• Modern distribution centre with around 29,500 square meters of floor space 

•  Higher throughput capacity, better efficiency, and flexibility 

•  Investment in the future of Porta Westfalica site and GROHE Professional portfolio

London, 24th June 2022. LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, today opened its new distribution centre for GROHE brand products in Porta Westfalica, Germany. The new facility is equipped with state-of-the-art warehousing technology to further improve the efficiency and throughput capacity for the distribution of GROHE sanitary systems. “We are delighted about the addition of the new distribution centre to our Porta Westfalica site. Complementing production with top-notch logistics operations we are now optimally equipped for the future,” said Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA. 

Shorter distances, modern warehousing facilities

The new building is located next to the existing logistics centre that was built in 1994 but is almost four times larger with around 29,500 square meters of floor space. The former distribution centre will be used as additional production space in the future. “One of the main advantages of the new distribution centre is its proximity to the production plant. Our extremely high throughput volume meant that we had to use several external warehouses in the region. Now the new building is finished the transfer between sites is no longer necessary. At the same time, we can convert the old building into an additional production area,” explained Jörg Vogeley, Plant Manager at the LIXIL Competence Centre for GROHE sanitary technology in Porta Westfalica. 

The modern distribution centre has three hall sections and was specifically designed to handle GROHE products. Further expansion phases are planned. The new racking systems and conveyor technology, including a fully automated pallet transportation system and state-of-the-art software, ensure better efficiency. “Thanks to the new warehouse technology we can respond to customer needs even more flexibly, for example by making smaller batch sizes and short-notice shipments possible,” said Sebastian Weber, Leader Supply Chain, LIXIL EMENA. “The new distribution centre also provides our employees with a modern work environment. Our team of logistics specialists benefits from optimised workflows that allow them to apply their know-how to the full.” GROHE logistics operations are all managed in-house. The new facility will create around 40 new full-time jobs. 

Sustainability certification

The new logistics centre has a gold certificate by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The facility was evaluated using a number of sustainability criteria, including the building’s entire lifecycle from planning to recycling. For example, the building draws its power supply from a 500 kWp photovoltaic system and utilises a rainwater cistern. As part of the new site an ecological compensation area was created as well as an orchard and flower meadows planted. There are also charging points for company e-vehicles.

Well-equipped for the future

The Porta Westfalica plant primarily manufactures GROHE Professional products that are specifically made for trade partners in the three-tier distribution chain. “The logistics centre is also an investment in GROHE Professional and we are expecting further strong growth in this line of business. With the new building we have managed to turn a situation that was initially challenging as a result of structural circumstances into an opportunity. That’s why I am so proud to be in this strong position going forward with our new distribution centre and our perfectly coordinated processes. Now we can serve our GROHE Professional customers’ and partners’ needs even better,” said Jonas Brennwald.

Grand opening

GROHE invited employees, project partners and representatives of the city and region to the grand opening event followed by a guided tour of the new distribution centre. The mayor of Porta Westfalica, Anke Grotjohann, summarised, “It is a tribute to Porta Westfalica that a commercially powerful company like LIXIL with its brand GROHE has decided to expand its operations here. To be fit for the future our municipality needs a sustainable and diverse economy, and by that I also mean innovative companies. In that spirit, LIXIL is opening the ultra-modern distribution centre with sustainable building certification for GROHE today. I wish the company the best of success in all of its future undertakings.” The distribution centre will commence operations on 4 July 2022 after the integration phase. 

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