DHL Supply Chain celebrated the key milestone ceremony for its new Jena-Apolda logistics center together with customers, partners, representatives of the City of Apolda, and guests from the worlds of business and politics. The ceremony marks a key milestone in the project, with the site scheduled for completion in March 2027. With this investment, the company is expanding its network in one of central Germany's leading technology and business regions.

The approximately 64,700-square-meter site will feature a logistics facility comprising nearly 27,000 square meters of warehouse space and more than 2,300 square meters of office and employee facilities. The site will serve customers from technology-driven and industrial sectors while providing capacity for further growth in the region.

“With our new site in Apolda, we are making a targeted investment in the fast-growing Jena region, a leading center for technology and innovation and a region with strong potential for technological advancement and sustainable economic development,” says Katrin Hoelter, CEO DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps. “This investment strengthens our presence in a region that is becoming increasingly important for future-focused industries such as semiconductors, high-tech manufacturing, the healthcare sector and battery technologies. The close proximity to our customers, strong infrastructure and the region's economic momentum create excellent conditions for long-term success. The logistics center strengthens our position as a leading logistics partner for high-tech and industrial companies while underlining our commitment to Thuringia as a center of business.”

The site combines proximity to key customers, including ZEISS in Jena, with a strategic location between the major economic and technology centers of Jena, Erfurt and Weimar. With excellent transport links, the new logistics center is ideally positioned to support domestic and international supply chains while ensuring fast response times and a high delivery performance. The site also offers additional space for future growth.

“With the new Jena-Apolda logistics center, we are creating the capacity to support the growth of existing customers while opening up new opportunities with innovation-driven companies,” says Aiste Slabokaite Heid, Business Unit Director DHL Supply Chain Germany & Alps. “Today our customers expect resilient, sustainable and high-performance supply chains. Apolda will provide exactly that. The site’s strategic location, in immediate proximity to the innovation landscape around Jena and the ZEISS ecosystem, positions us within one of Germany’s most dynamic technology clusters and enables us to support our customers' growth over the long term.”

The logistics center supports DHL Supply Chain’s existing network in central Germany and strengthens the company’s presence in an economically dynamic region. Upon completion of the site in spring 2027, DHL Supply Chain expects to create around 50 to 70 jobs initially. This number is set to grow to around 100 to 120 employees by 2028. In doing so, the company is not only investing in modern infrastructure, but also in long-term career and development opportunities in the region while contributing to its economic growth.

“DHL Supply Chain's investment is a strong signal for Apolda as a business location. The company is not only investing in modern logistics infrastructure, but also creating new jobs and long-term development perspectives for our region. We are delighted to welcome DHL Supply Chain to Apolda and take another important step together for the economic future of our city,” says Olaf Mueller, Mayor of Apolda.

In addition to creating jobs, the project places a strong focus on long-term sustainability and energy efficiency. The site is being constructed in line with the Gold certification criteria of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), and will feature a photovoltaic system, modern air-source heat pumps, energy storage technology and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The facility also offers extensive options for automation and digitalization, and is designed to meet future customer and market requirements.

The ceremony marks an important milestone in the completion of the project. The new site strengthens the regional logistics and technology landscape and lays the foundation for DHL Supply Chain’s further growth in Thuringia and beyond.