140 million euro investment: Innovative multi-level logistics property at top location in Cologne

• ThielemannGroup investor in the multi-level logistics property
• The tenant here will be RECHT Logistik Group, which handles fulfilment for Makita Werkzeug GmbH
• Multi-level logistics property II as a joint venture between HGK and ThielemannGroup
• Up to 500 jobs planned at the site
• Prime location in the FUSION COLOGNE district with direct access to all modes of transport

Cologne, 15 April 2024: ThielemannGroup will start construction of an innovative multi-level logistics property on two levels in the FUSION COLOGNE quarter directly at Niehler Hafen in Cologne this year. Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) and the ThielemannGroup are planning to jointly develop a second state-of-the-art multi-level logistics property and intend to establish a joint venture for this purpose. The user of the multi-level logistics property I is the RECHT Logistik Group. Together with HGK, it will also utilise the second multi-level property.

FUSION COLOGNE is one of Germany's most modern and sustainable districts for production, logistics, research and innovation: the district is being developed by HGK, which is revitalising 55 hectares of derelict industrial space in the north of Cologne over the next few years. "We are creating an attractive campus that combines industry and trade with logistics and innovation," says Uwe Wedig, Chief Executive Officer of HGK. "A 5G-standard digital infrastructure and a wide range of measures to avoid CO2 emissions will ensure maximum efficiency and sustainability."

Demand for land in the FUSION COLOGNE area is very high. The ThielemannGroup was awarded the contract for over 100,000 square metres of building land here. "The discussions with Navid Thielemann and his team were very constructive right from the start. The ThielemannGroup's concepts fit in very well with our vision for integrated transport and logistics services. That's why we decided to work together on the second space, which we want to build and use together."

Space-saving, efficient, sustainable

With the two construction projects and an investment volume of around 140 million euros, around 90,000 square metres of state-of-the-art logistics space will be created, which will be used for final assembly, customising in conjunction with innovative e-commerce logistics, among other things. When operating at full capacity, around 500 new jobs will be created in the two multi-level properties.

The properties on both sites will be two storeys high. "Space is scarce, expensive and should not be unnecessarily sealed," says Navid Thielemann, CEO of the ThielemannGroup. "With our multi-level properties, we will make double use of the space and focus on sustainability and efficiency." Of particular importance to the ThielemannGroup is the excellent location and infrastructure with optimal connections. "The proximity to Cologne-Bonn Airport is also important for our customers - we see this as a quadrimodal location," adds Navid Thielemann.

The aim is to achieve gold certification from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). Both properties use waste heat from the neighbouring AVG waste incineration plant. The sustainable local heating concept was developed jointly by FUSION COLOGNE, the energy service provider RheinEnergie and AVG. There are also plans to install a photovoltaic system on the roof, equip the property with e-charging points, a smart LED lighting concept and create attractive social and office spaces. Around 40 per cent of the façades will be greened, with further measures aimed at local water retention, the greening of open spaces and species protection.

RECHT Logistik Group on course for growth

The RECHT Logistik Group, based in Brühl (North Rhine-Westphalia), is taking over various activities for Makita, the Japanese manufacturer of hand-held power tools, across the entire area of the first multi-level logistics property I as a tenant of the ThielemannGroup. These include pre- and final assembly and customising of goods, warehousing, order picking and other logistics services.

The second, jointly invested multi-level property II will be developed by HGK and ThielemannGroup and used jointly by the RECHT Logistik Group and an HGK subsidiary. "We will use the logistics space for existing customers who have a need at the Cologne site. In addition, we assume that we will continue to grow and that our offering will attract new well-known customers. The demand for efficient and sustainable logistics services in economically strong North Rhine-Westphalia is high," explains Christian Karl Flick, CEO of the RECHT Logistik Group.

Both HGK and the ThielemannGroup attach great importance to combining industry and trade with light industrial, logistics and innovation. The ThielemannGroup supports numerous start-ups under its umbrella, in which it itself is involved as an entrepreneur. "Our goal is a completely new type of end-to-end supply chain that puts retail and production supply chains at the centre and supports them with a comprehensive, solution-oriented offering," says Navid Thielemann. "We will also bring these innovations to the Cologne site in order to set new standards in terms of sustainability, efficiency and end customer satisfaction."

Perfect location - best prospects

The location in the north of Cologne offers the best conditions for fast connections: The FUSION COLOGNE neighbourhood is connected to all modes of transport. The Niehl Rhine port, a bimodal container terminal for combined transport with five tracks and three gantry cranes for handling block trains, the A1 and A3 motorways and the Leverkusen motorway junction are all in the immediate vicinity. Cologne Bonn Airport can be reached in just under half an hour.

