The logistics service provider Arvato is expanding its campus in Harsewinkel, East Westphalia. The company announced that the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion took place at the beginning of June. The new capacities are expected to be available by mid-2026. Arvato is responding to the continuous growth in the healthcare sector and aims to strengthen the site specifically for the logistics of pharmaceutical and medical technology products.
Already today, the site is one of the central hubs in the European logistics network of the logistics service provider. Three logistics halls with around 60,000 square meters of space and over 1,000 employees form the backbone for a Europe-wide
networked supply chain. The planned expansion now includes an additional 20,000 square meters of space. According to the company, it is investing a mid-double-digit million amount for this.
Three new modules with modern technical equipment are to be created. A central element is a refrigerated warehouse with a height of 18 meters. Temperature-guided products between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius are to be stored there. Additionally, areas for so-called ambient storage are planned, i.e., for products stored at 15 to 25 degrees Celsius. A total of 22,000 additional pallet spaces will be created.
With the expansion, the company is responding to the capacity utilization of its previous capacities.
“Since 2019, our revenue here has been growing by an average of 15 percent annually,” says Thorsten Winkelmann, President Healthcare at Arvato.
The storage areas are now about 80 percent utilized. The expansion aims to create additional targeted capacities.
In parallel, Arvato is also planning a technological upgrade. The new areas will be equipped with a fully automatic pallet shuttle that can be integrated into the existing infrastructure. Various automation technologies are already in use at the site today, including an Autostore system, a bin shuttle, a rack-to-person system, as well as pick-by-light and goods-to-man workstations. Autonomous forklifts and container transport systems are also part of the inventory.
These systems will also be expanded in the course of the expansion.
Site manager Paul Engel emphasizes the logistical advantages: “Within Germany, we enable next-day delivery, Europe-wide delivery is possible within 24 to 48 hours, and globally within two to four days.”
With the expansion, they want to ensure the ability to implement complex distribution models in the future as well – especially for sensitive products in the healthcare sector.
According to the company, the expansion will create up to 70 new jobs. In addition, photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of around 700 kWp will be installed. Arvato is pursuing the goal of operating climate-neutrally by 2030.
