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In order to smoothly fulfill customer orders and ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, a reliable logistics system is a crucial link in the chain. Fast throughput times, a quick response and on-time delivery are just a few of the demands placed on modern product distribution centers. During the coronavirus pandemic, another aspect turned out to be especially important: flexibility.

“In order to reliably supply customers around the world with measurement and automation technology despite the pandemic, our logistics hub in Nieder-Olm served as a solid foundation,” says Oliver Blum, Corporate Director of Supply Chain. “Although 100 percent availability was crucial, having the flexibility to keep thousands of measurement instruments from being delivered to customers that were in lockdown was particularly important.”

Cooperation extended

This positive experience served as further confirmation of the successful cooperation with Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, which was recently renewed with a new contract. The partners also want to put a larger logistics center in Wörrstadt into operation only a few kilometers from the current location. The new hub, situated at the junction of the A63 highway and state road B420 in Hessen, will feature more than 18,000 square meters of logistics space and can handle eight times the volume of the old facility.

“With Hellmann, we’re pleased to have a partner on our side that can flexibly and reliably support our growth in the future,” emphasized Oliver Blum. Volker Sauerborn, COO Contract Logistics at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, said: “We’re pleased to be able to further expand the outstanding cooperation with Endress+Hauser and bring it to a new level in the new halls. The Wörrstadt location will enable strategic growth for both partners.”

A hub for goods distribution

Today the center in Nieder-Olm, which is certified for air cargo security, manages daily deliveries from 16 shuttle trucks from all Endress+Hauser European production sites. At the logistics center, the various products are bundled into a single order and shipped to national and international end customers.

Hellmann also manages replenishments for the Endress+Hauser product centers outside of Europe, which includes packaging and preparing the orders for shipment via air cargo and loading container ships. The new logistics hub in Wörrstadt will also bundle inbound orders from overseas locations and distribute them to the European production sites via the existing shuttle connections.

The space at the new location will also primarily be used for cross docking logistics, which involves products that are normally shipped directly from the manufacturer to the customer instead of being warehoused. “We also use this concept at our other Endress+Hauser logistics centers around the world: in France, India, Italy and the USA. And we are continuously strengthening our worldwide network. We are currently building regional hubs in China and India,” added Oliver Blum.

Ground-breaking ceremony

The construction activities are already well underway in Wörrstadt. The partners officially kicked off construction of the new logistics center with a ground-breaking ceremony. The project developer is Panattoni, a subsidiary of a worldwide leading real-estate company that specializes in logistics and industrial properties. LIST Bau Bielefeld is the prime contractor.