Stadler Rail : opens new rail logistics center in Berlin Pankow

Together with Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, the Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, Franziska Giffey, and other guests, Stadler today inaugurated its new logistics center in Pankow. With the punctual completion, Stadler finalizes the construction and expansion of its site in Berlin, which started in 2019.

In the north of Berlin, Stadler is setting the course for the future: In two construction phases, the company has built a logistics center for rail transport on its factory premises in Pankow. The site covers a total area of 80,000 square meters. 17,700 square meters are occupied by the new logistics center with a connected, multi-story office area. The logistics center houses not only storage and logistics areas, but also pre-assembly to prepare for various railway vehicle upgrades and 220 office workplaces. The company, headquartered in Bussnang (Switzerland), has remained loyal to the Berlin site for more than 23 years.

Peter Spuhler, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Stadler Rail Group, emphasized the importance of Stadler for the success of the transport transition in Germany: "Starting with 197 employees in 2000, we are proud that we continue our success story here in Berlin and are helping to shape the transport transition in Germany and Europe from the capital. The new site is a real innovation center for rail transport. I am therefore all the more pleased that we have now been able to successfully conclude the new construction and expansion work, thus underpinning our relationship with the Berlin site."

Jure Mikolčić, CEO of the Stadler Germany Division, emphasized the importance of the new building for Berlin as a location for business: "The investment in the Berlin site secures and sustainably extends the industrial value creation of the capital region in the long term." Mikolčić also thanked for the support of various actors: "Our thanks for the support of the construction project go to the state of Berlin, the Berlin Senate Administration for Economy, Energy and Operations, Berlin Partner and the Investment Bank Berlin throughout the project progress, as well as the Pankow district and the general contractor stahl- und verbundbau gmbh for the operational processing and support. We are proud that we have created a state-of-the-art production and working environment for our employees."

Innovation Center for Railways

The assembly halls cover 16,000 square meters and were inaugurated and commissioned as part of the first phase of construction in the summer of 2021. In the context of a modern cycle production concept, industrial manufactory is combined with flexible production and, in addition to assembly, the static commissioning of railway vehicles is also carried out.

The investment, worth around EUR 95 million, is a clear commitment to the Berlin site and creates the ideal conditions for handling large orders. This is ensured, among other things, by a new automated small parts warehouse, which organizes the storage process more efficiently and flexibly.

The construction project demonstrates that Stadler is continuing to invest in an innovative and sustainable value chain. The entire plant is supplied by a photovoltaic system (14,000 m² and 3 million kWh) that covers the entire power requirement of the site and thus the value chain comprehensively. The excess power is fed into the local supply network. In addition, the new logistics center further combines production and storage processes, thus minimizing delivery traffic.

With the new building, Stadler is not only expanding its production capacity, but is also settling new activities on the factory premises with the static commissioning of the vehicles and the logistics center. All work on planning and construction activities was carried out successfully and on schedule by the general contractor stahl- und verbundbau gmbh. The construction project was supported by the State of Berlin as part of GRW support and supported by the Investment Bank in Berlin.

Berlin Governing Mayor Kai Wegner expressed his enthusiasm for the new building complex and appreciated Stadler's entrepreneurial commitment in Berlin: "The State of Berlin, the Berlin transport companies and Stadler have been partners in the service of Berliners for many years. The Pankow site produces vehicles that demonstrate the performance of this Swiss-based company in our city, in Germany and in Europe, and that stand for modern and environmentally friendly mobility. The new logistics center, which is a milestone on the way to sustainable transport in our city, is also an example of sustainability. With this investment, Stadler is demonstrating its long-term vision for the Pankow site and its high-quality workplaces."

The Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, Franziska Giffey, also emphasized the importance of Stadler for the local business and innovation location: "Stadler has invested heavily in Brandenburg and Berlin in recent years and this is paying off. Stadler is now one of the largest and most important industrial employers in our capital region. The new logistics center here in Pankow is a strong commitment to Berlin and the region as Germany's most dynamic business location.

By manufacturing the subway cars for BVG, Stadler is also making a major contribution to modern mobility for Berlin residents and guests of our city. I am particularly pleased that Stadler is also a partner on the way to the energy transition and can cover the power requirement for the new logistics center completely with solar power. We are proud to support this innovation project with GRW funding from the Senate for Economic Affairs."

Stadler grows in Berlin

Stadler Germany is one of the largest industrial employers in Berlin, employing around 1,500 people. In Berlin-Pankow, all products of the product portfolio for the German market as well as trams and city railways are developed, manufactured and assembled for export.

Stadler Germany was founded in 2000 as a joint venture with Adtranz. Since then, the site has grown steadily with orders received - from 197 employees in 2000 to 1,500 employees in 2023. Since 2015, the IK series, designed and manufactured in Berlin-Pankow, has been on the Berlin U-Bahn network. In time for the change of year 2020/2021, the 10 pre-series vehicles of the 483/484 series were added for the S-Bahn Berlin; since September 2023, the vehicles have been delivered in full. In 2020, Stadler Germany won the largest tender ever in the history of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe: the new J/JK U-Bahn series is also being produced in Berlin for Berlin. In addition, the site has for many years been the starting point for innovative developments such as alternative drive technologies and digitalization.