From initial call to final acceptance – that's how hall construction works

Never heard of Herchenbach? Then your journey to a lightweight building might begin with Sara Lülsdorf and her colleagues. They are responsible for acquiring new customers.

Their goal: to provide initial consultations to the right contacts. Specializing in the key B2B sectors for which Herchenbach's warehouses and logistics centers are optimized, they actively approach potential clients.

"If a customer has a need, we guide them through the initial steps, discussing dimensions, providing a price estimate, and answering any questions," says the new customer development specialist. "We want to lay the foundation for the next steps." The advantage for customers: they quickly receive information tailored to their needs. This makes it easy to decide whether a lightweight building is the right product for their storage requirements.

During these initial discussions, key details regarding the building type, installation time, and location are gathered. Upon request, they provide a detailed consultation on the benefits of renting a building. As soon as customers require a concrete offer, it is handed over to the sales representative. Once the project is completed, the information is returned to the customer acquisition team. This allows colleagues to stay in contact with customers if any questions arise after the handover or if further warehouse projects are planned.T

Whether by email, phone, or website, inquiries for a lightweight building from Herchenbach land on the desk of Adina Zimmer and her colleagues in the sales support team. They take over the project from the initial contact to the finished building as soon as a customer actively inquires about a Herchenbach building.

The department's goal is to quickly and accurately assess the planned project through a qualification process. This allows customers to quickly determine the best way to proceed with their building project. Are the B2B-optimized system buildings suitable for their requirements? Are the building dimensions clearly defined? Is there already a desired completion date? After a brief discussion, an appointment is scheduled directly with the sales representatives in the field. This saves customers time. Following the on-site meeting, a customized and reliable quote is prepared immediately.

When a warehouse construction project becomes a concrete plan, the first personal visit from the Herchenbach team takes place. Sales representatives like Marcus Hetterich come to the site for an on-site meeting. The goal: to plan the lightweight building down to the last detail with the customer, ensuring it is best suited to their storage requirements and the construction site, and is also the most cost-effective. The advantages for customers: a precise needs analysis, an assessment of the site conditions, and ample opportunity to find the optimal warehouse solution in a personal consultation.

The initial situations vary considerably. They range from companies that already have very specific ideas and may have even consulted with their own architect, to customers who have a concrete need but still very vague ideas about how to implement it. For sales representatives like Marcus Hetterich, a thorough analysis is therefore the first step in the conversation. What requirements should the lightweight building fulfill? What warehouse space is needed? How can the required dimensions be optimally implemented on the site? Then things get more concrete. The pros and cons of an unheated warehouse versus an insulated warehouse are discussed. Based on the access routes and planned work paths, the type and number of gates and doors are discussed. Fire safety is just as crucial as determining whether the proposed location allows for cost-effective ground anchoring.

Following this detailed analysis, the focus shifts to the technical implementation. Hall dimensions are defined, the structural calculations are performed taking into account applicable wind and snow loads, and the appropriate equipment, from the roofing to the lighting, is selected. The result: a concrete offer for the optimal hall solution. It includes all hall components and any additional services booked from the full-service package, such as a pre-assembly inspection or assistance with obtaining the building permit. The offer also includes the price, making the decision easy.

Further discussions are held to address any questions or change requests until the ideal hall solution is found. Once everything is satisfactory, the handover to the responsible project manager takes place together with the client. The project manager is then responsible for the project's implementation.T

Are the technical details correct? Herchenbach customers can rest assured they are. As soon as the contract for a new hall is signed, Markus Meven and his team scrutinize the plans. What wind and snow loads apply at the construction site? Are the selected structural calculations suitable? Are the individual components compatible with the hall's construction? 

The "Technical Solutions" department delivers exactly what its name suggests: technical solutions for a lightweight hall at the customer's desired location. Thanks to the early technical review by this department, orders can be implemented quickly and reliably. 

