Press release

13th March 2018

BEUMER Group sorter transforms Freightways’ parcel sortation
in first six months of operation

Key Facts:

  • Freightways’ first automated system has handled record deliveries
  • Wide handling mix integrates multiple brands within a single system
  • BEUMER sorter provides capacity to handle up to 15,000 items per hour
  • Supports Freightways’ future growth predictions for the next 15 years

BEUMER Group, a leading global supplier of automated parcel and post distribution systems, announces that the largest automated parcel sortation system in the South Island of New Zealand has completed its first six months of operation. Installed in Freightways’ new South Island hub at Christchurch Airport, the BEUMER system is Freightways’ first automated material handling system.

“The investment in the automated system has transformed the Freightways Group’s network by enabling us to handle a record number of deliveries over the peak Christmas period,” explains John Charles, Freightways’ National Operations Manager. “This is helping the business to go from strength to strength in handling increased volumes year-on-year to our large New Zealand customer base”.

The mix of items which have been sorted includes wine boxes and polystyrene containers of fresh fish shipped through the Freightways Courier Network, so it was important to the business that these items were conveyable.

Stephen Clark, BEUMER Groups Area Sales Director Logistic Systems, comments, “Freightways needed an automated sortation system which could safely handle as wide a range of parcels as possible in a very short window. Assured gentle handling of every package was important to minimise the number of non-conveyable items.”

The system is based on BEUMER Group’s LS-4000CB cross-belt sorter which combines flexibility with extreme energy efficiency. With the capacity to handle up to 15,000 items per hour, the system should enable Freightways to meet its future volume growth forecasts for the next fifteen years.

The automation of the material handling process has supported the integration of multiple Freightways brands into a single operation. As New Zealand’s largest independent courier network the Freightways Group includes New Zealand Couriers, Post Haste, Castle Parcels, Now Couriers, Sub 60, DX Mail and Kiwi Express. The high speed and capacity provided by the automated system places the group in a strong position to respond to the growth in both business to business and e-commerce deliveries.

“The decision to award the contract to BEUMER was influenced by the fact that they took the time to understand our business and operations. They also transferred that knowledge into a system that met and exceeded our operational requirements. This has been reinforced by the systems performance over the just completed peak Christmas operation” concluded Charles.

Note to Editors:

The BEUMER Group is an international leader in the manufacture of intralogistics systems for conveying, loading, palletising, packaging, sortation, and distribution. With 4,000 employees worldwide, the BEUMER Group has annual sales of about EUR 750 million. The BEUMER Group and its subsidiaries and sales agencies provide their customers with high-quality system solutions and an extensive customer support network around the globe and across a wide range of industries, including bulk materials and piece goods, food/non-food, construction, mail order, post, and airport baggage handling. For more information, please visit:

For sales or marketing information, contact Peter Elmvang, Director of Marketing & Communications, BEUMER Group, tel: +45 8741 4141 e-mail:

For media information, contact Chloe Willcox, Account Manager Napier, tel: +44 (0) 1243 531123 email:

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