NORDFROST Celebrates Topping-Out Ceremony for Cold Storage Facility at Wesel Port

With the topping-out ceremony for the new cold storage facility at the NORDFROST port terminal in Wesel, the market leader in deep-freeze logistics sets another milestone for a sustainable supply chain. The terminal serves the handling of containers of all kinds as well as project loads and plays a central role, particularly in the transfer of reefer containers to water transport. The cold storage facility is an important component of the so-called Cool Corridor concept, which is promoted by NORDFROST together with the DeltaPort port association and the Port of Rotterdam.

(Schortens/Wesel) On the occasion of the topping-out ceremony for the new cold storage facility at the NORDFROST port terminal in Wesel, representatives from business and politics gathered to deliver speeches: Ulrike Westkamp, the mayor of the Hanseatic city of Wesel, Ingo Brohl, the district administrator of the Wesel district, and Dieter Thurm, authorized signatory and technical director of the DeltaPort port association. A video message was sent by Oliver Krischer, the Minister for Environment, Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia. Together with around 300 guests, including representatives from the involved construction companies Goldbeck West and Hagedorn Bau as well as responsible parties from the customer side, the topping-out wreath was raised.

The location is optimally connected through direct access to the Rhine and the West ports, as well as through short-sea traffic to other European ports. The uniqueness of the location lies in its wide range of services: In addition to handling standard and reefer containers as well as project loads, all logistical services such as loading and unloading of containers, warehousing, and other services are provided directly on-site, leading to high efficiency in the supply chain.

Storage Capacities in All Temperature Ranges

The 16.5-hectare site in Wesel will offer storage capacities in all temperature ranges starting in mid-2024 with the new cold storage facility. A total of 25,000 pallet spaces and numerous value-added services will be available. “The Wesel port terminal is of central importance to us. Here we utilize the optimal conditions of the port location for our import and export hub and also focus clearly on sustainable logistics offerings,” emphasizes Britta Bartels, managing partner of NORDFROST. “In addition to its direct location on the Rhine, the terminal is located at the northern edge of the Ruhr area, thus in close proximity to the numerous recipients in this metropolitan area, which we can reach from here in a short distance.”

Carsten Fricke, branch manager of NORDFROST in Wesel, explains: “The cold storage facility at the terminal allows us to shift the transport of temperature-controlled goods to the environmentally friendly ‘Cool Corridor’. By using the waterway, our customers save more than 65% CO2 per container – a significant contribution to achieving sustainability goals.” Efficient fine distribution in the deep-freeze sector is ensured through the company’s own Europe-wide distribution network by truck.

Quay Facility of 170 Meters

With a quay facility of 170 meters, including a heavy-duty quay and a powerful port mobile crane, the container terminal/depot is well equipped. It offers space for 3,000 TEU, more than 150 power connections, and comprehensive (reefer) container services. The services on-site also include agency services, the organization of sea freight, and customs clearance. In planning for the second construction phase of the cold storage facility in Wesel, specific customer needs can also be taken into account, for which certain facilities are required. Dr. Falk Bartels, chairman of the management and partner of NORDFROST, states: “Our investments in Wesel contribute to our sustainability strategy and to reducing the CO2 footprint of transport routes. We are convinced that the Wesel location plays a key role on our path to environmentally friendly logistics.”

Photo: © NORDFROST/Timo Platte / Image Caption (l. to r.): Ulrich Burmann, Deputy Technical Director at NORDFROST, Georg Diederichs, Hagedorn Bau GmbH, Dr. Falk Bartels, Managing Director of NORDFROST, Ingo Brohl, District Administrator of Wesel District, Britta Bartels, Managing Director of NORDFROST, Carsten Fricke, Branch Manager NORDFROST Port Terminal Wesel, Ulrike Westkamp, Mayor of the City of Wesel, Dieter Thurm, Technical Director of DeltaPort GmbH & Co. KG, and Dirk Haarmann, Mayor of the City of Voerde