Spare Parts Logistics of Mercedes-Benz Trucks to be Based in the Harz Region

Flexible, efficient, and sustainable spare parts logistics is an important success factor for Daimler Truck and its global customers: By providing quick and comprehensive parts supply, vehicle fleets can spend as much time as possible in operation and as little time as necessary in downtime. With this independence, Daimler Truck will restructure the global spare parts supply (aftersales logistics) for Mercedes-Benz trucks, making it even more customer-oriented.

(Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Halberstadt) As the heart of the global spare parts supply, a completely new logistics location, the so-called Global Parts Center, is being established in Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt. In the future, deliveries can be made from a central location, saving additional transport routes and time until the parts are available. The site will be designed to meet the needs of Daimler Truck customers, allowing regional dealers to be supplied directly or to pick up parts themselves if needed.

A recently signed contract for the central logistics location in Halberstadt was officially announced by Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze, Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt, Daniel Szarata, Mayor of Halberstadt, Jörg Howe, General Representative of Daimler Truck AG responsible for Global Communication & External Relations, and Uwe Kazmeier, Head of Customer Services & Parts Mercedes-Benz Trucks, in the presence of other representatives from the state, the city of Halberstadt, and Daimler Truck during a ceremonial event.

From the new logistics location, up to 300,000 different items – from the smallest screw to a complete truck cabin – will be delivered to nearly 3,000 vehicle dealers in over 170 countries worldwide. Thus, the Global Parts Center makes an important contribution to ensuring international goods flows. Thanks to state-of-the-art storage and conveyor technology, all vehicle parts will be readily available in an automated high-bay warehouse and an equally automated small parts warehouse for immediate retrieval. Construction is planned to begin in 2023, with commissioning expected about three years later.

Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “Halberstadt and the Global Parts Center will play an important role in the future: The spare parts from our new logistics center will significantly contribute to ensuring that our customers and their trucks can be in operation, thus fulfilling our promise of ‘Trucks you can trust.'”

Largest logistics project in the company’s history

Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt: “Saxony-Anhalt is a sought-after location for business settlements. This is also underscored by Daimler Truck’s commitment in Halberstadt. A well-developed infrastructure, the central location in the heart of Europe, and efficient administrations characterize us. In Saxony-Anhalt, investors are welcomed with open arms. I wish the Global Parts Center, which will create numerous jobs in the region, a successful realization.”

Jörg Howe, General Representative of Daimler Truck AG responsible for Global Communication & External Relations: “Our new Global Parts Center is the largest logistics project in our company’s history. In the future, the location in Halberstadt will play a crucial role in keeping our trucks and thus our economy and society running. Without trucks, factories stand still, and supermarket shelves remain empty.”

Sven Schulze, Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt: “It speaks for the economic location of Saxony-Anhalt that another globally operating company is settling here. The decision is a renewed impulse for the state and the economic development of the region. With an innovation driver like Daimler Truck, the location will become even more attractive for other companies.”

Daniel Szarata, Mayor of Halberstadt: “Halberstadt warmly welcomes the Global Parts Center of Daimler Truck. We are pleased to be the site of one of the largest economic investments in the Harz region and Saxony-Anhalt. The continuous work of the city in recent years is paying off fully with this settlement. Secure jobs for highly motivated employees will be created in our district town. We, as the city of Halberstadt, will do everything to ensure that the company always feels confirmed in its decision. I thank everyone involved in the project for their commitment and support!”

Heart of spare parts supply for Mercedes-Benz trucks

Around 2,600 suppliers of Mercedes-Benz trucks will in the future supply the logistics location with their parts. Halberstadt will thus become the heart of the global spare parts supply for Mercedes-Benz trucks. The parts supply for Fuso in Europe will also be covered by Halberstadt in the future. The new location serves around 20 regional logistics centers worldwide in a three-stage logistics process – in various European countries, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, or China – which in turn supply the regional dealers with the parts.

Halberstadt is not only located in the heart of Germany but also ideally situated between the numerous suppliers and customers of Daimler Truck in Europe. The transport connections via federal roads and highways in the region also enable quick parts supply. The location also has sufficient space to operate this long-term and flexibly.

600 new jobs

The new building in the East Industrial Park of Halberstadt will initially have a built gross floor area of around 270,000 square meters, with about 260,000 square meters of logistics space. Up to 450 qualified jobs will be created on-site. After further construction phases and the takeover of additional activities related to global parts logistics, up to 600 jobs are expected to be created at the location in the long term.

Abandonment of fossil fuels

The new logistics location is planned from the outset for CO₂-neutral operation, and the energy concept completely avoids fossil fuels. Neither natural gas nor oil will be needed. The heating of the location will be done with electric heat pumps that bring heat into the building via underfloor heating systems. Due to the low heating water temperatures and the storage effect of the industrial floors, high energy efficiency is achieved.

Additionally, it is intended to equip the roofs extensively with photovoltaic systems that can generate up to 13 million kWh of electrical energy per year. This is more than will be consumed at the location. The excess energy from the Global Parts Center will be made available to other Daimler Truck locations in Germany. The roofs of the ancillary buildings will be greened.

Charging stations for electric vehicles of all kinds

In addition, a large number of charging stations for electric vehicles and e-bikes will be made available to employees. Charging options will also be available for the trucks of suppliers, whose fleets will gradually be electrified.

Photos: © Daimler Truck