J. Müller Commences Operations with Approximately 30,000 m2 of Hall Space at Brake Port

J. Müller AG has commenced operations with approximately 30,000 m2 of hall space at Niedersachsenquai in Brake Port, despite the COVID-19 crisis causing a decline in cargo handling here as well. The new halls are primarily intended to expand activities related to forest products.

(Brake) Directly at the deep-water quay at Niedersachsenkai, the J. Müller Group has now put two new hall buildings into operation. A total of nearly 30,000 square meters of covered storage space has been newly created. The halls are part of the company’s growth and efficiency strategy; growth in the product groups of pulp and wood. Economic viability and efficiency are achieved through improved workflows, as the covered storage space is located directly in the quay area, allowing for short distances between the seagoing vessels and the warehouses. An investment of 13.8 million euros has been made.

Clear Commitment to the Brake Location

“The investment is a clear commitment to the location in economically challenging times,” says Jan Müller, CEO of J. Müller AG. The handling figures tell a clear story. By mid-year, seaborne cargo handling has decreased by over 17% compared to the previous year, totaling 2.8 million metric tons. Particularly, grain imports are lacking. “The port handling business thrives on trade. This has been restricted and hindered by many developments,” says board member Thomas Bielefeld, responsible for the agricultural products/bulk goods and personnel sectors. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, de-globalization trends, and special influences on the important agricultural markets for the Brake location present significant challenges for the company. “We are responding to this development with targeted investments and fundamental organizational measures,” Thomas Bielefeld continues. Important reorganization projects have led to a significant streamlining of the management structure, which has not spared even the executive level. Nevertheless, in economically challenging times, personnel development continues to receive significant attention. This includes the fact that J. Müller will hire 20 trainees in 9 training professions starting August 1st. “Dual training remains the most important access to qualified personnel,” says Thomas Bielefeld.

Expanding the Forest Products Sector

Thanks to a forward-looking personnel policy and the flexibility of the employees, J. Müller has so far managed to avoid short-time work and other labor market instruments despite weak employment. The company has high hopes for the newly completed storage halls. In particular, the forest products sector is to be further expanded. “Last year, we were able to handle more than 1.0 million metric tons of pulp at Brake Port,” says Jens Ripken, board member for breakbulk products and coffee. “The halls meet all the requirements for productivity, space layout, and efficiency that our customers demand. We want to continue to grow here,” Ripken adds. The new storage halls comply with the highest safety standards in port handling and flood protection. They are not only suitable for storing cellulose and paper but also for the demanding storage of bulk goods with their stackable walls. In awarding the individual construction trades, care was taken to use companies from the region as much as possible. More than 20 different trades, half of which were from the region, were involved in the construction and successfully completed the construction of the storage halls for J. Müller in a short time frame and under extreme weather conditions at the beginning of the year. Photo: © J. Müller AG https://jmueller.de www.seaports.de