Harder Continues to Benefit from Companies ‘Fleeing’ Germany

The share of companies and production relocations abroad continues to rise for the integrated system service provider HARDER logistics from Neu-Ulm. In contrast, domestic relocations within Germany are continuing to decline. This is the assessment made by managing partner Marcello Danieli for 2024. He announces the completion of the new headquarters with extensive storage capacities in Neu-Ulm for this year.

(Neu-Ulm) Currently, a 10-meter high and 4,800 m2 large logistics hall, an office building, and additional logistics outdoor areas are being constructed on the company’s own 30,000 square meter property in the Riffelbank industrial area, with an investment volume of about nine million euros. The construction incorporates a mix of sustainability measures, including a large-scale photovoltaic system. The move from the current headquarters to the new location is scheduled for October of this year.

Further Site Planning for Storage Areas

“We currently have over 25,000 m2 of additional storage space in Ulm and Neu-Ulm. The goal is to develop this in our new headquarters, where there are sufficient expansion opportunities,” outlines Danieli regarding the site planning. Since 2022, HARDER logistics has been operating a fully automated container storage hall on the site in the Riffelbank industrial area, which achieved an occupancy rate of 85 percent with about 210 containers in 2024.

Over 500 Individual Projects in 2024

In 2024, HARDER logistics’ business activities included over 500 individual projects. These primarily involved relocations of production lines, facilities, and machinery, including their disassembly and reassembly. Based on the composition of the order volume, Danieli confirms the trend of German companies relocating abroad. He summarizes: “In 2024, the share of relocations abroad reached a record level of 70 percent, while domestic relocations accounted for only 30 percent. The main destinations were Italy, Romania, Australia, and the USA.”

For 2025, Danieli expects fewer new factory constructions and consequently a further decline in domestic relocation business due to the persistently low investment enthusiasm in Germany. “For our company, we anticipate a small growth of three to five percent this year, which will primarily be driven by foreign business,” explains Danieli. To achieve this, HARDER logistics is consistently advancing its internationalization strategy initiated in 2024. The managing partner believes that this will fully unfold its effects in two to three years and generate significantly more foreign orders, including from the USA, Mexico, and India.

Investments in New Specialized Equipment

Danieli assesses the investment of about 2 million euros in an electric industrial crane with a load capacity of 40 tons, which can be controlled via remote control, as a very good decision, as well as a loading crane vehicle. “These are regularly used in our relocation projects and achieved an occupancy rate of over 50 percent in the first year of operation.” Shortly, the delivery of a self-driving transport chassis with a load capacity of 15 tons is imminent, which will allow for even more efficient and gentle movement of facilities and machinery.

Photo: © Harder