Groundbreaking at the Probst Company for a New Logistics and Assembly Hall

The construction of a 4,500 square meter (48,440 square feet) large hall is now underway next to the Probst headquarters in Erdmannhausen [Baden Württemberg, Germany]. Once the building is finished by early 2017, the available floor space at the Probst site in Erdmannhausen will double. By the end of February, the company sent out invitations to the groundbreaking ceremony. Mayor Birgit Hannemann, CEO Martin Probst, Uli Kälber of the EPC construction company Rommel SF and Frank Berner of the kab Architects planning office jointly cut the first sod.

The internationalization of the Probst Company keeps advancing in leaps and bounds. Currently, the export business of the Probst Company exceeds a whopping 50 %. Therefore, the company urgently needs the additional space to ensure effective work processes and accommodating workspaces. The company will invest roughly € 5.7M into the construction and outfitting of the hall.

The new hall will feature a central logistics hub with a spacious dispatch area and several truck docking stations. Alternatively, operators may directly use a 15-ton crane inside the hall to load trucks from above or from the side. The hall will be 10 meters [32.8 feet] high and provide 1,500 m² [16,146 square feet] of storage space for pallets. Aside from this storage space, there will also be offices, break and meeting rooms as well as a spacious final assembly zone. We will also install system-based modern warehouse lifts with a total weight capacity of 60 tons for the dust-free, efficient and space-saving storage of components and parts. The company will link and integrate the now operational assembly department for handling equipment on the already existing belowground level to the best advantage.

Turning the construction project into reality is a big step for the Probst Company. As General Manager Thomas Probst points out, "We cannot handle any more sales growth without the additional space". The construction will allow the Probst Company to perform all logistic process flows with significantly higher efficiency.

The involved architects of the kab firm planned the building with input from representatives of the Probst departments, the future users, and with the company officers. Aside from creating efficient workplaces, the planners also focused on eco friendliness. Different from traditional halls, the plans reveal expansive light-suffused spaces, which invite in the sun for additional heat.