The foundation stone for the new €20m distribution centre at BASF Coatings AG, Münster, has been laid.
BASF board member Alex Loehr said the centre is the largest single investment to be made at the Münster-Hiltrup plant in the last 15 years. He said it will enable the company to “significantly simplify” logistics and make a crucial contribution towards securing local jobs.
Around 12,600 tons of finished coatings products can be stored on 30,500 pallets inside the T-shaped building which measures 30m in height, 117m in length and 47m in width.
On an annual basis around 100,00 tons of cargo will pass through the warehouse, equating to around 2,000 pallet movements a day.
The building also boasts special safety features, one of which is claimed to be a world first for a warehouse of its type: by cutting oxygen back to 13% the high bay section is permanently fire-protected. Other safety precautions include a sprinkler system, and a complete exchange of air in the order picking and loading zone twice every hour.
