"SHA has been involved in logistics processes for decades"
Interview with Christoph Helbich
Christoph Helbich, Managing Partner, talks about the services of SHA Scheffler Helbich Architekten GmbH in the field of logistics. Our architectural office has decades of experience in the industry.
In times of Corona, public life comes to a standstill. Apart from supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies, hardly any stores are still open. Because letter and parcel delivery is guaranteed, online orders are increasing. What is the first thing that comes to mind?
Christoph Helbich: “As a planning office, SHA has been involved in logistics processes for decades. The current extreme situation naturally makes the rapid development of online retail particularly visible. Basically, however, we have been observing for many years how the flow of goods has multiplied due to the market power of large players such as Zalando or Amazon. At the same time, delivery and production times have become shorter and shorter.”
The customer orders today and wants to have his product in his hands the next day if possible.
“Exactly, that is now the standard in normal times – if not same day delivery is required. This applies in particular to end consumers, but also to B2B customers.”
Let’s move on to architecture: what does this mean for SHA’s planning services?
“We plan warehouses, for example, and then design the entire building logistics together with our clients. In addition to intelligent route logistics, this requires a clearly structured delivery, storage, picking and dispatch system.”
Please take us into the history of the company…
“Basically, the SHA office has its origins in logistics, because we came from the building materials trade trade. We have been supporting hagebau and Eurobaustoff for over forty years. We have already planned and realized large central warehouses for hagebau in Herten and for Eurobaustoff in Sittensen, including various extensions over the years. So our clients keep coming back to us – a nice endorsement of our work! Another example: we built a distribution center for UPS in Herne.”
Do you currently have a specific project in mind?
“Yes, we are currently building a new central warehouse for Jordan in Kassel.
Jordan offers its professional customers in the B2B sector 2 million square meters of flooring. Every order received by 4 p.m. is delivered the following working day from the distribution point in Kassel to one of over 60 branches throughout the entire umbrella region.
SHA responded to the client’s needs and designed the central warehouse in such a way that, for example, it was possible to dispense with an elaborate sprinkler system. In total, we are talking about over 20,000 m² of warehouse and logistics space.”
Regardless of the exceptional situation surrounding the coronavirus, how do you think the industry will develop?
“Of course, smaller and smaller warehouses are always necessary in a decentralized manner. The question of how the so-called last mile – i.e. transportation to the customer’s front door – can be managed with intelligent route planning remains a particular challenge.”
Thank you very much for the interview!
