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Garbe hands over Lower Saxony logistics centre

Posted on 21 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

One year after the start of construction, Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH has completed a new central warehouse for the hagebau Group in Walsrode, Lower Saxony (Germany).

The property, with a total area of around 43,000 sq m, has now been officially handed over to the logistics subsidiary of the building materials and DIY store cooperation. Its omnichannel and logistics activities are to be bundled in Walsrode in the future. Garbe Industrial Real Estate invested around €34m in the new building.

The logistics centre was built on a 100,000 square metre site in the “A27park” industrial and commercial area. It is located directly on the A 27 motorway. The Walsroder Triangle is located in the immediate vicinity. There is a connection to the A7 motorway, one of the most important north-south connections in Germany.

“The central location in the Hamburg-Hanover-Bremen city triangle speaks for itself,” emphasises Jan Dietrich Hempel, Managing Director of Garbe Industrial Real Estate. “In the current difficult times, which in the construction sector are characterised by irregularities in the supply chains and shortages of materials, our thanks go to all those involved in the project for their solution-oriented and constructive cooperation.”

The city of Walsrode also contributed to the quick success of the project by cooperatively facilitating the examination and approval by the building authority within a very short period of time. The project had previously been initiated by the Deltaland mbH business development agency, which, as the city’s service provider, had put the project participants in touch with the location.

Garbe Industrial Real Estate had prevailed as preferred partner for the project development in a multi-stage bidding process conducted by Logivest as the logistics real estate consultant and project manager commissioned by hagebau, and acquired the site ready for construction in November 2020.

A building was erected on top of it, which is divided into four hall sections, each measuring 10,500 sq m. In addition, there are around 1,300 sq m for offices and social rooms. The property is equipped with 40 dock levellers and three ground-level gates. In addition, the object has a gate for side unloading.

The tenant of the new building is hagebau Logistik GmbH & Co KG. It handles the warehousing, order picking and distribution of the product range, which comprises around 10,000 different articles, for the around 360 member companies of the building materials trading and DIY store cooperation.

“The Walsrode site will set standards and play a decisive role in our logistics strategy,” explains Gerritt Höppner-Tietz, Managing Director of hagebau Logistik. The property in the “A27park” will serve as a central warehouse in the future. From there, both the five regional warehouses and the construction and building materials markets are to be supplied. In addition, online orders are to be shipped from Walsrode.

“Numerous jobs will be created in Walsrode for this purpose. A total of up to 150 people will be employed at the site,” adds Höppner-Tietz.

Parking spaces for 122 cars, 20 trucks and 20 bicycles are available in the outdoor area. A photovoltaic system is installed on the roof of the logistics centre to generate renewable energy. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is striving for certification according to the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council for the entire property.

“We will transfer the logistics centre to our own real estate management and remain a reliable contact for our tenant even after completion,” concludes Hempel, referring to the corporate strategy of Garbe Industrial Real Estate. The property still has potential for expansion. If required, a fifth hall section with an additional 10,000 sq m of space can be built.

GEODIS to open Dresden logistics centre

Posted on 15 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

GEODIS plans to open a new multi-user logistics facility in Coswig. The new facility meets the latest environmental and safety standards and is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in October of this year. The new logistics centre in the Dresden area is an example of the global transport and logistics service provider’s continued expansion in Germany.

The new logistics centre offers customers a wide range of services. These include inbound and outbound logistics, value-added services, after-sales, and return logistics, as well as high-tech services, for example, the repair and refurbishment of information technology products, as well as the assembly and software configuration of devices, right through to installation at the customer’s site. Value-added services, such as flow and transport management via the Control Tower and e-logistics and e-fulfilment services, complete the range of services at the new Coswig site.

In terms of traffic, the new logistics centre is directly connected to the A4 – Bad Hersfeld – Görlitz highway via the S84 and B6. The new building, developed by Garbe Industrial Real Estate, a specialist in logistics and corporate real estate will meet safety and environmental standards. For example, it is planned to line the floors of the two large halls with WGK (water hazard class) foil. With a photovoltaic system on the roof, GEODIS will be able to cover a large part of its electricity requirements.

Further sustainable measures such as greening the façade and planting 110 trees and 547 shrubs in the outdoor space will be an additional contribution to improving the carbon footprint, as are e-charging stations for cars and bicycles. Certification to the gold standard of the German Sustainable Building Association (Deutschen Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen, DGNB) is planned for the entire property.

