Logistics Real Estate Fair BUILDINX in Dortmund Before the Start

At the major industry meeting of BUILDINX – INNOVATIONS FOR LOGISTICS PROPERTIES, taking place from November 19 to 21, 2024, in Dortmund, all stakeholders along the entire value chain come together, focusing on logistics and industrial real estate. The development of the industry this year shows: Investments in new construction projects are increasing, the image of the stakeholders is rising due to their reliability with municipalities – even in times of crisis – and renewable energies provide additional positive impulses.

(Dortmund) Despite the tense economic situation, logistics and industrial real estate developers continue to invest in new spaces and buildings – the market is stabilizing after a challenging year in 2023. Logistics real estate consultant Logivest reported a total of approximately 2.3 million square meters of logistics new construction space starting in the first half of 2024. According to Logivest, the bottom seems to have been reached, with some regions even recording significantly more new construction activities than in the entire previous year.

Logistics Real Estate is No Longer an “Ugly Duckling”

For municipalities, the rapid normalization of the industry is a very good sign that sends a clear message. Prof. Dr. Christian Kille from THWS Business School, founding member of the “Logistics Advisors” (initiative for the development of the logistics location Germany) and author of the study “Logistics Real Estate from a Municipal Perspective,” explains: “The logistics property is still not a beautiful swan for municipalities. But due to the outstanding activities of the logistics real estate stakeholders, especially Logix, it is no longer an ugly duckling. Municipalities are slowly realizing that especially in difficult times, logistics can be relied upon as a location factor. This momentum must be maintained to further develop the logistics property into a beautiful swan for municipalities. This segment has great potential.”

Proof that logistics properties are no longer “ugly ducklings” is provided by the modern building named “The Tube” by Rhenus in Tilburg, Netherlands. © Rhenus

Logistics Real Estate as Municipal Energy Suppliers

In addition to reliability in difficult times, logistics properties are gaining more significance for municipalities regarding their potential role as energy suppliers. Prof. Dr. Alexander Nehm from the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg in Mannheim believes that logistics properties can score even more points with municipalities in this area: “If only a third of the hall roofs are suitable for solar systems, that’s still over 30 million square meters, or about 4,200 football fields. On such an area, a lot of energy could already be produced.” Although bureaucratic hurdles, such as those related to grid feeding, are still high; further challenges are posed by grid infrastructure and storage technologies. Nevertheless, he is certain: “Technically, it is definitely feasible, and the increasing demand will not only drive innovations here but also have an impact on prices. I am optimistic that a lot will happen in this area in the coming years. Against this backdrop, the idea of the BUILDINX fair comes at just the right time!”

Thus, in the panel “Innovation and Sustainability in Urban and Regional Development,” Max Ludwig, Account Manager NRW Unibau Gewerbebau GmbH, Kuno Neumeier, CEO Logivest and spokesperson for BVL’s logistics real estate working group, Dr. Malte-Maria Münchow, spokesperson for the Logistics Real Estate Initiative (Logix) and head of acquisition and sale of special properties at Deka Immobilien Investment GmbH, and Alexander Handschuh, Deputy of the German Association of Cities and Towns (DStGB), discuss the role of logistics properties in urban transformation and economic dynamics. The acceptance of logistics properties is addressed by the panel of Jan Dietrich Hempel, Managing Director of GARBE Industrial Real Estate GmbH, Julian Kux, Director Logistics SEGRO, and Sarina Schekahn, Head of Industrial & Logistics Agency JLL. Answers on the topic of logistics properties as energy suppliers from the study on municipal heat planning will be provided by Jannick Höper, Managing Partner of LIST Eco GmbH & Co. KG in his presentation.

Future-Oriented Accompanying Program

Under the leadership of Kuno Neumeier, the BUILDINX focus group, with Dagmar Wolf (WAGNER) and Richard Schneider (fabrikon) as co-leads, organizes the accompanying conference and seminar program. Together with leading experts from the logistics real estate industry, including Logivest, JLL, CBRE Group, Colliers International Germany, and wdp, a forward-looking program has been developed.

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Title photo: © Loginfo24