From 0 to 35,000 in 10 months


From 0 to 35,000 in 10 months — the talk is not about the acceleration capability of a spaceship, but about the tempo with which investments can still be made in Germany even today.

In Haldensleben, the harbour location northwest of Magdeburg, an idyllic, undeveloped rapeseed field was transformed within ten months into a modern logistics centre with a storage area of 35,000 square metres.

This was only possible due to a close cooperation of property developers, the Otto Group and the City of Haldensleben: the development of the commercial zone – originally planned otherwise – was adapted to the needs of investors and realised in record time. The approval processes proceeded just as quickly and unbureaucratically.

The reserve and client storage facility operated by Otto subsidiary Hermes Fulfilment GmbH has now been “online” since a few days ago.

“That was only possible due to a cohesive team effort of all those involved. Above all the support of the City of Haldensleben for those willing to settle resembles less of an authority, but more or an enterprise in terms of speed of action and decisiveness”, underscores Jochen Schädlich, Director of Corporate Real Estate for the Otto Group. Schädlich had decisively accompanied the project.

“Haldensleben is not the classic logistics location, but the Otto Group has decided over and over again in favour of the location, above all because of the economically-friendly climate”, emphasises Dieter Urbanke, Managing Director of Hermes Fulfilment GmbH. In particular, the city with its harbours along the Midland Canal (MLK) offers a noticeable unique selling point at a time in which the logistics chains are being increasingly tested against the background of energy prices.

The Gewerbegebiet Südhafen (South Harbour Commercial Zone) lies directly along the Midland Canal and offers 25 hectares of commercial and industrial areas with direct connection to the federal highway B 245. Starting at the end of 2011, the heart of activities will be the public harbour, which complements the already established hinterland location Haldensleben with spacious storage spaces and its suitability for all types of transhipment.

The Midland Canal is currently being expanded to GMS standard so that a two-part container transport system is possible regardless of water level fluctuations. Even now Haldensleben is lined with Hamburg three times a week with container liner traffic per inland waterway vessel.

“What we offer are modern developed, commercial and industrial properties free of contaminated areas in addition to an unbureaucratic economic promotion of short routes as well as a moderate tax and labour cost structure”, emphasises economic promotion specialist Lutz Zimmermann.

 

Contact:

Lutz Zimmermann

Stadt Haldensleben

Abteilung Stadtmarketing + Kommunikation

Markt 20-22

D-39340 Haldensleben

marketing@haldensleben.de

www.haldensleben.de

Tel.: 0049 +3904 479188