“The new multi-user facility in Coswig is another step in our growth strategy. As a central multimodal transport hub, the Dresden metropolitan area has ideal conditions for fast and environmentally friendly transport routes within Germany, as well as to Poland and the Czech Republic,” stresses Thomas Kraus, GEODIS President & CEO North, East and Central Europe, underlining the location’s advantages.

“The establishment of innovative companies from the high-tech, greentech, and robotics sectors in this region also offers interesting market potential to expand our customer portfolio in those growth sectors that are important to us,” says Antje Lochmann, Managing Director of GEODIS’ Contract Logistics activity in Germany.

“As mayor of Coswig, I can say, on behalf of the city council that I’m pleased our efforts in recent years to develop commercial areas have been successful. This large and modern logistics facility is a new location in Coswig that not only meets today’s customer requirements but also sets standards in environmental protection with a comprehensive PV system and green façades,” says Thomas Schubert, Mayor of Coswig.

Bulk bagging system helps meet aggregate demand

Posted on 11 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Leading robotics and automation company, RMGroup, has supplied one of its industry-leading bulk bagging systems, a BB-400, to building materials supplier Tippers.

As an existing customer, the new equipment supplements Tippers’ existing BB-400 bulk bagging and form fill & seal vertical packaging system, and comes as a result of increases in demand for virgin and decorative aggregates across Tippers’ branches throughout the Midlands region.

The BB-400 is the fastest bulk bagger from RMGroup. The system is capable of filling three bulk bags per minute and able to refill to weighment in just 17 seconds. A large 20 tonne heavy duty hopper feeds onto a large in-feed belt conveyor, which then feeds the BB-400.

The FIBC filling machine itself is controlled by an integrated weighing system that fills the hopper to a pre-set weighment, making bulk automation very precise at high-speed and volume. Built to a high standard, the systems are guaranteed to withstand 20 years of service even with the most abrasive raw materials.

Commenting on the BB-400, Tippers’ Bill Tipper, said: “The installation process was flawless from delivery to installation and the engineers were very knowledgeable and helpful. The BB-400 bulk bagger fully meets our expectations and performance requirements. With our expert aggregates yard staff, we are able to produce bulk bags inline with set daily quotas. This allows us to increase our output, meaning we can meet and service customer demand, as well as introduce new bulk bagged aggregate products to the group.

“Tippers have a very strong working relationship with RMGroup. The team is just one phone call away and are always helpful with any issues we may have. Where an issue can’t be resolved on a call, RMGroup has a very fast call out response to ensure our machines are up and running quickly. As our business continues to grow and the need for increased production arises, RMGroup would be the first choice for additional equipment.”

Ed Pugh, RMGroup’s sales director, added: “The ongoing popularity of the BB-400 amongst aggregate suppliers shows that its robust construction means it is well suited to handle the large loading shovels that operate in the quarries and bagging plants. We are delighted that Tippers value our relationship and we look forward to providing them with our bagging expertise again in the future.”

February 2022

Posted on 11 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

The February 2022 edition of Logistics Business magazine is live! As well as opinion from industry leaders about what they believe lies ahead in 2022, our exclusive features and interviews will inform you about the major issues of the moment. Topics covered this issue include freeports, IR35 legislation, order picking, warehouse automation, logistics IT, new forklift launches, and much more.

84 pages of a truly international magazine covering the global logistics industry. Subscribe for free now.

Briggs completes acquisition of Aerial Platform Hire

Posted on 7 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Briggs Equipment has completed the acquisition of Aerial Platform Hire Limited, one of Ireland’s leading powered access hire companies.

Working from two sites in Clane, Co. Kildare and Mallow, Co. Cork, Aerial Platform Hire has an established reputation for delivering high quality powered access solutions to a diverse customer portfolio. This latest acquisition will enable Briggs Equipment to further strengthen its position as the UK and Ireland’s premier Asset Management and Engineering Services specialist, whilst also demonstrating an ongoing commitment to developing its product and service offering.

As part of the acquisition and long-term strategy for the business, Briggs will be delivering ongoing investment into key areas including the equipment fleet to help meet evolving customer and market demands.

Pete Jones, Briggs Equipment’s Group Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted to have completed this latest acquisition, which sees Aerial Platform Hire join our Group. Their unique combination of strong coverage throughout Ireland and an established reputation in the powered access market, will enable us to build on our existing presence within the country and expand our product offering.

