructure at the country’s largest airport. As stated by Marius Gelžinis, Director General of Lithuanian Airports: “We are pleased that, having joined forces with our partners, the project is being implemented. Because strengthening our positions in the field of cargo transportation in the region is one of the strategic development directions that is beneficial not only for our company, but also for the entire country.”
In addition to the DHL Lietuva terminal, EREF’s investment portfolio includes the Highway business center and Audi and Volkswagen car dealerships in Vilnius, the Tamra logistics center of the BENU pharmacy operator in Kaunas, and the development project of a new logistics center in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone. EREF is the second real estate fund managed by EAM that invests in commercial properties. EREF invests in classic commercial properties – office buildings, shopping centers, and logistics or light industry facilities in the CEE region. The fund is intended for informed investors, and the capital of the EIKA group is also invested together with external investors.
About EAM
UAB “Eika Asset Management” is a fund management company that has been managing investment funds since 2016. EAM’s activities are licensed and supervised by the Bank of Lithuania. The management company has the right to manage collective investment undertakings intended for informed investors. The EAM team consists of investment management professionals with more than 15 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate development, who are familiar with the real estate market, are able to analyze it and discover investment opportunities.
About DHL
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL businesses offer an unrivaled range of logistics services, from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and warehousing, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management solutions. With around 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling sustainable global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing and energy, automotive and retail, DHL has established itself as the “World’s Logistics Company.”
DHL is part of the Deutsche Post DHL Group. The group generated more than 66 billion euros in revenue in 2020. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emission logistics by 2050.