Construction of new distribution and logistics center

The increasing demand for natural cosmetics and medicines is, in turn, putting a strain on WALA Heilmittel GmbH’s building and operating facilities. WALA therefore decided to consolidate the material flow from the different sites into one central location to better serve the predicted demand. 

A modular project and investment plan was jointly devised with a view to further developments up to 2023. Evaluations of bottlenecks and optimization measures highlighted where individual measures for production, logistics, IT, and supporting functions needed to be drawn up.

Our investment of around €45 million in constructing this state-of-the-art sales and logistics center is a significant milestone in WALA’s history.

Dr. Philip Lettmann Member of the Management Board of WALA Heilmittel GmbH

Key Facts

Client

Wala

WALA Logistik supplies WALA medicines and Dr. Hauschka cosmetic products, including the Dr. Hauschka Med brand, to more than 40 countries.

The challenge

  • Cater for the growing market for natural cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
  • The building and the operating equipment have reached full capacity

Solution

  • User-friendly workstations thanks to extensive ribbon windows
  • Sloping site: building structures sustainably integrated into the landscape: manual warehouses in the basement and a ‘low’ 27 m high-bay warehouse
  • Automation of logistics (automated pallet and small parts warehouse)
  • Environmental investment with ecologically-minded construction, e.g., a heat recovery system

Sustainable and employee-friendly solutions to logistical challenges

The site covers 35 hectares (350,000 m2) and will accommodate an automatic pallet warehouse with space for 12,000 pallets, automatic small-parts storage facilities for small containers with around 13,000 load carriers, a technical building, and a logistics building with social spaces and areas for incoming goods, storage, picking and distribution.

The logistics center is connected to the technical building and automated warehouses by bridges. Natural light streaming into the building from all sides will create a warm atmosphere for staff and visitors alike.

This project represents an environmentally sound investment for WALA. Designed with a focus on eco-friendliness – the building features energy-saving lighting, its own heat recovery facility, and energy recovery in the technical logistics area – energy consumption is expected to be around 30 percent below the values specified in the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV 2014).

Das neue hochmoderne Vertriebs- und Logistikzentrum auf einer Grünfläche

The new state-of-the-art distribution and logistics center at the Wängen industrial park in Zell unter Aichelberg, southern Germany.