“We are committed to working with businesses that share the same values and cultures as ourselves and it’s clear there is a real family atmosphere that has been at the heart of the company’s success. As with all our acquisitions we are keen to preserve that ethos whilst also providing the appropriate investment, support and guidance to help the business achieve its full potential.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in securing the completion of this acquisition and we look forward to welcoming the Aerial Platforms team into our business, working closely with them and ensuring they have everything they need to go from strength to strength as an integral part of the Briggs Equipment Group.”

Andrew Davin, Managing Director of Aerial Platform Hire Ltd commented: “The Davin family are very pleased to announce the change of ownership of Aerial Platform Hire Ltd which has been acquired by the Briggs Equipment Group.

“We have grown this business over 42 years and we pride ourselves on providing an excellent service to our customers through the dedication of our team and investment in quality powered access products.

“We are confident that being part of the Briggs Equipment Group will be a positive experience for our customers and staff alike as they benefit from the support and expertise of Briggs. We wish Aerial Platform Hire and Briggs every success for the future.”

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Briggs, Aerial Platform Hire Limited will continue trading under its own name and with all current operational contacts remaining in place.

Prologis makes strategic UK appointments

Posted on 2 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Prologis, the developer and owner of logistics property, has confirmed three strategic UK hires to kickstart the New Year as it seeks to enrich its skill set and further strengthen its platform for growth in a dynamic logistics property market.

Caroline Musker is joining Prologis from Lichfields, where she gained more than 17 years’ experience from a number of roles, including her latest position as senior director. She has been involved in a number of Prologis’ projects during this time. As a Director at Prologis, she will be taking the newly-created role of Head of Planning, helping to get projects off to a good start and exploring ways to add value for the customer and the business. She will also be helping to assess potential acquisition and investment opportunities.

Gillian Scarth joins Prologis as a director in the Capital Deployment and Leasing team, after 15 years’ experience as a senior development manager at Kier Property. Gill has an impressive professional network and extensive experience of managing diverse customer portfolios offering a mix of uses in multiple sectors. She will primarily be focused on driving growth and supporting the delivery of new and existing projects in London and the South East.

Simon Perks is joining the Capital Deployment and Leasing team at Prologis UK as a director, with a specific brief to look for opportunities to further strengthen the company’s asset portfolio in London and the South East. In his former role as senior development manager at The Crown Estate, he gained considerable experience in developing and adding value to a unique land and property portfolio, which includes 10 million sq. ft. of assets in areas of central London.

Paul Weston, Prologis UK regional head, added: “We are delighted to be making these strategic hires at the start of the year to help drive our growth. There has been a significant increase in demand for logistics property during the pandemic and finding land and property to develop, in the right locations is a key focus. By enriching our skill set and hiring talented people, we aim to boost our competitiveness and unlock more opportunities in the year ahead.”

Garbe secures plot near Bad Hersfeld

Posted on 2 February, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH is continuing its expansion course. In the municipality of Ludwigsau near Bad Hersfeld (Hesse, Germany), the Hamburg-based project developer has acquired a 192,000 sq m plot of land. A logistics centre with a total area of up to 97,000 sq m is to be built on it. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is investing around €85m in the project.

The site, which is ready for construction, is located in the Bad Hersfeld-Ludwigsau Enterprise Park, a roughly 840,000 sq m industrial estate in the North Hessian city-triad of Bad Hersfeld, Bebra and Rotenburg an der Fulda.

“With this purchase we have secured one of the last available, ready-to-build prime sites in this size range,” emphasises Jan Dietrich Hempel, Managing Director of Garbe Industrial Real Estate. “It is located in an economically strong area that is now one of the most important logistics regions in Germany.”

It occupies a central, convenient location; via the B27 Göttingen–Fulda, the site is connected to the A4 motorway, which links Kirchheim with Dresden. The Bad Hersfeld junction is 10km away.

The Hamburg-based project developer is planning a logistics centre in Ludwigsau with a total hall area of up to 97,000 sq m. They will be distributed over two buildings, which will be parallel to each other.

Included are offices, social rooms and mezzanine areas. A photovoltaic system will be installed on the roofs to generate renewable energy. Electric charging points for cars and bicycles are planned for the outdoor area. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is aiming for the property to be certified according to the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council.

“Our project developments are always based on internationally recognised ESG criteria,” says Hempel.

