Technical facility management: SPIE secures new contracts for Gebr. Heinemann’s logistics centres in Germany

Erlensee/Hamburg-Allermöhe, 6 February 2025 – SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, has secured two new contracts for technical facility management at Gebr. Heinemann’s logistics centres in Erlensee near Frankfurt as well as in Hamburg-Allermöhe in Germany. The scope of services includes the maintenance, inspection and repair of the complex, highly automated building engineering systems, as well as the ongoing modernisation of installations, all with the aim of reducing energy consumption and lowering CO₂ emissions.

These efforts will help SPIE ensure Gebr. Heinemann’s numerous international customers are reliably supplied every day. Gebr. Heinemann is one of the world’s leading wholesale and retail companies in the international travel market. The company operates Duty-Free and Travel Value shops at international airports along with shops on board cruise ships and at border crossings. The highly automated logistics centres in Erlensee and Hamburg-Allermöhe each stock over 35,000 items, including perfumes, spirits, fashion and jewellery, which are then delivered to Gebr. Heinemann’s shops and distribution customers in around 100 countries.

“The variety and complexity of building systems at these logistics centres demand a high level of technical knowledge and expertise,” says Frank Piroth, South Main branch manager in the Efficient Facilities operational division of SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria. “We ensure high system availability by performing over 70 per cent of services ourselves. This ensures all prerequisites are met for the safe operation of the highly automated conveyor systems that link incoming goods, high-bay warehouses, small-parts storage and outgoing goods. In addition, we maintain optimal conditions in the various storage areas, including humidors, where maintaining the correct temperature and humidity is crucial.”

The safety requirements at these logistics centres are comparable to those at airports. To ensure time-sensitive logistics processes remain uninterrupted, stringent safety and documentation standards are essential. “Our staff at Erlensee and Hamburg-Allermöhe are specially trained and have undergone background checks in accordance with aviation security regulations, as their work directly impacts air traffic safety,” explains Lars Buchwald, Hamburg branch manager in the Efficient Facilities operational division of SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria, highlighting a key aspect of these contracts.

“These new contracts confirm the trust placed in the high quality of our technical solutions,” adds Stefan Schusterschitz, Head of the Efficient Facilities operational division of SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria. “The expansion of our logistics contracts aligns perfectly with our strategy and reflects our extensive expertise in this area. Our division currently manages nearly 200 logistics properties.”