Uncovering Radial’s sites: Kassel and Staufenberg, Germany

Explore the unique features of Radial’s distribution warehouses in Kassel and Staufenberg.

The two Radial warehouses in Kassel and Staufenberg, Germany, are unique due to their exclusive focus on the DIY sector. These facilities provide fulfillment services for a well-known DIY brand in Germany.

The Kassel warehouse stocks a wide variety of construction materials, such as stones, concrete segments, tiles, and fences, covering all the essentials for building a house. On the other hand, the Staufenberg warehouse is primarily dedicated to gardening products.

The warehouse in Kassel stands out due to its impressive size, covering 52,000 square meters, making it the largest facility within the Radial network. It specializes in handling large and heavy products, often requiring two to four people for handling. These items can be as long as four meters and weigh up to 180 kilograms each. Shipments are typically made on pallets, with 11 different pallet sizes available. These range from standard-sized pallets to ones that extend up to 4 meters. Specialized equipment and a skilled workforce are essential to manage the unique challenges of handling oversized goods.

In contrast, the Staufenberg warehouse operates on a smaller scale and primarily handles smaller loads that can be managed by two people.

In addition to manual operations, the facilities make use of Packsize packaging machines to meet customer needs. These machines are capable of creating cartons up to 4 meters in length to accommodate the longest products. With the ability to print 40 different types of cartons, the focus is primarily on fulfilling the requirements of retail stores rather than the e-commerce market. Customization and efficient packing are key components of the operations at these warehouses.

The central location of the warehouses in Germany offers a strategic advantage, providing easy access to countries like France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium, all within a four-hour drive.

In Kassel, parcel and pallet carriers are conveniently located around the warehouse, with collaboration ongoing with nine pallet shipping carriers, all of which provide last-mile services.

The Staufenberg warehouse benefits from its proximity to DHL’s parcel sorting center, ensuring smooth operations and preventing any capacity-related issues on their end. These factors enhance the efficiency of the distribution network and improve transportation accessibility.

Regarding typical delivery times, all parcels received by 5:00 PM are dispatched the same day. Approximately 80% of these parcels are delivered the following day, adhering to the standard delivery timeline and allowing for convenient scheduling for end customers.

The labor arrangement is designed to be flexible and responsive to changing operational needs. A special contract with a labor agency is in place, with a primary partner who works with various agencies to ensure smooth operations. This year, for example, the team successfully unloaded 400 C containers filled with goods from overseas.

Both the Kassel and Staufenberg sites are designed with modern, environmentally friendly features. The lighting has been upgraded to the latest LED technology. There are plans to install solar panels on the roofs.

Additionally, both facilities have earned ISO 14001 certification. They were the first in Radial Europe’s warehouse portfolio to achieve this internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS). This certification reflects a strong commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. It will be used to manage and continuously improve the environmental impacts and performance of the operations.