Construction of the logistics centre is scheduled to begin in the second half of the year. Completion is planned for the end of 2023. In addition to discussions with a tenant for the entire site, talks with other potential tenants are now underway. The mayor of the municipality, Wilfried Hagemann, welcomes the success of the settlement: “We are pleased that we have been able to win the pan-European company Garbe Industrial Real Estate for our site as a project developer.”

The purchase of the property was brokered by the real estate consultancy Logivest from Munich, which is also entrusted with the exclusive letting mandate.

AR Racking optimises Gear4music’s warehouse

Posted on 31 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

The logistics centre of the sixth and latest European facility of Gear4music, a leading online retailer in the sale of musical instruments and accessories from the United Kingdom, has been designed and equipped with an AR Racking storage solution with a capacity for 60,000 items.

With a continuous multichannel approach, the UK’s largest musical instruments retailer has been selling its range of items across Europe since 2012 and in 190 countries since 2017. Since its foundation in 2003, the company has increased its turnover tenfold to around €185m last year. To serve growing markets in Europe and maintain a local presence, the company is represented by six subsidiaries and distribution centres in Europe. The latest centre opened just recently in Barcelona, where AR Racking has played a defining role in designing, manufacturing and installing the ideal storage system for optimisation of the new warehouse.

“The sales director Jörg Buschmann and his AR Racking team were able to tackle all the logistics challenges that our new warehouse posed, despite our tight schedule, with the promise of a short turnaround and competitive prices,” said Jan Imig, Gear4Music Germany and Spain Managing Director, explaining the contract award. “The initial preliminary planning and concept of fully equipping the facilities with proven and certified components from AR Racking’s product portfolio were convincing.”

In the two months following the contract award, AR Racking implemented its adapted storage solution precisely to the shipping warehouse requirements of Gear4music, including the picking and packaging areas. To achieve optimum use of the space and high availability, AR Racking designed and installed a solution with very narrow aisle (VNA) racking. A total of 3,600 pallet positions have been created on 15 racking aisles.

The galvanised frames are up to 9.5m high and have 16 levels. The beams are designed for pallets of up to 250kg each. Some of the levels have been designed for picking solutions, generating 1,800 positions and are equipped with mesh racks. The U and L-shaped frame protectors provide protection for maximum safety and to avoid damage to the support frames. The aisle width is 1.75m, generating a higher storage capacity with the same space compared to the adjustable pallet racking system.

For shipping, the items are transferred to the picking and packaging area. Depending on the order specifications, this is where the items are consolidated, packaged and goods are prepared for shipment, if necessary. “AR Racking’s team did a great job in every phase of the project,” commented Imig. “Constructive communication process and fast direct contacts, including in the follow-up. Changes to and deviations from the original plans were agreed based on AR Racking’s experience and were quickly applied. The team fulfilled our high expectations and has strengthened the effectiveness of our dispatch centre in Barcelona. Finally, and with everything going smoothly, the facilities were up and running as scheduled by mid-September. We were and we are very satisfied with all of AR Racking’s services.”

Prologis increases logistics footprint in Coventry

Posted on 28 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

Prologis, a leading developer and owner of logistics property in the UK, has acquired an additional building at its highly successful logistics park in Coventry, further strengthening its holdings in a core location.

The 56,000 sq ft building, which is let to UK Flooring Direct until 2025, has been acquired for a consideration of £8m from a UK fund. Prologis now owns and manages 1.86m sq ft of prime logistics space at the park, with potential for further expansion in the future.

Built by Prologis in 2003 as a design-and-build project, the building has been bought back to help meet existing and future demand for logistics space in the area.

From its location within the logistics ‘golden triangle’, at the heart of the UK’s motorway network, Prologis Park Coventry is less than two miles from Junction 3 of the M6. The site is currently fully-let and along with UK Flooring, customers include household names such as Bridgestone, DHL, Royal Mail and Co-Op.

James Hemstock, Director in the Capital Deployment & Leasing team at Prologis UK, said: “This is a purchase which signals our commitment to strengthening our asset base at Prologis Park Coventry – an excellent location that continues to meet the needs of our customers in a core Midlands market. We hope that we will soon be in a position to extend the site further, so we can continue to meet demand for much-needed warehouse and logistics space within the logistics ‘golden triangle’.”

Prologis was advised on the property acquisition by Acre Capital.

