OPTIMA packaging group GmbH

For several years, Optima Management has been working on an extensive building project. In 2016, an assembly hall in the Steinbeisweg was added, a partial renovation of the offices and the integration of the former “Baumarkt” building completed. Additional office updates are in the planning stage. Some other new premises were also acquired.

The ground breaking for the logistics center in the Solpark is the start of the second leg of the building project. Last year several departments were centralized and at the beginning of the year the new materials management department was founded as an independent corporation under the management of Heiko Funk. A new hall and office space was created with the new physical configuration in the Solpark. Within the last few months, in collaboration with their teams, Heiko Funk (Managing Director OPTIMA materials management GmbH), Andreas Kettemann (Supervisor Logistics) and Matthias Dietz (Supervision Optima Facility Management) started the project. Additional building projects will follow, and are in the planning stage.

“By means of a holistic logistics concept we are optimizing the transit amongst the different subsidiaries and the delivery time of machines and spare parts worldwide. For instance, the transportation time for items from one location to the other, through the city, will be reduced by two-thirds. The building of a new innovative logistic center with an investment total in the tens of millions is again a commitment to the region,” explained Hans Bühler (CEO).

>> Innovative storage systems, state-of-the-art work places and optimized energy efficiency <<

The logistic center with approximately 6,000 qm will be the new location for the OPTIMA materials management founded in January 2017.

Holding space for 3,000 pallets and an automatic small parts warehouse offer space for about 60,000 parts. Short transportation routes to the different locations in Schwäbisch Hall create an efficient supply to the assembly areas and therefore reduce expenditures. The new materials management facility will be larger due to additional space already considered for further expansions. Central purchasing, quality management, quality safety, customs, shipping and spare parts service, as well as a service shop will be connected to reduce long transits in the new building. Short routes ensure smooth processes and better communication within the company.

State-of-the-art workspaces, lounges for project meetings, a catering area and a rooftop terrace offering comfort for the employees and well-equipped lavatories are completing the design.

The energy efficient new building, a so-called “Efficient House 55”, is connected to the district heating grid of the city. The heating and cooling of the offices and the hall will be regulated via a center core cooling system through the floor. A photovoltaic system will be installed on the hall roof. Bicycle parking spots and E-mobile connections are also considered. For the visual depiction of the new location Optima uses the Virtual reality Center in the “Haus der Wirtschaft”. The employees received an outlook of the “completed” logistic center and the equipment in July 2017 at the Virtual Reality Center.

Due to the efficient cooperation with the city and the county Schwäbisch Hall, the building permit was received quickly. The new logistic center is an important step for additional growth in a global market for Optima.