Logistics centre next to solar park: trans-o-flex optimises network with new location in Hesse

• Investment of € 17 million in new sorting centre that will be prepared for the generation of power for electric vehicles
• Joint hall of trans-o-flex Express and trans-o-flex ThermoMed for transhipment with active temperature control at 2 to 8 and 15 to 25 °C
• Local council of Driedorf has given its unanimous approval to the industrial location

The trans-o-flex logistics group is planning to open a new logistics centre in Driedorf, Hesse, in order to sort and transport pharmaceuticals and other sensitive and high-quality goods more quickly, ecologically and economically. Last week, the local council gave its unanimous approval to the sale of property for the new trans-o-flex location. The beginning of the construction works in the Potsdamer Platz industrial estate is scheduled for the 4th quarter 2019. The location is expected to commence operations one year later.

"We chose this location because it is ideally located for our two networks, trans-o-flex Express and trans-o-flex ThermoMed”, says Wolfgang P. Albeck, CEO of trans-o-flex. Without having to drive through Driedorf, the trans-o-flex vehicles, starting from the 39,000-m² site, can reach the B255 east-west link in one minute and the A45 south-north link in nine minutes. “In addition to this, we also plan further synergies between our various networks so that goods in the ambient range from 15 to 25 °C as well as in the refrigeration range between 2 and 8 °C will be handled at the new location”, adds Albeck.

trans-o-flex increasingly produces its own power for electric vehicles

The sorting centre, which shall be located directly next to an already existing solar park, will be equipped with its own solar power system on the roof. "We can use the solar power we generate ourselves to operate the fully automatic sorting plant, to control the temperature in the loading spaces of the vehicles before loading or to charge the batteries of electric vehicles”, explains Albeck. For more than ten years now, trans-o-flex Express has been meeting its power demand from renewable energy sources. “Our share of self-produced power from solar energy will increase continuously, especially by equipping the roofs of our properties with solar modules.”

For the construction and operation in line with the latest ecological and energetic aspects, the logistics centre will be equipped with a particularly strong insulation of its shell and state-of-the-art LED lighting technology. Heating and cooling of the transhipment hall and offices will be provided either by geothermal energy or air heat pumps.