Hines makes significant Italian real estate investment

Posted on 28 January, 2022 by Keith McKinley

International real estate firm Hines has reached a binding agreement for an off-market investment to acquire 20 logistics assets located between Emilia Romagna and Lombardy through the Italian fund HEVF II Italy managed by Prelios SGR on behalf of the Hines European Value Fund 2 (HEVF 2).

The transaction involves the acquisition of the real estate portfolio from four different selling companies and the simultaneous 15-year lease of the same portfolio to Snatt Logistica Group, a leader in the third-party logistics (3PL) sector focusing exclusively on the fashion industry.

The portfolio of 20 logistics assets provides a total of 200,000 sq m of logistics space around Milan, Parma, Reggio Emilia and Bologna. They are strategic, well-established logistic centres that enjoy effective, rapid connections with Italy’s main cities and the rest of Europe.

The off-market investment was completed on behalf of the HEVF 2, which is targeting logistics assets in key locations across Europe. This latest investment adds to HEVF 2’s recent investment in four new industrial and logistics assets in Northern Italy in Bologna, Tortona, Montichiari and Brescia, totalling over 180,000 sq m of class A space. When combined with the Fund’s additional logistics assets across Europe, HEVF 2 now has an aggregate logistics portfolio of over €700m.

Snatt Logistica Group, a leading logistics operator in Italy, is currently managing the assets and following the transaction will become the tenant. Snatt Logistica Group specialises in the handling, storage and distribution of goods for third parties in the fashion industry via multiple channels including e-commerce.

Snatt Logistica Group, with a turnover of c.€60m in 2021, thanks to a multi-year industrial plan with strong growth prospects, manages various distribution centres in Europe and across the world, often in exclusive relationships with some of the most important and iconic international fashion brands.

Snatt Logistica Group also uses an innovative distribution method, characterised by technological automation, with a storage model based on the exploitation of cubic volume via the most modern and efficient customised storage structures, based on the specific needs of each customer. Snatt Logistica Group also provides additional product customisation services, carried out directly at the logistics assets themselves.

For example, some of the warehouses are equipped with 3D printer and embroidery machines, operated by skilled, reliable professionals for tailor made customisation. This is also made possible thanks to an innovative proprietary management information system (WMS), constantly evolving, to satisfy the ever-increasing customer requests for process customisation.

Selecting a partner like Snatt Logistica Group falls within Hines’ strategy to identify companies within its own supply chain that have a strong approach to ESG. Snatt Logistica Group focuses on an investment policy with sustainability embedded into its business processes to include environmental, social and human issues, focusing on the wellbeing of its employees and their families, as well as on the local territory and the promotion of activities in favour of culture, art, and community connection.

Over the last 12 months, Hines has developed a logistics platform of almost 600,000 sq m across Northern Italy with an investment of around €500m in 2021.

Hines’ focus on the logistics sector in Italy aligns with rapidly growing demand, as demonstrated by the increasing number of international tenants that are settling in Northern Italy – an area that covers 15% of the overall number of square metres currently rented out nationally with a vacancy rate of c.2%. The sector is also undergoing significant transformation both in terms of logistics structures themselves and their locations in cities. This means investors are adopting a new approach to logistics assets including their planning, development, and connections to important touchpoints such as shops in town centres.

“We are pleased to start 2022 with an important investment in the logistics sector that consolidates our presence in the main intersections in Northern Italy,” commented Mario Abbadessa, senior managing director & country head of Hines Italy. “At Hines, we believe in the potential of the logistics sector in Italy and have set an investment target of around €1bn in 2022. We are proud to collaborate with Snatt Logistica Group, which is an international 3PL logistics leader in the luxury fashion industry, and we are certain that we will be able to develop a shared path for growth, guided by common values, including ESG, which is key to our DNA.”

Paul White, senior managing director and fund manager for HEVF 2 at Hines, commented: “This is an attractive portfolio of assets with a strong, innovative tenant at the forefront of Italy’s fast-growing third-party logistics sector for the fashion industry. We believe that e-commerce will continue to drive long-term demand for high quality logistics facilities in Italy’s northern cities, pushing the value of these investments forwards, while there is also a significant opportunity to enhance the sustainability performance of existing assets here.

“This is aligned with our ESG objectives as recognised by GRESB, with HEVF 2 achieving the award of Overall Global Sector Leader in the Diversified Office/Retail category for sustainability performance in 2021.”

Hines was advised by Cappelli RCCD, EY and Yard Reaas Group. Snatt Logistica Group was assisted by White & Case, Studio Dicierre and Studio Mattioli.