• Quehenberger Logistics opened branch in Westphalia, Germany
• IT-controlled processes reduce logistics costs and run times
• Unique routing system optimises loading and unloading processes

German companies group HAPPE in Rheda-Wiedenbrück (Westphalia, Germany) has outsourced all of its logistics activities to Quehenberger Logistics. In addition, Quehenberger Logistics Germany opened up a new local branch with 15 employees - the existing workforce was taken in the process. The HAPPE Group has been active in the building material trade for over 50 years and imports tiles, mosaics and natural stones among other things, which are distributed to DIY markets such as Bauhaus, Hornbach or Obi. The group comprises the subsidiaries HAPPE-Bauzentrum, Klinker und Natursteinkontor Emsland (KNKE) as well as Euro Stone Naturstein Distribution.

Distribution all over Europe

The warehouse, with a total area of 18,500 square metres, serves as a hub for the distribution to all of Europe. Arriving from China, Italy, India, Brazil and Turkey at the port of Hamburg, the goods are reloaded on the railway and directly transported to the warehouse via a separate railway siding. The weekly train can hold 30 containers, with 26 pallets each. There are approximately 60,000 pallets of outwards goods every year. Having outsourced logistics activities, the HAPPE Group is now able to focus on its core competencies of purchasing and selling goods.

State-of-the-art logistics
Quehenberger Logistics optimises warehouse and transportation management by way of transparent structures and IT-assisted processes. It is possible to reduce logistics costs and improve run times in this way. The entire outwards goods distribution process is handled by radio data transmission using state-of-the-art warehousing technology. Goods are categorised and storage spaces are subsequently assigned by means of a warehouse flow analysis going by transshipments and combination possibilities. For goods distribution, order pickers can be directed to storage spaces on an optimum pathway via mobile radio terminals. Order run times, from the time of order to customer delivery, are reduced from ten down to four days.

Optimised loading and unloading processes

For transportation management, Quehenberger Logistics optimises shipments using a customised routing system with fixed schedules, taking into account weight, delivery date and region. A fixed time slot for delivering or collecting goods is communicated to carriers. By properly defining and respecting delivery time frames, the loading and unloading processes can be accurately planned and resources can be deployed with consideration, making the management of the entire transport logistics process significantly easier.