Get a quote

Same building, new site – sustainable warehouses and logistics buildings

The construction materials can be completely reused. The soil is not sealed with a foundation: using a modular lightweight industrial tent means logistics buildings or warehouses can be built in a way that is not just quick and cost-effective, but also sustainable.

| Reading time: 4min.

Logistics is not a green sector. The carbon emissions created by transporting goods has continued to climb in recent decades, while warehouses and logistics complexes need an ever-increasing amount of space. The boom in online retail has also contributed to this. But an environmental revolution is underway in the sector. Companies are increasingly attaching importance to sustainability within logistics. “Green logistics” has become much more than just a buzzword for many in the industry. Throughout the sector, individuals and companies are looking for ways to use materials in a more environmentally friendly manner, reduce carbon emissions and reduce the amount of land that is used. Warehouses or logistics halls are an element of the supply chain that is at the very heart of the issue of sustainability within logistics. 

Reduced land usage

The challenge:

Warehouses and logistics buildings take up space. Even small- to medium-sized buildings quickly grow to occupy 1000 square metres, while large industrial tents in a multi-aisle design easily need ten times this amount of space. If a foundation needs to be constructed, the soil is sealed even when the building is no longer needed.

The solution: Industrial tents without foundations

  • Lightweight industrial tents are constructed from an aluminium profile into which wall elements and roofing are inserted. These building are significantly lighter than steel buildings while also being highly stable. This means that CO2 is reduced even at the transport stage, increasing sustainability in logistics.
  • In many cases, no foundation is required. Gravelled or asphalted surfaces can be used. This does not only save up to 100,000 euros per 1000 square metres, it also shortens the construction time by four weeks. As the building can be dismantled without leaving a trace once it is no longer required, the land remains available for further use, making this a more sustainable option.
  • The buildings are anchored with ground spikes, which is a very cost-effective method. These, too, are reusable, just like the profiles, roofing and wall cladding.
Go to our products

Low material consumption

The challenge:

The overall sustainability of a building is determined by its entire life cycle – including the time when it is no longer used. When a permanent building is constructed from steel or reinforced concrete, a huge amount of waste is created. The picture is very different when a mobile prefabricated building is erected, however – and that results in improved sustainability for the logistics sector.

The solution:

  • Lightweight industrial tents are constructed with a frame made from aluminium profiles. A large amount of energy is used in the production process – just as it is when building with steel or cement. Because Herchenbach works with a unique high-strength aluminium alloy, however, all frame components are 100 percent recyclable and can therefore be completely returned to the manufacturing cycle, helping to protect the environment. Even in the case of cutting, no materials are lost.
  • The modular system is a particularly sustainable method of construction. Cleverly combining selected individual parts means that a wide range of building geometries can be built in various sizes. This makes it easy to extend buildings or reduce their size, also resulting in improved sustainability for the logistics sector.
  • If the building is no longer required, 98% of the components and fittings can be used to construct the next building. Every building can be constructed and dismantled or recombined multiple times. It doesn't get any more sustainable than this.

An added benefit: long service life

  • Temporary buildings from Herchenbach score highly when it comes to their service life: they are certified for use as a permanent structure for 50 years.
  • Quick-assembly temporary buildings also benefit from natural protection against corrosion. If aluminium comes into contact with oxygen, its protective oxide layer means it does not need to be additionally treated, unlike steel.
  • The modular system of construction means that any damage, for example from accidents involving a forklift truck, can quickly be repaired, as the individual elements of the wall cladding made from trapezoidal sheets or ISO panels can simply be replaced.
  • If fire prevention regulations change, “hard roofing” can be easily and cheaply retrofitted.
Request a call

Energy-saving lighting

The challenge:

Lighting requirements for a warehouse are very different from those in an office building. Providing warehouse facilities with adequate lighting can be environmentally harmful and cost-prohibitive, however, simply because of the size of the space.

The solution: roofing that lets light through

  • An industrial textile is inserted into the frame as roofing. As well as being highly tear-resistant, this is also light-permeable. Even when the sky is overcast, 500 lux are achieved inside the building during the day.
  • If the space is only used in daylight, no additional lighting is required in many cases. This saves energy – and therefore costs.
  • If the building needs to be used after dusk, the solution on offer isn’t just standard lighting. Instead, LED lights allow a considerable amount of energy to be saved. It is also possible to combine lighting with motion sensors.
Request a quote

Flexible choice of locations

The challenge:

Short transport routes are becoming more important, while flows of goods are changing. Building locations that are attractive today might be less so tomorrow. Many companies in logistics are seeing an increasing need for warehouses and logistics space. Only a few can – or want to – foresee a planning period of more than three years.

The solution: temporary buildings that are easy to erect and dismantle

  • When a temporary building is constructed, the individual elements are not welded. This means that the building can easily be dismantled and then reassembled on another site in a sustainable way. Erecting a building of 1000 m² can be completed in one week.
  • To save CO2 and protect the environment, logistics companies are increasingly focussing on traffic optimisation using route planning. The location of a mobile building can be easily changed in response to changes in flows of goods and customer requirements, making this a very sustainable option.

 

Conclusion: sustainable temporary buildings

With its 100-year history of building construction, including thousands of temporary building projects, Herchenbach combines experience with innovation. Products are continually developed and refined in the company’s in-house engineering department – with a view not only to costs, but also to sustainability within logistics. Various storage and logistics solutions can be implemented quickly and easily with the modular system. Work with our experts to configure the size and layout of your building in a way that best fits your company’s requirements. You can also use our cost-effective financing options. With a rented temporary building you can make significant savings on an investment budget and protect your finances. You will also be protecting the environment, because when you no longer need your building, it will disappear from the site in just a few days and can be sustainably reused in another location.

 

Request a quote

Share this article