ASCHHEIM (dpa-AFX) - Aschheim has been the largest parcel location of Deutsche Post in Germany since Monday. The Group - whose full name is Deutsche Post DHL - officially put a second parcel center into operation there at the beginning of the week. The two centers, which are connected by a tunnel, can sort up to 72,000 items per hour. However, full capacity will not be reached until the second quarter.

The Group has invested a low three-digit million euro sum in the new facility. According to Executive Board member Nikola Hagleitner, who opened the new center together with Minister President Markus Söder (CSU), it will create "around 500 new jobs subject to collective wage agreements and social security contributions." The expansion is intended to provide "urgently needed additional sorting capacity to supply people in the greater Munich area and in large parts of Upper Bavaria."/ruc/DP/ngu