Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG to expand its Hamburg base

Hamburg, 21.06.2012. Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG is about to almost double the storage capacity provided at its Hamburg central warehouse. This week the diggers are starting to roll into action at Hamburg Merkurring, kicking off comprehensive construction work. Upon completion, the available storage space at the company's headquarters will total 56,000 pallet spaces. The project ensures the company achieves its strategic objectives of further expanding the product range and maximising part availability.Under its MEYLE and MEYLE-HD brands Hamburg-based Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG engineers and manufactures replacement parts of matching OE quality. The product portfolio of approx. 15,600 items covers virtually all leading applications. By creating another 25,000 pallet spaces on over 130,000 sq ft, Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG is laying the foundation to further expand its product range and meet the demands of new international markets. "This will allow us to keep larger inventories of our best-selling items which we will then be able to ship faster thanks to more efficient and streamlined processes", says board member Marita Schwartze, explaining how customer service will benefit from the major investment.Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG is going to invest about 40 million euros in the next three to five years to future-prove its operations. Besides increasing its warehouse capacities, the company is planning on setting up a training centre featuring a vehicle lift and wheel alignment stand. It is also building a new staff restaurant offering a terrific view over Schleswig-Holstein's typical hedgerow landscape from atop its lofty 60 feet. This will be complemented by new offices with over 21,500 sq ft of floor space. This way the specialist manufacturer of steering and suspension parts will back up its sustained business growth by reinforcing human resources. "When working out the expansion plans, one of our guiding principles was to offer existing and future employees an attractive place to work in the Hamburg metropolitan area", underlines Marita Schwartze. At present, there are 300 employees at the Hamburg headquarters, and the trend is rapidly growing. Together with its partner companies Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG employs 1,200 people.Since opening in 1997 the existing logistics centre has already seen three enlargements. The new extension is scheduled to be ready for service by the beginning of 2013.