Once Markus Meven and his team give their approval, the project management team creates the bills of materials. These list the individual components required for construction. Before the order is submitted to purchasing, the "Technical Solutions" department conducts a final review using the four-eyes principle. For customers, this means security and swift completion of their hall construction project.

But what happens if special requirements regarding hall size or the prevailing wind and snow loads at the construction site mean that the structural calculations from the Herchenbach modular system cannot be used? In such cases, the Special Solutions department develops custom solutions. Detailed drawings allow for direct verification of the feasibility of the hall construction. Furthermore, the team assists clients with coordinating with the building authority. If there are questions regarding building permits and fire safety, the requirements are analyzed and evaluated.

Drawing on experience from thousands of successfully completed hall construction projects, the Technical Solutions team develops various solution options and, upon request, also handles communication with permitting authorities and specialist planners. This makes the path to a new lightweight hall quick and easy.

When a quote for a lightweight hall becomes an order, a Herchenbach project manager like Alexander Walter takes over the next steps. He coordinates the further planning in close consultation with the other departments and serves as Herchenbach's interface to the customer. The advantage for customers: a single point of contact who is familiar with all aspects of the project.

Before the planning is handed over to the project manager, all operational questions, such as hall type, location, and accessories, must be clarified. Then, in a joint meeting with the customer, the sales representative hands the project over to the project manager. "Since we are the customer's technical contact, they can approach us with any further questions," says Alexander Walter. "We explain the requirements for successful hall construction and support them with our experience." After the handover, the drawings are adjusted by the Technical Solutions department if necessary, and the project manager obtains the approval documents from the customer. 

Once everything is in place, the bill of materials for the hall is created, and the availability of materials and assembly teams is checked. During the construction phase, the project manager maintains close contact with the assembly teams until the hall can finally be handed over without defects.s

Can customers forgo a foundation for their hall construction? Herchenbach's pre-assembly inspection, offered by Martin Stengel and the "Technical Solutions" team, provides peace of mind. In many cases, the existing subsoil is sufficient. 

Herchenbach's lightweight halls can be anchored to asphalt, paving stones, or similar ground using ground anchors. The advantage for customers: a time saving of approximately four weeks compared to construction with a foundation, and significantly lower costs. But is the ground suitable? Are there any undocumented utility lines running underground? 

The pre-assembly inspection provides the answers. It can be easily added as a service to the hall construction contract. This gives customers a detailed overview of the site where the lightweight hall is to be built, allowing them to make an informed decision about whether the site is suitable for the cost-effective ground anchoring method. During the on-site geometry check, the site dimensions are digitally recorded using satellite technology. 

The collected data can be directly compared with the hall plans on the computer. Minimum distances and access routes are also taken into account. The elevation profile is analyzed using a comprehensive network of measuring points. Herchenbach lightweight halls can be erected on slopes of up to 1.5% without additional work or associated costs. Even on steeper slopes, construction is possible, although this requires adjustments to the supports.

Further assurance is provided by a soil scan. This allows for the detection of any undocumented utility lines running underground. This protects building owners from unpleasant surprises and potentially high costs in the event of damage. And to be absolutely certain, pull-out tests with ground anchors are conducted at several locations. Then it's clear: this soil is suitable for cost-effective anchoring.

[Translate to EN:] Auf die Bestellungen der Leichtbauhallen hat Ace ein waches Auge. Er ist das Ass im Team Einkauf und sorgt für gute Stimmung. Wenn er nicht gerade geknuddelt wird, liegt er im Büro von Lena Hofenbitzer. Die Supply Chain Managerin und ihre Kollegen haben den genauen Überblick, welche Teile im Herchenbach-Lager vorrätig sein müssen und welche für ein konkretes Bauprojekt zusätzlich bestellt werden. Durch ihre Spezialisierung auf bestimmte Produkte und den guten Kontakt zu weitestgehend langjährigen Lieferanten können sie selbst in einer angespannten Liefersituation kurze Lieferzeiten zu optimalen Konditionen sicherstellen.

