trans-o-flex opens a new location in Driedorf, Hesse

trans-o-flex Express and trans-o-flex ThermoMed are increasing the efficiency of their networks with an investment of 13 million euros in a modern sorting center in Driedorf, Hesse. The handling takes place in two temperature zones. The company sources almost exclusively from solar and wind energy and has improved its CO2 efficiency by 18 percent.

(Weinheim) Pharmaceuticals and other sensitive and high-quality goods can now be sorted and transported through Germany more quickly, ecologically, and economically. Therefore, trans-o-flex celebrated the groundbreaking for its new logistics center in Driedorf, Hesse, this week. “The new location will further enhance the efficiency of our trans-o-flex Express and ThermoMed networks and create new synergies between both networks,” said trans-o-flex CEO Wolfgang P. Albeck in the Driedorf industrial area Potsdamer Platz. With a total investment of around 13 million euros, a handling center is being built on a 41,649 square meter site, where packages and pallets will be processed in two different temperature zones. “To ensure that the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals is not compromised by excessively high or low temperatures during transport, trans-o-flex can monitor, control, and document the temperature throughout the logistics chain in the two temperature zones of 2 to 8 and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius,” explained Albeck.

Previously separate locations

Previously separate locations for the transport of refrigerated medicines (2 to 8 °C) in the trans-o-flex ThermoMed network and for room temperature medications (15 to 25 °C) in the trans-o-flex Express network will be united at the new location. For this purpose, separate cooling cells for handling at 2 to 8 °C will be installed in the hall where shipments are sorted and handled at a temperature between 15 and 25 °C. At the new location, trans-o-flex will have a total of 81 loading and unloading gates available on only about 5,000 square meters of hall space. Therefore, the entire handling center will appear from above like a large Y. This shape reduces space requirements and optimizes processing. Albeck: “With the same handling area, we can install more loading and unloading gates in the Y design compared to the classic rectangle. Additionally, we shorten the sorting paths in the hall, saving time in daily operations.” The commissioning in Driedorf is planned for spring 2021.

Ideal location of the site

“We chose the location because it is ideally situated for our two networks, trans-o-flex Express and trans-o-flex ThermoMed,” continued the chairman of the trans-o-flex management during the groundbreaking ceremony. Without having to drive through the town of Driedorf, trans-o-flex vehicles can reach the east-west connection B255 in one minute and the south-north connection A45 in 9 minutes. “Last but not least, we are pleased that our new handling center is located right next to a solar park that converts solar energy into electricity,” said Albeck. “This is a beautiful representation of trans-o-flex’s approach to combining economic and ecological thinking and action.” Since 2008, trans-o-flex has sourced its electricity almost exclusively from renewable energy sources, and the sustainability report that the company publishes annually documents the development of trans-o-flex’s climate balance. According to this report, the company has improved its CO2 efficiency (emissions per transported kilogram) by 17.7 percent since 2007, despite the introduction of a particularly energy-intensive transport variant with active temperature control. In the last reporting year alone, the emissions of fine dust (PM10) decreased by around 1,000 tons, nitrogen oxides (Nox) by even 44,000 tons, and CO2 by 6,000 tons.

Driedorf looks forward to new jobs

This achievement by trans-o-flex was particularly acknowledged by Carsten Braun, the mayor of Driedorf, during the groundbreaking ceremony. “We are not only pleased because we are getting a company that creates jobs here,” said the 42-year-old. “Rather, trans-o-flex is very aware of its responsibility as a logistics service provider and as a company that primarily transports pharmaceuticals and other sensitive goods. That this company has continuously reduced its CO2 footprint for more than ten years is a great example for me that economic efficiency and environmental protection can go hand in hand.”

Photo: © trans-o-flex / Caption: from left to right. Accompanied by Driedorf Mayor Carsten Braun, Matthias Kröger, the project manager of the general contractor Kögel & Nunne, and civil engineer Hans-Peter Fleißner, trans-o-flex CEO Wolfgang P. Albeck and trans-o-flex shareholders Christoph Schoeller and Dr. Claus-Peter Amberger laid the foundation stone for the new logistics center on August 25.
www.trans-o-flex.com