Logistics Industry in Thuringia

Logistics and trading companies generally prefer the fast connections to the markets of Europe by road, rail or air. Thanks to its excellent traffic and transport infrastructure, Thuringia is able to guarantee time-saving goods handling.

Modern roads and autobahns

In recent years, companies such as BLG LOGISTICS, Rhenus or Eurogate have opened new distribution centers in Thuringia, especially alongside the five autobahns. This is just one indicator of how important the state has become as a hub of transport between Eastern and Western Europe.

• A4 Frankfurt - Dresden
• A9 Berlin - Munich
• A38 Göttingen - Halle/Leipzig
• A71 Erfurt - Stuttgart
• A73 Erfurt - Nuremberg

Express airfreight

Erfurt-Weimar Airport serves as a hub for the international airfreight business. TNT Express handles shipments for onward transport by air or truck from or to the whole of Germany at its self-owned air and road hub. Since May 2008, TNT Express has had its own customs clearance facility in Erfurt. DB Schenker offers daily airfreight connections to key destinations worldwide.

Regional airports: Leipzig-Altenburg Airport, Eisenach-Kindel Airfield
Neighbouring cargo airports: Frankfurt/Main Airport, Flughafen Leipzig/Halle

Densest rail network

One of Europe‘s most important railway connections for passenger and freight traffic - the Paris – Frankfurt am Main – Berlin – Warsaw – Moscow route - runs through Thuringia. Relative to its size and population, Thuringia has the densest rail network in Europe, with around 1,550 kilometres of track currently in Service.

Erfurt – The high speed train hub (ICE)

Erfurt Central Station serves as a hub for ICE high speed trains in all directions. Berlin and Dresden can be reached in less than 2 hours, Frankfurt in 2 hours and 10 minutes. The travel time to Munich has been cut to 2 hours and 15 minutes. Express lines with new schedules will also connect the city regions with all parts of the state, benefiting the whole of Thuringia.

State-of-the-art logistics centers

Freight Hub Erfurt (GVZ)

Covering an area of approx. 340 hectares,the Freight Hub Erfurt (GVZ) is one of Germany’s biggest and most up-to-date freight hubs. Located just outside Erfurt, it is directly connected to the A4 and A71 autobahns. A railway terminal ensures rapid goods handling. At present, over 60 companies have facilities at the GVZ, including the logistics enters of IKEA, MediaMarkt/Saturn and Zalando.

International Logistics Center Erfurt

At the new International Logistics Center Erfurt (ILZ), business enterprises are setting up operations on the 70-hectare site for their Europe-wide freight-handling activities. For example Panasonic‘s logistics operations are managed from here at 60,000 m². And with the wine specialist Mack&Schühle respectively its logistics partner Berger Contract Logistics the longest wine board in Germany has opened up there. Access directly to the A71 autobahn, and the airport and GVZ Thuringia can be reached in 10 minutes.

In Thuringia, there are many highly motivated and highly qualified people working in logistics. Businesses offer traineeships in all relevant vocational skills, while both private and state universities provide courses at degree level in all aspects of logistics.

Selected degree programs

• Traffic and transport, University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Erfurt
• Rail industry, UAS Erfurt
• Applied computer science, UAS Erfurt
• Material flow and logistics, UAS Erfurt
• Sustainable mobility and logistics, UAS Erfurt
• Logistics, University of Cooperative Education Gera-Eisenach
• Logistics management, IUBH University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt
• Technician degree in the field of traffic engineering, Vocational School for Construction, Economy and Transport in Gotha

Logistics Network Thuringia

Enterprises working in business, education and research have joined forces to create the Logistics Network Thuringia. The Network pools skills and abilities in marketing, staff training and retention, innovation, cooperation and logistics services. Its goal is to foster the further development of an innovative, future-fit logistics site.

Zeitfracht Medien GmbH
Zeitfracht Medien GmbH dominates the B2B and B2C book logistics market with a wholesale book market share of over 45% and supplies around 7,000 retailers. With over 750,000 titles in its portfolio, the company enables fast, overnight delivery six days a week through its own network. Zeitfracht is also the market leader in the publisher delivery segment with a market share of over 20% and co-operates with well-known publishers.

Schenker Deutschland
Germany’s leading provider of integrated supply chain management services operates a 4,500 m² logistics terminal. On its 38,500 m² site at the “Erfurter Kreuz” autobahn junction, Schenker distributes general cargo as well as part and full truckloads to all areas of Europe. With its robust business model, DB Schenker is well equipped to meet the demands of its customers on the increasingly integrating international markets and the growth in goods flows.

Zalando
Jointly with the investor Goodman, Zalando chose Erfurt as the location for its first own logistics center. After a construction time of only ten months, test operation started in August 2012. With 120,000 square meters of stock space, the center is the biggest goods warehouse for shoes and fashion any-where in Europe.

XXXLutz
The furniture retailer XXXLutz from Austria has selected the industrial park Erfurter Kreuz as the location for its new ecommerce center. On the approximately 25 hectare plot a state-of-the-art warehouse as well as office and training facilities are planned. In the final expansion phase, up to 400 new jobs will be created to ensure a quick and reliable delivery of products to its online customers. The geographic location of the company’s new central site is first-rate: at the heart of Germany with very good transport infrastructure and excellent connection to the major logistics partners.

Additional selected companies:

• Amazon Deutschland Transport, Erfurt
• AXTHELM + ZUFALL Internationale Spedition, Nohra
• Aldi Logistikzentrum, Nohra und Langenwetzendorf
• Berger Contract Logistics GmbH, Erfurt
• BLG LOGISTICS GROUP, Eisenach, Erfurt, Kölleda u.a.
• Dachser, Logistikzentrum Ichtershausen
• Deutsche Post DHL, Erfurt, Nohra, Gera, Suhl u.a.
• Fiege Mega Center Erfurt, Nesse-Apfelstädt
• Geis Euro Cargo, Industrie-Service, Ohrdruf und Tanna
• HAVI Logistics, Distributionszentrum Mitteldeutschland, Lederhose
• Hermes Fulfilment, Logistikzentrum, Ohrdruf
• LDZ Logistische Dienstleistungszentren Thüringen, Straußfurt
• LIDL, Logistikzentrum Gera
• NORMA Logistikzentrum Mitteldeutschland, Erfurt
• Raben Trans European Germany, Eisenach
• redcoon Logistics, Logistikzentrum Erfurt
• REWE Markt, Logistikzentrum Neudietendorf
• Rhenus, Hörselgau, Eisenach, Gotha u.a.
• SPS Germany GmbH, Waltershausen
• UPS United Parcel Service Deutschland, Gera und Ichtershausen