Drive manufacturer Flender has successfully completed the expansion of its site in Voerde, Germany, with the inauguration of a new logistics and storage hall designed for the assembly of large gear units.
The facility was constructed on a vacant area covering approximately 8,000 square meters within the company's premises.
This new building is part of Flender's strategic investments to accommodate the anticipated growth in the global wind energy sector and contribute to the energy transition in Europe. In addition to serving the assembly of major components for wind power gearboxes, the logistics hall also supports the industrial business of the global drive specialist.
The construction of this building aligns with Flender's comprehensive logistics concept, which includes leasing an adjacent hall of approximately 10,000 square meters. This concept was developed with a focus on sustainable manufacturing practices.
Andreas Evertz, the CEO of Flender, highlighted the significance of the new storage areas, stating, “By optimizing our logistics processes through the utilization of these new storage areas, we are promoting sustainability and significantly reducing the transportation distances, thus minimizing associated CO2 emissions. Centralizing the storage of components allows for faster assembly through optimized transport routes.”
Furthermore, the large parts washing machine within the hall operates using district heating, contributing to energy efficiency. A covered airlock enables seamless transportation of gearbox parts directly from trucks to the assembly area, preventing heat loss and conserving valuable energy.
In line with their commitment to sustainability, Flender plans to install photovoltaic modules across the entire roof of the new hall. These measures, combined with their ongoing efforts, have already led to a notable reduction of 79% in CO2 emissions in recent years, bringing them closer to their ultimate goal of operating on a completely CO2-neutral basis.
The Voerde site serves as the production hub for Flender's gearbox and drive systems catering to both the wind energy sector, under the Winergy product brand, and the industrial business. The company's Voerde location spans 276,000 square meters and employs approximately 1,500 individuals, making it Flender's largest site in Germany.
