Hellmann to build 18,000 m² warehouse for CLAAS

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is opening a new warehouse location totaling 18,000 m² in Oelde, Germany, to ensure production supplies to the world's largest CLAAS plant in Harsewinkel.

CLAAS, a family business founded in 1913, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery. CLAAS employs more than 11,900 staff worldwide, and generated a turnover of €4.8 billion ($4.8 billion) in 2021.

Hellmann is initially putting 9,000 m² of warehouse space into operation with a further 9,000 m² to be occupied later this year following the completion of the second construction phase, says an official statement.

"With this significant capacity expansion, Hellmann is responding to the ongoing growth of CLAAS. The opening ceremony of the new warehouse, which is one of the largest Hellmann locations in Germany, was attended by the management of CLAAS and Hellmann as well as the Mayor of Oelde."

Hellmann will rent the newly built procurement warehouse for components from India, Turkey, and China exclusively for CLAAS, the statement added. In Oelde, components ranging from screws to 120-kg drum gearbox for combine harvesters and forage harvesters will be stored, packed, picked and shuttled to the production plant several times a day. The new site features state-of-the-art warehouse technology and a sustainable design. For example, Hellmann operates a 9,000 m² photovoltaic system on the hall roof to cover part of its energy needs.

"For years, Hellmann has been an important and strategic partner in the context of our European land transports and our global air and sea freight," says Bastian Linnenbrink, Head of Supply Chain Management, CLAAS Self-Propelled Harvesters. "In autumn 2018, we were able to expand our cooperation to the area of contract logistics by commissioning the site in Oelde. In addition to the initial pure warehousing activities, the order spectrum has been expanded to include picking and sequencing scopes. Hellmann thus forms an important part of our supply chain and our immediate production supply. We are pleased to shape growth together at the new location in Oelde accompanied by significant process improvements."

Volker Sauerborn, Chief Operating Officer Contract Logistics, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, adds: "CLAAS and Hellmann are linked by a very unique success story: Over the past ten years, we have continuously expanded our cooperation, so that today, in addition to contract logistics, we are also active in all other logistics areas for CLAAS. With the new warehouse, we will be able to sustainably build on these successes to continue growing together with CLAAS and, of course, to create and secure jobs in the region."

The Hellmann Group achieved sales of around €4 billion ($4 billion) with 12,348 employees in 2021.