Björn Becker, head of the Port Logistics division since 2018, is coordinating the 12 million expansion of the steel island at Haeger & Schmidt Logistics (HSL). In the HSL interview, he provides information about the new indoor logistics for steel.
Mr Becker, how present is the 12-million-euro expansion of the steel island into a multifunctional hub in Duisburg in your everyday life?
On the HSL side, the threads for this mammoth project come together in my office. From my window, I can see the construction progress at all times. We are currently in the process of dismantling. A crane system is being moved 100 m north to Duisport Packing Logistics.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 3.11.2020. What is the timeline for the realisation of the investment – one of the largest in HSL history?
The new buildings are scheduled to be ready for occupancy in the second half of 2021. Until then, there will be various construction focal points. The centrepiece is the heatable, closed steel storage hall. In the first step, almost half a kilometre of rail will be laid there together with the floor slab, which will enable “indoor” block train handling. The delivery of the overhead moving crane with a load capacity of 40 t, which is also destined for the hall, has been announced for the end of May. The civil engineering work for the truck forecourt is already in full swing. An additional administration building with a truck self-handling counter will be built there by the summer.
The new concept provides for a weather-protected trimodality. How do you realise the water connection?
Our new steel storage hall is directly connected to our existing hall, which has a water connection. A coil ferry, similar to a railway wagon, will shuttle between the two halls.
What will improve for the region around Duisburg?
The Duisburg economic area is getting a multifunctional hub for the steel sector that combines all modern aspects under one roof on an unprecedented scale: trimodality, closed temperature-controlled storage, a high capacity and a high throughput. Particularly noteworthy is the ability to switch between transport modes on a large scale and the storage capacity of the 9000 m² hall, which is designed for 60,000 t of steel.
Which business areas does HSL want to intensify or open up for itself through this step?
One focus is the expansion of the product portfolio to include high-quality steel products that must not be exposed to weather conditions. We have also created the conditions to distribute more steel via the Ruhr region. The terminal is embedded in our overall strategy of covering the entire steel logistics chain, including all modes of transport, including the first and last mile by truck. Today, we already process more than 1 million tonnes of steel annually on the steel island. With the multifunctional hub, we are aiming for significant growth.
2.) New administrative building with 420 square metres of floor space, social rooms for industrial employees, waiting rooms for truck drivers and offices for twelve additional employees
3.) Truck yard with 6 ramps for fast handling incl. fast stuffing and stripping of containers.
4.) Two half-train tracks with 210 metres of rails each lead into the hall for handling a block train, hall r passable for trucks
5.) 9,000 m² heatable hall (length: 210 m, width 45 m); storage capacity of 60,000 t; overhead crane with 40 t load capacity, temperature control via underfloor heating
6.) Connection to the existing hall. Transport between the halls by coil ferry.
7.) 7,300 m² existing hall with water connection.
Illustration: duisport
How is the market reacting to the announcement of the new building complex on the steel island?
In the steel industry, we are recognizing a great deal of interest in the new possibilities. Especially the combination of trimodality and extensive handling and storage capacities under one roof is in demand. We are closing a gap in the market and “indoor steel handling” is opening up a new customer base for us.
Your greatest wish in relation to the new building project is…
Besides the obvious wishes such as “timely completion” and “a great success in the market”, I hope that the small cogs that we are currently setting up mesh and that the sustainable and future-oriented logistics chain “runs smoothly”.
Foto: Heike Kaldenhoff