Göttingen, October 25^th, 2024 – With its ‘Distribo 3.0’ logistics hall, transport and logistics service provider ZUFALL logistics group is setting a new standard for sustainable logistics properties. Planned in 2021 under the aspects of process reliability, technological openness and sustainability, the building is an extension to the ‘Groner Siekanger’ logistics centre that has been in existence since 2014. The new building is the result of consistently combining environmental, process and energy technologies. ZUFALL has invested more than €20 million in the project.

The complex, which consists of seven warehouse sections, is managed by DISTRIBO GmbH, a specialised life science logistics company that provides production supply and disposal as well as the worldwide distribution of life science products for Sartorius AG. The company is a joint venture between Friedrich Zufall GmbH & Co. KG and the technology group Sartorius AG. The 10,000 m² extension has now been inaugurated, which was designed, planned and built based on the processes, meaning from the inside out. The building also includes a new 2,000 m² Sartorius Repair Centre, which was constructed with the same aspects in mind.

Heat pumps, ice storage and warehouse technology for a positive energy balance

Life science products must be stored at constant temperatures. ZUFALL meets this challenge with special technology and combines concrete core activation, heat pumps, ice storage and photovoltaics. The special feature is that the hall and repair centre are both heated and actively cooled. Depending on the area of work and demand, temperatures between 15 and 25 °C are guaranteed all year round.

The balance is energy positive. The use of modern warehouse technology, including driverless transport systems (DTS), and the use of intelligent LED lighting systems, which can be adjusted to suit the individual shelf line, supplement the range of measures. All of this makes a valuable contribution to protecting the climate at the site and combines efficient processes for designing storage and picking with sustainability in practice.

Use of materials according to the cradle-to-cradle principle

The cradle-to-cradle principle provides the basic idea: the materials used in construction should be easy to recycle and reuse as much as possible at the end of their service life. ZUFALL, as the client, avoided composite materials and plastics as far as possible. The roof structure is made of wood and mineral insulation materials and plasters were used for the façades and roofs.

Climate-friendly trees and greenery on the façades in the outdoor area

The outdoor area is also part of the sustainability concept. Greenery on the façades offers protection against direct sunlight and also improves the working environment. Rainwater is held in various wetlands on the property, whose natural design focuses on biodiversity to promote species diversity. The selected tree species are among the so-called climate-adapted trees and are therefore adapted to possible future climate changes.

A partnership that has grown for more than 20 years

The partnership with Sartorius for the takeover of complex logistics services has existed for over 20 years; in the transport sector, more than twice as long. During this time, ZUFALL has provided logistical support for the enormous growth of the biopharmaceutical company, adding two extensions to the space available and developing special expertise in life science logistics. This includes storage in seven different temperature zones down to -180°C and handling products that fall under the Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance. Distribo GmbH already received the required security level 2 in 2020.

Fit for our grandchildren

Peter Müller-Kronberg, CEO and owner of ZUFALL logistics group, aims to make logistics sustainable, i.e. fit for our grandchildren. ‘A logistics hall is sustainable when it incorporates many individual building blocks that together guarantee a long service life for the building, have a climate-friendly impact and minimise our energy costs. And they create a good environment for the approximately 210 Distribo and Sartorius employees who work here. Our decisions are always based on this triad of people, planet and profit. We are set to green in all three dimensions in this project. This is an impressive example that our strategy is working.’

About the ZUFALL logistics group 

ZUFALL logistics group is a family-run transport and logistics service provider. Founded in 1928 in Kassel, the company is now based in Göttingen. The company is divided into two major divisions: Transportation and Logistics. The transportation division includes overland transport in Germany and Europe, Night Star Express, air and sea freight and customs services. The logistics division focuses on contract logistics, which involves customer-oriented, long-term cooperation between companies and logistics service providers. 

With around 2,100 employees at 11 locations throughout Germany, the company transports around 5 million consignments per year and generated a turnover of around 430 million euros in the last financial year. 

The company has set out to make logistics sustainable and mindful. In 2019, ZUFALL founded the zufall.lab in Göttingen. The experimental workshop focuses on research and development. Here, the logistics service provider tests new logistics approaches, prototypes and processes for better and more sustainable logistics of tomorrow.