Material Handling

Deutsche Post (D)

78,000 roll cages under licensed reproduction for Deutsche Post DHL

Each year, the postal and logistics service provider Deutsche Post DHL transports more than 19 billion letters and over one billion parcels and packages across Germany.


That means a lot of movement on a daily basis to ensure that correspondence and goods reach their recipients on time. Parcels and packages are handled at 34 DHL package centres throughout Germany. Since 2013, 2,000 Wanzl roll cages have been in use here under licensed reproduction from Deutsche Post DHL. They also proved their functionality in the post offices and DHL branches. The successful test phase was followed in 2014 by a further order for 10,000 roll cages. There are now around 78,000 Wanzl roll cages in circulation. "Our parcel business is growing at a double-digit rate every year," reports Dr. Simon Deymann, Vice President Parcel Hub Operations, Deutsche Post DHL. One reason for this rapid growth is the booming e-commerce market. Professional express services and customer-specific logistics solutions also contribute to strong parcel growth. 

​​​​​​​The roll cages are subjected to around-the-clock operation.

“They hardly ever stop moving." Flexible belts secure the goods during transport. The light and high capacity roll cages, with plenty of space for large parcels and small packages, are made of high-quality steel. The sturdy base plate is made of plastic. “Up to five containers can be coupled together for pulling manually or towing. The special, heavy-duty swivel castors can be quickly converted to fixed castors using a special mechanism, ensuring directional stability”, says Markus Spengler, Head of the Wanzl Logistics + Industry division. A lockable brake keeps the roll cage stable.

The collective transfer of goods saves work, time and costs as compared to handling individual, loose items.

That is why Deutsche Post DHL also makes the containers available to key customers in the industrial and retail sectors. With a width of 1,200 millimetres, two cages can fit next to each other on swap bodies, saving space. When empty, the cages can be folded and nested.

Features of the roll cage

  • High load capacity with lots of volume
  • Up to five cages can be hitched together
  • Can be folded and nested when empty
  • Locking brake for stability when parked
  • Durable, sturdy steel casing
“Quality, high production capacity, and short lead and production times were the decisive factors in selecting Wanzl as a supplier. Their delivery reliability and punctuality were exemplary. This is what good collaboration looks like."
Dr. Simon Deymann, Vice President Parcel Hub Operations, Deutsche Post DHL