Pictured from left: Bjorn Becker (HSL); Per Nystrom (HSL); DI Horst Felbermayr (Felbermayr); Heiko Bru¨ckner (HSL); and Prof. Thomas Schlipkother (Duisport). Image: Heike Kaldenhoff
Haeger & Schmidt Logistics (HSL) has announced its new trimodal steel logistics hub in Duisburg, Germany, is ready to commence operations on 1 February 2022. Located on the Stahlinsel in Duisburg, around €12M was invested in the new building complex last year.
HSL is part of Austria-based Felbermayr Group. Speaking at the official launch of the new hub in Duisburg, managing owner DI Horst Felbermayr said the new facility is part of a larger network. "With the opening of this state-of-the-art warehouse, we are further deepening our offering as a trimodal full-service logistics provider. This enormously expands our possibilities in the distribution of high-quality steel products. Together with our other multimodal port terminals in Krefeld as well as Linz and Vienna/Albern and the PSA Beakbulk joint venture in Antwerp, which has been in existence since last year, this location expansion is also a significant extension of our range of services," he said.
The trimodal hub has a heated 9,000 m2 hall with a capacity of around 60,000 tonnes and a 40t overhead gantry crane. The hall has two 210m train tracks for handling one 420m block train, with truck access, and is connected to the existing halls via a “coil ferry.” The existing halls have connections to the water, giving trimodal options for road, rail and barge/short sea services.
"The response on the market has been very good. More than half of the storage space has already been booked," said HSL CEO Heiko Bru¨ckner. "With the new building, HSL is setting the course for significant growth in the area of high-quality steel products at the Duisburg location. The investment makes it possible to go deeper into the logistics chain and offer steel logistics from a single source."
The facility is designed to handle the traditional export-led market and the growing import business. In addition to traditional coil handling. it offers container loading services and “seaworthy stowage” of the containers as a specialist cargo. "The combination of trimodality and extensive handling and storage capacities under one roof is in demand. We are closing a gap in the market and covered steel handling opens up a new customer base for us," said HSL CFO Per Nystr.