Lead consulting for the construction of the new distribution and logistics center for Wala
io acted as lead consultant for the building, open-space and logistics planning. They worked with WALA to design the new state-of-the-art distribution and logistics center at the Wängen industrial park in Zell unter Aichelberg, southern Germany.
Construction of new distribution and logistics center
The increasing demand for natural cosmetics and medicines is, in turn, putting a strain on WALA Heilmittel GmbH’s building and operating facilities. WALA therefore decided to consolidate the material flow from the different sites into one central location to better serve the predicted demand.
A modular project and investment plan was jointly with io as lead consultant devised with a view to further developments up to 2023. Evaluations of bottlenecks and optimization measures highlighted where individual measures for production, logistics, IT, and supporting functions needed to be drawn up.
Our investment of around €45 million in constructing this state-of-the-art sales and logistics center is a significant milestone in WALA’s history.
Key Facts
Client
Wala Logistik supplies WALA medicines and Dr. Hauschka cosmetic products, including the Dr. Hauschka Med brand, to more than 40 countries.
The challenge
- Cater for the growing market for natural cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
- The building and the operating equipment have reached full capacity
Solution
- User-friendly workstations thanks to extensive ribbon windows
- Sloping site: building structures sustainably integrated into the landscape: manual warehouses in the basement and a ‘low’ 27 m high-bay warehouse
- Automation of logistics (automated pallet and small parts warehouse)
- Environmental investment with ecologically-minded construction, e.g., a heat recovery system
Sustainable and employee-friendly solutions to logistical challenges
The site covers 35 hectares (350,000 m2) and will accommodate an automatic pallet warehouse with space for 12,000 pallets, automatic small-parts storage facilities for small containers with around 13,000 load carriers, a technical building, and a logistics building with social spaces and areas for incoming goods, storage, picking and distribution.
The logistics center is connected to the technical building and automated warehouses by bridges. Natural light streaming into the building from all sides will create a warm atmosphere for staff and visitors alike.
This project represents an environmentally sound investment for WALA. Designed with a focus on eco-friendliness – the building features energy-saving lighting, its own heat recovery facility, and energy recovery in the technical logistics area – energy consumption is expected to be around 30 percent below the values specified in the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV 2014).
Access to the logistics building with social spaces and areas for incoming goods, storage, picking and distribution.
User-friendly workstations thanks to extensive ribbon windows.
The site will accommodate an automatic pallet warehouse with space for 12,000 pallets, automatic small-parts storage facilities for small containers with around 13,000 load carriers.
