Global logistics property specialist Goodman Group and logistics operator DB Schenker have opened a new 17,000 m2 facility in the German city of Cologne.
The site in Feldkassel industrial park is located 15 km from Cologne city centre and provides direct connections to the A1, A3, A57 and A59 motorways to service markets across Germany.
DB Schenker, part of the Deutsche Bahn railway group, has provided an integral part of the logistics chain for car maker Ford in Cologne for many years. The transport and logistics services provider will use the new property to provide enhanced logistics services to Ford production plants around Europe.
'The new property is an important part of our growth strategy. It does not only optimise our existing business, but also creates the opportunity to develop tailor-made logistics solutions for potential customers from the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and the consumer goods industry,' said Joachim Stern, head of Cologne logistics at DB Schenker.
The distribution centre replaces an old logistics facility located in the same area, which no longer met DB Schenker's efficiency requirements. The new facility features 16,000 m2 of storage space and 1,300 m2 for offices and social areas. Goodman can add an additional 13,000 m2 of warehouse space if required.
Brownfield conversions
Goodman and DB Schenker have an international partnership spanning more than 10 years. Goodman currently manages more than 440,000 m2 for the logistics service provider in Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany and Poland.
Goodman manages more than 390,000 m2 of logistics space directly for the automotive industry in continental Europe. The cooperation between Goodman and DB Schenker also includes several properties designed to manage automotive logistics.
'Contract logistics is a very competitive industry and requires maximum efficiency. With new, state-of-the-art logistics properties, process efficiencies can be improved substantially,' explained Jordan Corynen, Goodman regional director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. 'To help achieve this, well located sites, often close to manufacturing plants, are needed and increasingly these are only becoming available through the conversion of unused industrial or commercial sites, known as brownfields.'
