DACHSER Unna logistics center goes into operation
New location focuses on future viability and sustainability
DACHSER has expanded its European land transport network by establishing a new logistics center in Unna, approximately 25 kilometers east of Dortmund. Following the opening of the 10,800 square-meter warehouse last November, operations began in February at the 9,400-square-meter transshipment terminal and the 3,500-square-meter office.
With an investment volume of EUR 44 million, the new location is one of the largest single investments in the logistics provider's land transport network in recent years. Around 170 employees already work for DACHSER in Unna. In the medium term, the number of employees is expected to grow to 300.
"The branch in Unna is a flagship project for DACHSER in many respects," says Alexander Tonn, COO Road Logistics at DACHSER. "Here, we are using state-of-the-art technology and AI-supported systems. In addition, the necessary conditions are being created for the expansion of e-mobility. In this way, we are setting standards for future viability and sustainability in our own logistics network—and beyond."
Jürgen Sobkowiak, General Manager DACHSER Dortmund, adds: "In Unna, we are creating modern jobs in the future-oriented logistics industry. Customers from industry and trade in the region benefit from the usual reliable and efficient transport and warehouse services with convenient transport connections to markets around the world."
The branch in Unna is a flagship project for DACHSER in many respects.
Alexander Tonn, COO Road Logistics at DACHSERFocus on automation and sustainability
Like all DACHSER branches, the entire facility is powered by 100 percent green electricity. A photovoltaic system with a capacity of 1,000 kWp generates renewable energy directly on site. Glued laminated timber beams were used for the roof structure. The green roof promotes biodiversity and improves the microclimate. Heat pumps provide emission-free heating and cooling for the office space. The brownfield approach, which involves using a previously developed site in Unna’s Industriepark, also contributes to conserving resources and minimizing land consumption. Approximately 96 percent of the demolition material was directly reused, and most of it was reinstalled on the construction site after undergoing quality control.
The new location will also offer a high-performance charging infrastructure for battery-electric vehicles. In addition to twelve charging stations for passenger cars with the option of expanding to 50 additional charging points, several charging points for electric trucks will be completed by the end of March: Five are designed for fast charging with up to 400 kW, and another will be capable of up to 1,000 kW – the first megawatt charging point in the DACHSER network.
The logistics center is also well positioned for the future in terms of digitalization. The transshipment terminal is equipped with the @ILO digital twin. This award-winning technology automatically identifies, locates, measures, and records packages in the terminal as they enter, remain, and leave, and records them in the transport management system. This speeds up processes and ensures greater transparency in the general cargo terminal. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) will be used in the warehouse. The robots navigate independently to perform recurring tasks such as storing and retrieving pallets at ground level.
In Unna, we are creating modern jobs in the future-oriented logistics industry.
Jürgen Sobkowiak, General Manager DACHSER DortmundDirect connection to the international network
The new logistics facility in Unna, with its warehouse capacities and transshipment terminal, is an important new hub in DACHSER's network. Trucks can be loaded and unloaded at a total of 94 gates. Shipments are efficiently distributed within the surrounding area and fed into the DACHSER network at the location for international redistribution.
