The HEIDELBERG World Logistics Center in Wiesloch-Walldorf is a building of superlatives and its story began on September 17, 1999.
In order to supply HEIDELBERG customers worldwide with service parts in a highly efficient manner, an impressive construction project was completed: A floor area of 23,000 square meters, the equivalent of more than three soccer pitches, and 1,400 tons of steel for the construction of the hall and the platforms for the pallet spaces and shelving compartments are the foundation for a warehouse and dispatch logistics system that remains exemplary in the industry to this day.
Since 1999, the WLC has processed more than 17 million order items and shipped around 5.5 million packages all over the world - from small shipping envelopes weighing just a few grams to freight weighing several tons.
Today, the WLC always has more than 130,000 part references in stock.
This means that HEIDELBERG can provide over 95 percent of all service part requests immediately for delivery and reach their recipients worldwide within 24 hours. For the printing industry, which relies on high availability of its machines and on-time delivery to its customers, this is an immense service advantage that only HEIDELBERG can offer in this quality. This is made possible by a global logistics network that was established in the decade following the opening of the WLC.
Regional logistics hubs in the USA (since 2004), Japan (since 2007) and Hong Kong (since 2008) with additional stocks ensure excellent availability and ensure prompt supply to local markets. The locations of the overseas logistics hubs have been chosen so that customers can be served optimally and quickly.
Since 2006, the WLC, which employs around 180 people, has also supported the printing press assembly department at HEIDELBERG's Wiesloch-Walldorf site by picking and supplying parts.
Over the years, the WLC has continued to develop in line with changing market requirements in order to serve its customers in the best possible way. In 2010, HEIDELBERG took over the supply of consumables such as inks, varnishes, rubber blankets and printing plates to the German market in addition to its previous tasks.
Another important step was the certification for aviation security in 2013. This means that since then, the WLC has been able to guarantee the security precautions for air freight in its own building and thus get shipments on their way by air more quickly.
The modernization of the warehouse and dispatch technology in 2018 provided a major innovation boost. The control system of the automatic system was made fit for the future during operation, while the drive technology was brought up to the latest energy efficiency standards.
In order to keep the service promise that stored replacement parts are available at the customer's premises within 24 hours and can be installed there by service technicians from the national companies, the WLC operates in two shifts and also runs a shift on Saturdays. As HEIDELBERG customers are spread all over the world, German public holidays are also working days at the WLC.
