DB Schenker’s New Building in Hamburg Embraces Green Logistics

DB Schenker sets new standards in sustainability and performance with the construction of the land transport office in Hamburg. State-of-the-art building technology ensures an exemplary environmental balance. The new building in Hamburg is the next milestone in DB Schenker’s sustainability commitment.

Gert Ludt (left), Head of the Hamburg Land Transport Office, with Petra Romhi, Head of Sales for Land Transport Hamburg (Frankfurt am Main / Hamburg) Over the next two years, one of the most modern and ecologically sustainable logistics terminals in Europe will be built on the DB Schenker site in Hamburg. A new office building and two new transshipment halls will ensure a significant increase in capacity and performance at the site. The planning of the new building has consistently focused on sustainability through energy-efficient insulation, solar technology, geothermal energy, and e-mobility infrastructure. The groundbreaking took place on February 10, 2022.

On 53,300 m² of usable space, the DB Schenker site in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg offers national and international cargo and piece goods transport.

Gert Ludt (left), Head of the Hamburg Land Transport Office, with Petra Romhi, Head of Sales for Land Transport Hamburg

The extensive new construction measures optimize the utilization of the conveniently located area. Upon completion, 130 loading gates will provide a significantly increased loading capacity. Parking spaces for 120 semi-trailers or 240 swap bodies and around 9,500 m² of transshipment area will ensure fast and smooth processing. A control center will enable modern and efficient yard management. Additionally, the site will be equipped with a diagonal entrance for future gigaliners. The first construction phase, including the office building, parking garage, and hall, is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. The entire terminal construction is scheduled to be finished by mid-2024.

Gert Ludt, Head of the Hamburg Office, Land Product Area: “Hamburg is an important hub in DB Schenker’s extensive European transport network. Through our significant investments in the site, we are significantly expanding our transport and transshipment capacity and ensuring very efficient goods distribution in our entire catchment and distribution area, even with growing business. This allows us to continue to operate sustainably at competitive prices for our customers. At the same time, by creating modern and well-equipped workplaces in the port area, we are increasing our attractiveness as an employer.”

Sustainability is a Top Priority

In the new construction, DB Schenker is pulling all technical and planning levers for a resource- and environmentally-friendly operation of the site. 6,000 m² of solar panels are used to generate renewable energy for self-supply.

The buildings feature energy-efficient insulation, state-of-the-art heating methods, and air exchange systems. The future use of geothermal systems will eliminate the previous oil heating, allowing for an annual saving of 45,000 liters of heating oil. At the same time, a new charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is being created.

Ralf Többe, Head of Land Transport at DB Schenker in the Germany/Switzerland cluster, confirms: “We are proud of our new flagship sustainability project in Hamburg. It is a milestone on our path to climate neutrality by 2040. Sustainable construction and the promotion of e-mobility are important tools for achieving these goals.”

Another Segment of Sustainability

With this investment in environmentally friendly construction and building technology, DB Schenker realizes another highlight of its ambitious sustainability commitment. The Hamburg site is already contributing to this: With XXL cargo bikes and the fully electric FUSO eCanter from Daimler, there is already a completely green supply chain in urban transport.

Photos: © DB Schenker