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On November 14, 2022, the new STIHL central warehouse in Völklingen was ceremoniously inaugurated. The logistics property was built by Dietz AG as the investor and is operated by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. With this new building, the STIHL Group not only increases its capacities but also enhances its logistical performance and speed.
(Osnabrück/Völklingen) In the new logistics and distribution location, battery products as well as all devices manufactured at the production site in Tyrol will be stored and delivered from here to all STIHL sales companies worldwide, as well as to the STIHL specialist trade – primarily in Germany, France, and the Benelux countries. Furthermore, customers who order products directly through the STIHL online shop will also be served from Völklingen. After initial deliveries from Völklingen have already been processed since August of this year, the warehouse will be fully operational starting January 2023.
Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the STIHL Advisory Board and Supervisory Board, emphasizes: “With the Völklingen central warehouse, we are not only eliminating existing and foreseeable capacity bottlenecks; rather, we are optimally positioning ourselves for the targeted growth, especially in the future field of batteries. Because in our industry, one remains a market leader only if speed and cost efficiency in logistics are internationally competitive in the long term.”
A total area of 58,000 square meters
The state-of-the-art STIHL central warehouse in Völklingen, with a total area of approximately 58,000 square meters, also includes around 3,000 square meters of mezzanine and 1,600 square meters of office space. The facility impresses with modern storage and picking techniques, such as smartwatches that display inventory and instructions, replacing the traditional handheld scanner. By combining narrow aisle, through-flow, and wide aisle storage, the facility is optimally adapted to the stored goods and allows for maximum flexibility.
“With the new building, we are optimizing our processes from order handover to customer delivery. I am firmly convinced that with this highly competitive logistics, we will meet the high demands of our customers in the best possible way,” says Dr. Georg Miehler, Head of Sales Logistics at STIHL. The Austrian manufacturing site STIHL Tirol was also heavily involved in the project. Dr. Clemens Schaller, Managing Director of STIHL Tirol, emphasizes: “We are pleased to be entrusted with the operational management of the new STIHL central warehouse and to contribute significantly to the further growth of the STIHL Group.”
Designed for further growth
STIHL is investing over 150 million euros in the central warehouse during the agreed contract period until 2032. For example, in the next year, additional self-driving picking devices will be put into operation. The overall area of 120,000 square meters also offers the possibility to expand the storage area by 30,000 square meters if needed starting in 2025, so that STIHL is prepared for increases in sales.
“The inauguration of the STIHL central warehouse is a real milestone for all of us, and we are very much looking forward to continuing to grow together in the coming years as part of our strategic partnership with STIHL,” says Volker Sauerborn, COO, Contract Logistics Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Sven Eisfeld, Managing Director Germany, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, adds: “With the new location in Völklingen, we are significantly expanding our presence in Southwest Germany and thus creating the conditions for further growth in the region. At the same time, I am very pleased that we have created more than 120 new jobs in the tri-border area of Germany, France, and Luxembourg, which are to be further increased in line with the planned volume growth in the coming years.”
Politics welcomes the settlement of prominent companies
Völklingen’s Mayor Christiane Blatt is also pleased: “With Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, one of the world’s leading logistics companies, and the STIHL Group, two true global players have chosen the Völklingen location. For the city of Völklingen, a settlement of this magnitude is of strategically important significance. It not only sustainably strengthens the economic infrastructure but also creates more than 120 jobs.”
Photo: © Stihl
