Topping-out ceremony with a safe distance at Caramba: (from left): Dirk Ritterbach (Site Manager Caramba Duisburg), Dipl.-Ing. Markus Mers (Managing Director Bolckmans), Dr. Bernd Weyershausen (Managing Director Marketing & Sales at Caramba), Dipl. Ing. Matthias Urich (Managing Partner Ropertz&Partner Planungsgesellschaft mbH), Dipl.-Ing.Ing.(FH) Matthias Janßen (Ropertz&Partner Planungsgesellschaft mbH), Dr. Wolfgang Müller (Managing Director Operations at Caramba).
Even in Corona times, Caramba is focusing on growth. On June 29, the topping-out ceremony for the North Hall was celebrated - due to corona with conditions in close cooperation with planners, architects and construction companies. "The crisis has shown that only companies that react quickly and flexibly can survive," explains Dr. Wolfgang Müller, Managing Director Operations at Caramba. "The modernization of our plant logistics is an important milestone for a successful future."
Modern plant logistics for the future
Construction of the North Hall is progressing rapidly. Photo: Julian KranzbühlerThe2,600 square meter hall offers space for around 2,000 pallets in rack storage and 1,000 square meters for block storage. By bundling all storage capacities and the associated logistics, long transportation routes on the site will be avoided in future.
Under the leadership of planning company Ropertz & Partner, the team led by architect Matthias Urich and construction company Bolckmans laid the foundations for successful completion in November 2020. "Despite coronavirus, we are working flat out on this project and the collaboration is working well, even under increased safety precautions," says Markus Mers, Managing Director of Bolckmans GmbH.
The building is one of many modernization measures on the chemical manufacturer's site. At the beginning of the year, a new filling line for small containers with 40 ml to 1.5 l containers was put into operation.
Think tank in the new "Caramba Lab"
The company had already renovated and expanded its "Caramba Lab" in 2019. In addition to carrying out practical tests, the Caramba experts are also developing new cleaning strategies and products there that are geared towards future-oriented topics such as environmental protection and sustainability. For example, the company is currently working on a concept to make car washing more individual and therefore more environmentally friendly using artificial intelligence. Together with mayato GmbH, the chemical manufacturer is currently developing a solution that recognizes dirt on cars fully automatically, selects the appropriate chemicals and controls their dosage.
Corona: reacting flexibly and quickly
All storage and logistics capacities are bundled in the North Hall. Photo: Julian KranzbühlerCarambaresponded proactively to the challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis right from the start and switched parts of its production to hand and surface disinfection. This allowed over 100,000 liters per week to be delivered in small containers from 150 ml to 1 liter. "This enabled us to partially compensate for the loss of sales in important customer segments, such as the automotive industry," explains Wolfgang Müller. The construction of the North Hall is an important milestone for the future of Caramba and fits in with the strategic approach of Berner, Caramba's parent company. At the end of 2019, Berner launched a European warehouse logistics offensive with investments of almost €40 million. A new European central warehouse is currently being built in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. In addition, the Group is investing millions in the logistics infrastructure for Eastern Europe at the Braunau site and in new warehouse logistics at the Ingelfingen site of its subsidiary BTI, which specializes in professional customers in the construction sector.
