Sun Microsystems tapped DHL as its exclusive global logistics provider for after-market service parts. The three-year deal announced yesterday involves more than 300 logistics facilities housing thousands of parts to be used for service support to 1.5 million Sun customer systems in more than 100 countries.

Previously, Sun relied on 25 third-party providers to serve its global customer base. As part of the agreement, DHL will co-develop a global IT architecture for service parts logistics management that will let Sun eliminate some regional legacy IT systems.

The deal builds upon the relationship between the companies in the Asia Pacific region, where DHL Solutions has been Sun's service parts logistics provider for four years.

DHL Solutions, DHL's global contract logistics division, will manage the agreement while DHL Global Customer Solutions, the company's global sales and relationship management team, will provide customer coordination.

Also yesterday, DHL said it will expand DHL Solutions in the U.S. marketplace. The service will leverage DHL's presence in 220 countries and territories to provide companies in the United States, Canada and Latin America with logistics solutions ranging from consulting and supply chain design to warehousing, distribution logistics and order management.

The move combines three former Americas business units: Solutions, Express Logistics and Airborne Logistics Services. Target industries are automotive, electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods and life sciences. DHL Solutions Americas' customers include Hewlett-Packard, Siemens Business Services and Wal-Mart.