Logistics Cluster South Hesse

Two areas are decisive for the logistics cluster of southern Hesse: firstly, high-quality logistics-related services, e.g. from consulting companies, and secondly, the distribution of goods, with the airport playing a key role here.

Supply

In contrast to North Hesse, where the distribution centres specialise in the German or European market, the centres in South Hesse tend to serve regional supply (with around 5 million inhabitants, the Rhine-Main metropolitan region is a domestic market in its own right) or they serve global markets. The airport plays a particularly important role in the distribution of high-quality (replacement) parts, as the centres located near the airport deliver their products to the airport in the shortest possible time, where they are dispatched as quickly as possible. This makes it possible, for example, to distribute medical spare parts around the globe and guarantee customers very short repair times. The approved expansion of Frankfurt Airport also offers growth opportunities for air freight.

Services

In addition to the airport and (regional) distribution, the region has another focal point. This is the range of knowledge-intensive services related to logistics - this category includes consulting companies that specialise in logistics companies and/or logistics processes. The range of services includes analysing current processes and redesigning or simulating new processes. A field of activity that is also gaining in importance for consulting companies is the implementation of tenders after logistics facilities have been redesigned or optimised processes have been developed, for the construction/introduction of which new/expanded buildings, new warehouse technology and/or IT systems are required. The region is also home to engineering firms that offer planning and coordination services from the technical design of a logistics facility through to its commissioning. This offering is complemented by providers from the field of "intralogistics" - the spectrum here ranges from the design of conveyor technology to the planning of transport equipment (e.g. forklift trucks, industrial trucks) and their construction. These companies also deal with the integration of technology into modern IT landscapes, with RFID currently playing a special role. However, the South Hesse region also has a large number of companies that offer IT services for logistics - these range from standard software (e.g. warehouse management systems) to customised solutions or the provision of special hardware for use in logistics (e.g. handhelds, forklift terminals).
Companies specialising in logistics in the region are joined by numerous "global players" with their national or regional branches, many of which plan and control their logistics from southern Hesse, sometimes on a global scale. This means that in-house supply chain management is also very important in the region.

Research

The range of services offered by or in companies is supplemented by a wide range of research activities carried out by the regional universities and universities of applied sciences and, in some cases, by the development work of companies.

Cluster management

As in North Hesse, there is also a cluster management organisation in South Hesse, which looks after the logistics companies in the region. The "Logistics Rhine-Main" initiative is based at the EBS Supply Management Institute in Wiesbaden and is currently supported by the City of Wiesbaden. The initiative was launched at the beginning of 2007 and has since successfully co-organised several events, e.g. the Science Forum, which was held jointly with the FrankfurtRhineMain Business Initiative. In the medium term, there are plans to take part in various competitions and to set up a project platform to bring Companies from the region into contact with each other. The aim is to strengthen the innovative capacity of regional logistics companies.

If you would like more information on the mobility location South Hesse, please contact Logistik Rhein-Main or HA HessenAgentur GmbH.