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Groundbreaking ceremony in Wiehl: Unitechnik builds its own logistics facility

23.03.2026

Unitechnik Systems GmbH is investing 3.5 million euros in a new, automated logistics center at its headquarters in Wiehl. The new logistics center will replace a temporarily leased off-site warehouse.

This forward-looking project lays the groundwork for further growth in the switchgear manufacturing division and marks another milestone for Unitechnik. In the future, mechanical engineering customers will benefit from faster processes, greater supply reliability, and just-in-time delivery for their projects. The entire facility is being built in-house and will consolidate all logistics processes—such as goods receipt, storage, order picking, and work preparation—under one roof. In this way, the automated logistics system supports internal processes and the future development of the Wiehl site.

As the general contractor for automated logistics systems, Unitechnik is handling the planning and implementation of the new logistics center itself. The existing production hall at the Wiehl-Bomig site will be extended by 21 meters and partially raised. Covering a floor area of 1,100 square meters and standing approximately 12 meters tall, a modern logistics center is being built, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The completed facility will ensure a continuous flow of materials from goods receipt through storage and order picking to the supply of switchgear production. The required electrical components will be delivered just-in-time to the work preparation, mechanical assembly, and wiring stations.

Automated, flexible, future-proof
A single-aisle automated small-parts warehouse with 5,000 storage locations using double-deep racking forms the core of the new logistics center in Wiehl. A paternoster system is integrated for the temporary storage of custom-assembled terminal blocks, and the control cabinet enclosures are stored in a manually operated pallet warehouse. Unitechnik’s proprietary warehouse management system, UniWare, manages inventory, ensures a smooth supply to production, and significantly reduces search and travel times. The new facility not only optimizes internal processes at Unitechnik but also sustainably increases customer satisfaction within the Switchgear Division. For example, with the help of the new warehouse, Unitechnik will be able to offer its customers additional services for material stockpiling in the future.

Growth Despite an Industry Crisis
The mechanical and plant engineering industry has been struggling with stagnant order volumes since late 2022, a trend that Unitechnik is also feeling in its switchgear manufacturing division. With the construction of the new logistics center, Unitechnik is sending a clear signal of growth and future viability. The company is investing in its Wiehl location, thereby responding to market demands for flexibility, speed, and efficiency. »We want to emerge stronger from the current phase and be a capable partner for our existing and new customers,« explains Dirk Schütz, Head of Switchgear Construction at Unitechnik. »That is why we are investing in future-proof solutions that optimize our processes and enable further growth.« The groundbreaking ceremony on March 20, 2026, laid the foundation for the earthwork and the foundation slab.