Exeter mail centre boosts capacity

The Royal Mail has unveiled a high-speed Parcel Sortation Machine (PSM) at its Exeter Mail Centre, significantly enhancing its ability to handle the growing demand for parcel deliveries.

The advanced system, which uses conveyor belts and scanning technology, has increased the Centre’s processing capacity by 3,000 parcels per hour, bringing its total capability to an impressive 7,000 parcels per hour.

The installation comes just in time for the busy Christmas season, a period marked by a surge in parcel volumes as consumers send gifts and shop online.

The Exeter Mail Centre, which serves the EX and TQ postcode areas, typically sees a doubling in parcel and letter traffic during December. 

Ian Percival, Optimised Production Leader at the Exeter Mail Centre, expressed enthusiasm for the upgrade: “Our new PSM has arrived at the perfect time – just in time for Christmas! It’s a great example of how Royal Mail is modernising and transforming to suit our customers’ changing needs.” 

Royal Mail’s ongoing investment in automation is reshaping its operations. Over the past eight years, the company has introduced 38 PSMs across 29 mail centres in the UK.

These machines enable faster and more efficient sorting, meeting the increasing consumer demand for next-day delivery services. 

Neil Chaplain, Engineering and Process Design Director at Royal Mail, highlighted the significance of the rollout:  “Royal Mail’s ongoing investment in automation is helping us to modernise and significantly improve efficiency. The rollout of these new PSMs will help us to meet the increasing consumer demand for next-day parcel delivery and will help contribute to our efforts to provide a consistently reliable service.” 

The introduction of the new PSM marks a milestone for the Exeter Mail Centre, reinforcing its role as a critical hub for Royal Mail’s delivery network. With this technological boost, the Centre is well-equipped to manage the peak season and continue providing timely, reliable service to customers in the region.