Avnet announces the start of construction for its high-performance distribution center in Bernburg (Saale), Germany
Bernburg (Saale), 07 September 2022. “With the start of construction of a state-of-the-art high performance distribution center for semiconductor electronics and electronic components in Bernburg, we as a company can ensure that we can serve the growing market needs and implement our growth strategy in Europe. We are investing in the site and will thus create several hundred jobs over the next few years” explains Slobodan Pujarevic, President Avnet EMEA. “We are aware of the responsibility we bear with this investment. Social commitment and responsibility as well as sustainability are not just buzzwords for Avnet, but we put them into practice.”
For example, the new logistics center will primarily be able to dispense with fossil fuels and rely entirely on renewable energy and green electricity. “Among other things, we will install a photovoltaic system on the roof surfaces and plan to implement other sustainable and environmentally friendly measures,” adds Roswitha Heiland, Vice President Avnet Logistics EMEA.
As part of today’s ceremony, two trees symbolizing sustainability and the company’s regional ties were handed over to students from the local “Regenbogen” elementary school and the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. “These are then to be planted on the site after the completion of our distribution center. In the meantime, we are handing them over to the elementary school and the university for care. The two trees are representative of our future social commitment as well as our responsibility as a future employer in the region,” comments Slobodan Puljarevic.
“With the start of the construction phase, we will now also move forward with recruiting the necessary personnel. We were positively surprised by the feedback or unsolicited applications we already received after our location decision in May. The extremely good, fast and productive cooperation with the state, the district, the city and our partners also confirms that we made the right decision for this location, and not just because of its central location in Europe and its convenient access to Leipzig-Halle Airport,” Heiland continued.
Both Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister President, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, and Sven Schulze, the state’s Minister of Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry, praised the speedy implementation of the project. “The establishment of Avnet in Bernburg shows that Saxony-Anhalt is an attractive business location. For our state, this company is another flagship. In our state, investors are welcomed with open arms. The state, local authorities and economic development agencies work closely and effectively together, enabling investment in the future of our state,” said the Minister President. “The settlement of AVNET is another great asset for Saxony-Anhalt, which will provide numerous modern
and secure jobs. This will further strengthen Saxony-Anhalt as a business location,” added Economics Minister Sven Schulze.
On a site area of approx. 190,000 m², a high-performance distribution center is being built with several logistics hall sections and upstream social and administrative buildings as well as corresponding road and path areas and on-site parking spaces for cars (min. 400) and trucks (min. 22). The building height per hall is between approx. 14 and 35 meters (external height). In a first construction phase, a total of 56,000 m² of logistics space, 4,600 m² of office space and a product finishing center (PMC) with an area of approx. 1,100 m² will be created. Possible expansion areas are planned. A total of around 700 jobs are to be created here by 2031. With its convenient location, Bernburg (Saale) offers a fast and effective link to the Leipzig/Halle freight airport.
With a successful start of construction in September 2022, gradual commissioning is planned for 2024. Up to 19,000 parcels are then to be delivered here daily to over 30,000 customers worldwide. The site in Bernburg (Saale) complements the company’s two existing European distribution centers in Tongeren, Belgium, and Poing near Munich. According to the company, the investment volume amounts to over 225 million euros.
Dr. Silvia Ristow, Lord Mayor of Bernburg (Saale), emphasized not only the renewed upgrading of Bernburg (Saale) as a business location, but also the company’s gratifying efforts towards an environmentally conscious industry: “We have a responsibility to ensure that our city of Bernburg (Saale) is a safe, attractive and healthy place to live and work. Environmental and climate protection affect us all, making sustainable action indispensable today. We are therefore very pleased that the issue is also of great importance to the AVNET company and that the installation of a photovoltaic roof, the use of renewable energies and green electricity also reflect our development towards a more sustainable industry.”
“With the receipt of the first building permit earthworks, which means the official start of construction, we would like to thank everyone involved for their great cooperation so far. Our thanks go to the Ministry of Economics, the IMG, the Investitionsbank, as well as the City of Bernburg (Saale) and the Salzlandkreis for their great support and cooperation. We would also like to thank our partners Körber Supply Chain Automation GmbH, the Max Bögl group of companies, Verdion GmbH and Tricer Management GmbH for their support in the project so far and look forward to continuing this successful cooperation in the next construction phase,” said Thomas Ludäscher, Senior Vice President & CFO Avnet EMEA. Avnet would also like to thank its partners Miebach Consulting and Logivest GmbH, who provided significant support to the Group during the evaluation phase and site selection, among other things.