Expansion in Erfurt: Zeitfracht Medien moves into a second logistics center

Erfurt, July 13, 2023 : Zeitfracht Medien wants to keep the reins in its own hands: The company, which is primarily active in retail, e-commerce and logistics, is embracing the logistics outsourcing trend and significantly expanding its logistics capacities at the Erfurt site. Zeitfracht Medien is thus equipped for growth. Zeitfracht Medien GmbH also needs more capacity for the growing media and electronics sectors, especially for small and medium-sized publishers.

This is good news for Erfurt, where Zeitfracht Medien already operates a site covering around 360,000 square meters in Ferdinand-Jühlke-Straße - one of the most modern logistics centers for media in Europe. At the beginning of September 2023, a second logistics center will be added, also in Erfurt (An der Flurscheide), which is currently being completed. It comprises a new building with an area of around 40,000 square meters.

With the new building, known internally as Erfurt II, the media logistics company is expanding its capacity by almost 50,000 pallet spaces, doubling the capacity that Erfurt I already offers. The company has more than 100,000 additional pallet spaces in a reserve warehouse in Arnstadt. The two Erfurt logistics locations are primarily served from there. There, the shipments are assembled in high-performance high-bay warehouses and via partly automated distribution systems and delivered directly to bookshops, textile markets or customers via the company's own transport division or parcel services.

Thomas Raff, CEO of Zeitfracht Medien: "Our logistics capacities will be adapted to the continuous growth of Zeitfracht Medien and the increasing business volume in the media, electronics and textiles sectors with the new building. There was no doubt in our minds that construction would take place in Erfurt: We are enthusiastic about the good investment climate in Thuringia and the seamless cooperation with the authorities and institutions. You really get a lot of support here."

Thomas Raff continues: "In a climate of consumer restraint in Germany, we are currently managing to generate growth. In the first half of 2023, we were able to increase our sales by eleven percent compared to the previous year. Of course, we have our customers and partners to thank for this, but also our many motivated and committed employees. And of course, this also includes modern facilities. With Erfurt II, we are now taking a big step forward."

The company also expects growth in the second half of the year. The foundations for this have been laid. Zeitfracht has invested heavily in the future, particularly with the acquisition of its own print shop in Nuremberg and the consistent development and expansion of the print-on-demand business. With print-on-demand, books are only produced when a customer has ordered them. This saves considerable storage costs, is faster than conventional book printing and, above all, opens up the entire German-language market to smaller or foreign-language publishers in a cost-effective way. Zeitfracht has already realized this idea of sustainable book production with 250 publishers. The production facilities for this are constantly being expanded.

There is also growth with the approximately 440 owner-managed members of the bookselling cooperation Buch&Co. They are particularly closely linked to Zeitfracht Medien. Together with their own virtual central warehouse and modern category management modules, these bookstores have a significantly better starting position in competition.

About Zeitfracht Medien GmbH:

Zeitfracht Medien GmbH is the leading logistics service provider for the book and media industry. The company is also active as a service provider for complete fulfillment for brands from many other product areas. Zeitfracht Medien GmbH's logistics center in Erfurt is one of the largest and most modern logistics facilities in Europe.