At the kick-off event on 15 April 2024, HGK and ThielemannGroup welcomed Henriette Reker, Mayor of the City of Cologne, and Daniel Sieveke, State Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Identity, Communities and Local Government, Building and Digitalisation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Both took the honour of commenting on the planned projects with a personal greeting:

Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of Cologne:

"FUSION COLOGNE is consistently orientated towards the city strategy 'Cologne Perspectives 2030+' and is therefore one of the key projects in our urban development. Over the next few years, private investors are expected to invest 250 million euros here and create more than 1,000 new jobs."

Daniel Sieveke, State Secretary at the Ministry of Regional Identity, Communities and Local Government, Building and Digitalisation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia:

"From brownfield to building site: FUSION COLOGNE brings space activation and sustainable construction under one roof. The revitalisation of areas requires creative potential and the courage to try out and rethink. I am delighted that an innovative and sustainable commercial and industrial site is being created here in the north of Cologne. This makes FUSION COLOGNE a real showcase project. With a high proportion of green roofs and façades, photovoltaic systems, climate-neutral heat supply, rainwater utilisation and on-site infiltration, the project makes an important contribution to climate protection and helps to improve the urban climate. It shows: We are leading the way in North Rhine-Westphalia with clever minds, courage and innovation."

Multi-level logistics property I:
Optimum utilisation of the site: In multi-level logistics property I, the RECHT Logistics Group will take over various activities for the power tool manufacturer Makita in future.

Multi-level logistics property II:
Transport handling on two levels - the ThielemannGroup and HGK plan to develop and operate the multi-level logistics property II as a joint venture.

Construction announcement 1(©ThielemannGroup):
Unveiled the model of the properties at today's launch event: Navid Thielemann, CEO of ThielemannGroup; Christian Karl Flick, CEO of RECHT Logistik Group; Henriette Reker, Mayor of the City of Cologne; Daniel Sieveke, State Secretary in the Ministry of Homeland, Municipal Affairs, Building and Digitalisation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia; Uwe Wedig, CEO of HGK (from left to right)

Construction announcement 2(©ThielemannGroup):
With Peter Trapp, Managing Director of FUSION COLOGNE GmbH (far left)

Ports and Freight Transport Cologne AG

Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) is the logistics company within the Stadtwerke Köln Group. From a former port operator, HGK has developed into a Europe-wide group for integrated transport and logistics services. Divided into the five divisions Logistics & Intermodal, Shipping, Rail Operations, Infrastructure & Maintenance and Real Estate, the HGK Group operates Germany's largest inland port network through its subsidiaries and associated companies, operates one of the largest private freight railways, specialised logistics companies and terminals as well as its own rail network and workshops for freight rail transport. HGK Shipping GmbH is the largest inland shipping company in Europe.

Further information can be found at www.hgk.de

FUSION COLOGNE

At 550,000 square metres, FUSION COLOGNE is the largest contiguous development area for logistics and industry in the city of Cologne. With this project, Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) is expanding its range of trimodally developed areas. The connection to its own rail terminal and the Niehl harbour with daily connections to the seaports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, as well as the proximity to the Cologne-North motorway junction, creates optimal conditions for the sustainable design of supply chains with combined transport chains by barge and rail freight. The development of the former brownfield site is also focussing on sustainability in terms of construction, for example by connecting it to a waste heat-based local heating system that will provide future users with a climate-neutral heat energy supply.

Further information can be found at fusion-cologne.de

ThielemannGroup

The ThielemannGroup, headquartered in Mönchengladbach, bundles investments and business activities in the logistics sector under one roof. These include companies from the fields of freight forwarding and logistics, project and property development as well as innovative start-ups. The RECHT Logistik Group is one of the ThielemannGroup's holdings. The ThielemannGroup employs around 600 people in its portfolio companies, which generated sales of over 400 million euros in 2023.

Further information can be found at www.thielemann-group.com

Media contacts

Ports and Freight Transport Cologne AG / FUSION COLOGNE

Ralf Radschun, Head of Corporate Communications & Marketing
Am Niehler Hafen 2, 50735 Cologne
Phone +49 221 390-10 33
E-mail: radschunr@hgk.de

Stöbe. The Agency for Communication.
Dr Heinrich Raatschen, Senior Consultant
Rathausufer 23, 40213 Düsseldorf
Tel.: +49 175 1584998
E-mail: raatschen@stk-dus.com

Press office of the ThielemannGroup

STROOMER Communications
Yvonne Riede, Senior PR Consultant
Rellinger Straße 64 a, 20257 Hamburg
Phone +49 40 85 31 33-12
E-mail: yvonne.riede@stroomer.de