German express delivery company trans-o-flex opened a new sorting centre for parcels and pallets inDettingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg (south-west Germany), on June 28 which is remarkable not only for its
logistical performance but also the latest environmental technology.The new € 8 million facility replaces two previous sites: Kaufbeuren and Neu-Ulm within thetrans-o-flex network.
In Dettingen, geothermal energy is used for heating and cooling the sorting centre while theelectricity for the heat pump – and for all other uses – is entirely derived from hydroelectricsources, trans-o-flex said in a statement.
“As our logistics services are focused on the health industry, we feel we have a specialresponsibility toward the environment,” said Klaus J. Heinz, trans-o-flex CEO. “Wherever possible,we do our best to minimise negative effects on the environment. The main functions of theenergy-intensive sorting operation run entirely on a CO²-neutral basis,” he added.
The sorting area of the centre covers 6,000 sqm with 750sqm of office and ancillary space.The Y-shaped construction allows economical use of space while a large number of vehicles can dockonto the 78 ramps in Dettingen. Trans-o-flex also plans further expansion of the centre with asorting area of 700 sqm to be built on the 30,000 sqm site.
“In two senses, the new centre points us towards the future. On the one hand, our recentgrowth has been particularly strong in south-western Germany and now we have the capacity to handlefurther growth on top. And on the other hand the growth of our business is going hand-in-hand withcare for the environment”, Heinz further explained.
This is not the first time that trans-o-flex has been active in environmental protection. Forexample, it initiated the “voluntary 120 km/h” project aiming to reduce fuel consumption andnoxious emissions. The company’s fleet policy prescribes the purchase of diesel vehicles withparticulate filters only and more than 100 of the group’s vehicles are propelled by special “green”natural gas.
