Our Wolfenbüttel expansion adds capacity, expertise and rail access to support chemical and electric vehicle (EV) supply chains. But why expand an established logistics hub rather than build one from scratch?

In September 2026, we broke ground on a €50 million expansion of our chemicals logistics hub in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. The project will add 30,000 m² of purpose-built storage designed to accommodate both chemicals and lithium-ion batteries, alongside a new rail terminal. Once complete, Wolfenbüttel will become our flagship chemicals and lithium-ion storage facility in Europe, combining both capabilities at a single location as part of a fast-growing network of lithium-ion storage sites across Germany.

Wolfenbüttel has been an important location for our chemicals logistics business for many years, supporting our customers across Germany’s major agricultural regions. Located in Lower Saxony, one of the country’s leading arable-farming states, the site is well positioned to serve the wider agricultural heartland of northern and central Germany, including nearby regions such as Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Its position in central Germany also provides strong access to the country’s automotive manufacturing centres, including major production clusters across Lower Saxony and Saxony.

This has become increasingly relevant as the German automotive industry undergoes a fundamental shift towards EVs. Germany built 1.67 million electric passenger cars in 2025, including 1.22 million battery EVs, a 23% increase in total EV production. Germany remains the world’s second-largest EV production hub after China, and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) expects battery EV production to increase by a further 10% this year.

The industry's growth is accelerating demand for chemicals logistics. Battery production and EV manufacturing require a wide range of specialist chemicals and materials, from battery electrolytes and coatings to adhesives, polymers and other materials used throughout the vehicle.

Why Expanding Wolfenbüttel Made Sense

Wolfenbüttel’s proximity to major automotive manufacturing clusters was an important factor in our decision to expand our capabilities at the site, but geography was only part of the equation. Three further factors were critical:

1. Space to grow, with expertise already in place

The first consideration was whether there was room to expand alongside the existing footprint. Expanding at Wolfenbüttel allows us to build on the site's existing capabilities. It was originally developed around the requirements of the chemicals industry and already has the infrastructure and workforce needed to support complex logistics operations. Rather than starting again elsewhere, we can build on those foundations. The result will be a broader logistics operation serving two important industrial supply chains from a single location.

2. An established regulatory framework that supports ambition

Another advantage of expanding Wolfenbüttel was the regulatory framework already in place. The existing site has an established permit for the storage and handling of chemicals and hazardous products, and we have secured a deliberately broad permit for the expansion that allows us to handle lithium-ion batteries alongside these existing activities. