Craiss Opens Logistics Center in Weiz, Austria

After only ten months of construction, Craiss Generation Logistik GmbH & Co. KG has officially opened its new logistics center in Weiz, Austria. The official inauguration last Friday was attended by the mayors of Weiz and Sankt Ruprecht an der Raab, as well as numerous suppliers, customers, and employees.

(Mühlacker/Weiz) Starting at the end of September, the Swabian logistics service provider Craiss Generation Logistik, through its newly established subsidiary Craiss Generation Logistik Austria GmbH & Co. KG, will gradually take over the inbound and outbound logistics for a major German customer in the technology sector at its production site in East Styria. Large systems for power supply are manufactured there.

“Despite the challenges posed by the Corona pandemic and the resulting shortage of building materials, we have always stayed on schedule with this major project and can proceed on time for the customer,” says Thomas Dragon, head of the new location in Weiz at Craiss Generation Logistik Austria GmbH & Co. KG. The commissioning of the new logistics center is scheduled for the end of September, starting with the outbound logistics for the Weiz plant. In this process, Craiss will manage the return transport from the production site to the logistics center, the final quality control, as well as the shipping preparation and sea packaging. Subsequently, by the end of November, the inbound processes from goods receipt and consolidation, as well as storage of supplier parts, through technical quality inspection to factory supply via shuttle trucks, operating the internal last mile, and supply to the workplaces will also be activated.

Approximately 20,000 Square Meters of Logistics Space

The new distribution center, covering approximately 20,000 square meters, is divided into three halls, of which two will initially be used. The inbound logistics, including quality control, is housed in the first hall. With covered loading docks, the unloading of components can take place completely weather-protected both outside and inside the hall. The outbound processes are located in Hall 2. There, the disassembled system components will be checked one last time for shipping, including for paint damage. In a so-called repair booth, any defects can be rectified using welding equipment, suction devices, and painting stations. For handling the partially ton-heavy components, several 30-, 10-, and 6.5-ton cranes, 12- and 8-ton electric forklifts, as well as four-way forklifts will be used.

The mayors of the municipality of Weiz and the market municipality of Sankt Ruprecht an der Raab, Erwin Eggenreich (2nd from right) and Herbert Pregartner (right), welcomed the property shareholders Michael Craiss (3rd from left), Hagen Temmel (2nd from left), and Matthias Unger (3rd from right) to their new logistics location. Roman Neubauer, tourism and municipal cooperation advisor of the municipality of Weiz, (left) led the opening ceremony.

Establishing Long-Term Presence in the Austrian Market

The third hall was built with a long-term perspective and is currently empty, allowing Craiss to expand there at any time if needed – even for other customers. “We want to establish ourselves long-term in the Austrian market and attract further projects. To respond quickly to demands, we also have the right of first refusal for surrounding building plots,” says Dragon regarding possible expansions. 50 employees from the commercial, administrative, and technical sectors will be deployed at the new location in East Styria. Some of them are already being trained in quality inspection by the client.

At the festive opening on Friday, Michael Craiss, managing director of Craiss Generation Logistik GmbH & Co. KG, welcomed around 180 invited guests, including politicians such as the mayor of Weiz, Erwin Eggenreich, and his counterpart from the neighboring municipality of Sankt Ruprecht an der Raab, Herbert Pregartner, while adhering to the 3-G rule.

Photos: © Craiss/Gernot Muhr / Caption for Title Photo: Craiss Logistics Center in Weiz