GLS Germany started yesterday the construction of a new eco depot in Weilheim, located in thesouth of the country near Stuttgart, with an investment of €7.5 million.
The company explained that it needed more space due to considerable shipping volume increases inthe region. “We were able to buy the neigbouring plot of land and are now constructing the site,”Klaus Conrad, managing director at GLS Germany, explained.
The depot building can be extended easily, with around 35 gates to be added in order to expandthe sorting capacity to 30,000 parcels a day. A further expansion, in line with anticipated volumeincreases, is already planned. A separate building with offices and social rooms will also beconstructed. The depot is due to become operational in September 2014.
When expanding or building new facilities, GLS focuses on recyclable materials and the usage ofrenewable energies. Among the green features at the new depot will be a heat pump as a main heatingsource and an installation for rainwater use. The company will also use recyclable steel andsandwich panels.
In addition, the new roof areas will be grassed while energy-saving LED light bulbs will be usedin the administration building for lighting.
The new facility is the company’s sixth eco depot in Germany taking into account sustainableconstruction and resource-friendly operations. Group-wide, GLS operates a total of 14 such depotswhile three are currently under construction.
