On May 22, 2025, the Rhenus Group and Thalia Bücher GmbH commissioned the expansion of the logistics center in Hörselgau. At the heart of the new facility is an automated AutoStore system that covers an area of around 8,000 square meters and utilizes approximately 240,000 containers and 530 robots.
The system is intended to ensure efficient storage and picking of items for the supply to bookstores and end customers. According to Thalia, this is necessary to meet the growing range of products and increasing demands in both brick-and-mortar retail and the e-commerce sector. The AutoStore system enables storage based on frequency of
access and automated packaging. The goal is to ensure quick product availability even during seasonal order peaks.
Further Development of Thalia's Omnichannel Business
Marco Rebohm, Managing Director of Supply Chain & Logistics at Thalia, described the new solution as a contribution to the further development of the company's omnichannel business.
“The performance of our logistics is and will remain a central building block for the future success of Thalia as a leading bookseller in the DACH region. Given our continuous growth, which is largely based on the further development of our omnichannel business and the consistent expansion of our product ranges –
including the non-book segment – we therefore need future-ready, scalable technologies. Especially in order picking, the AutoStore solution ideally reflects the requirements of our order structure,” said Rebohm.
Planning and Implementation by Rhenus
Rhenus Warehousing Solutions was responsible for the planning and implementation of the expansion and has been supporting Thalia in logistics processes at the Hörselgau site for around two decades. As part of the commissioning, the companies have extended their partnership for another ten years.
Dr. Stephan Peters, a member of the board of the Rhenus Group, highlighted the importance of automated and scalable systems for implementing future-proof logistics solutions.
“We are familiar with the complex challenges of different industries. Through scalable, automated, and future-proof solutions, we enable our customers to focus on their core business,” said Peters.
The new system is part of a logistics center with a total area of around 60,000 square meters and complements existing processes. Thalia currently operates 394 bookstores in Germany and Austria and holds shares in 60 bookstores of Orell Füssli Thalia AG in Switzerland. In addition, more than 500 bookstores are integrated into the company's network. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, Thalia – including partner companies – achieved sales of more than 1.9 billion
