Construction starts on € 50 million logistics centre

S1 was a significant argument
The economic climate has been improved by infrastructure investment and improvements to transport links and public transport. Lower Austria will invest €4 billion in road and rail networks in the next few years. One key expansion project, S1, was an important argument for Gebrüder Weiss selecting this location.
"Attractive corporate locations with ideal transport links and a business-friendly climate are trump cards that we in Lower Austria are able to play when it comes to international location decisions," comments Dr. Richard Plitzka, CEO of ecoplus, who supported Gebrüder Weiss during the relocation decision.

All in one location
GW will bring together activities that are currently distributed over 5 sites into the new location. Maria Lanzendorf will provide adequate space for storing, picking and handling as well as offices for all of the Group's services, such as air and sea freight, national and international system transport, logistics advice and management. The facility will be correspondingly large. It will be over 300 metres long. "By concentrating all of the processes in one location we build up a clear competitive advantage in terms of speed and quality," explains Jürgen Bauer, regional director responsible for the location. Some of the existing sites have already been sold, others are still available. The locations occupied by the high-tech logistics department tectaxx in Strebersdorf and Neudorf, Vienna will be retained.  The repair centre that is currently still in Großenzersdorf will be integrated into Neudorf, Vienna shortly.

Thousands of trips less
The environmental effects of merging into a single site with excellent transport links are also positive. The new facility is located right next to the S1, which is currently still under construction, and this means that the arriving and departing traffic have direct access to the high quality road network without passing through residential areas. "When we are at Maria Lanzendorf all the journeys that connect our terminals will no longer be necessary. Over a year that means several thousand less truck journeys," explains Jürgen Bauer.

Innovative handling technology – palette suspension track
In terms of warehouse and conveyance technology one of the first electronic palette suspension tracks in Europe will be installed in the logistics area of the GW terminal at Maria Lanzendorf. This track, which is around 800 m long and is comparable with a chair lift, will transport the goods at a height of 3.5 m on long routes quickly, efficiently and correctly around the building, e.g. from the storage location to the loading gate. In contrast GW will use more conventional technology for the 14m high warehouse: induction-led, manually operated fork lifts. "As a logistics service provider we have different kinds of goods in our warehouse. Therefore only people can efficiently provide the necessary flexibility," explains Bauer. The new GW terminal will become one of Austria's most secure logistics centres: the complete facility will be equipped with a video monitoring system and will be certified to TAPA standards.

Foundation stone and "wish book"
An orange "wish book" and facility plans were integrated into the foundation stone. Over recent weeks all GW Vienna employees had an opportunity to write down their personal wishes for their new place of work. "The new facility should have the right foundations," explains Vienna boss Jürgen Bauer, "and the basis for our current and future success is not our offices and storage facilities, it is the people that work so enthusiastically in this building!"

100 locations worldwide
The Gebrüder Weiss Organisation employs a total of 3,281 staff worldwide at 100 locations. During the last financial year, this Austrian company, based in Lauterach, achieved turnover of EUR 700 million.