Haben Kunden einen Vertrag für eine Leichtbauhalle geschlossen, sind die baurechtlichen Fragen und der Liefertermin geklärt, sendet das Projektmanagement eine Verfügbarkeitsanfrage an den Einkauf. Dort überprüft das Team, ob zum gewünschten Datum alle Teile in passender Stückzahl vorrätig sind und reserviert sie für die Halle im System. Sind Lagerbestand und Lieferzeit geklärt, werden zum Montagetermin Hebezeuge und Transporter bestellt. So kann das Projektmanagement in der Regel innerhalb von drei Tagen den Liefertermin bestätigen – für Kunden bedeutet das optimale Planbarkeit. Darauf hat Ace ein Auge.

[Translate to EN:] Im Herchenbach-Lager in Hennef werden die Bausätze für eine Leichtbauhalle zusammengepackt und auf Lkw verladen. Aus rund 3250 Einzelteilen besteht eine 1000m² große Halle von Herchenbach. Marcel Köppe und sein Team kennen sie alle – von der Millimeter großen selbstdrehenden Flachkopfschraube bis zum über 7 m großen Hallenprofil aus Aluminium. Das Ziel: Eine 0% Fehlerquote. Für unsere Kunden bedeutet das: Die Halle kann exakt im verabredeten Zeitrahmen montiert werden, weil bis zur kleinsten Schraube alle notwendigen Teile auf der Baustelle verfügbar sind.

Bei besonders großen Hallenbauten werden die Aluminiumprofile und Dachplanen direkt auf die Baustelle geschickt. Alle anderen Teile landen erst einmal in Hennef. Dort werden sie im Lager einem internen Qualitätscheck unterzogen und auf die unterschiedlichen Lagerplätze verteilt. Gehen Bestände, die dauerhaft vorrätig sein sollen, dem Ende zu, bekommt der Einkauf direkt eine Information. Aluminiumprofile und Dachplanen werden jeweils aktuell für die konkreten Hallenprojekte bestellt. In der Woche vor dem geplanten Aufbaudatum gehen die Stücklisten vom Projektmanagement ins Lager. Dann ist klar, was genau zu welchem Datum gebraucht wird, und das Packen beginnt. Jedes einzelne Teil wird digital erfasst und in Kisten oder auf Paletten gesammelt. Zum Ende der Woche stehen die Lkw vor dem Lager in Hennef an. Das Lagerteam weiß: Jetzt muss es schnell gehen, denn bis der eine Lkw beladen ist, wartet schon der nächste. Doch nicht nur die Schnelligkeit ist ein wesentlicher Faktor, sondern auch die Genauigkeit. Schließlich muss bis zur kleinsten Schraube am Ende alles stimmen.

[Translate to EN:] Wird eine Leichtbauhalle aufgebaut, sind Herchenbach-Baustellen-Manager wie Oliver Cathrein vor Ort. Er kümmert sich um die Koordination der Monteure und Materialien. Außerdem berichtet er direkt an den zuständigen Projektmanager. Wurden alle Bauteile so geliefert, wie sie gebraucht werden? Sind die passenden Hebezeuge einsatzbereit? Gibt es auf dem Gelände doch noch eine unvorhergesehene Entwicklung, für die mit dem Projektmanagement kurzfristig eine Lösung gefunden werden muss? Auf diese und zahlreiche andere Fragen findet der Baustellen-Manager Antworten, während sich die Montage-Teams auf den Aufbau der Halle konzentrieren können. Dabei sind Oliver Cathrein und seine Kollegen nicht nur im DACH-Raum unterwegs, sondern auch an anderen Standorten in Europa, wo Leichtbauhallen von Herchenbach aufgebaut werden.

Am Ende des Prozesses steht die Abnahme der schlüsselfertigen Halle: Durch die optimierten Prozesse konnte für den Kunden kurzfristig eine langlebige Lagerlösung geschaffen werden.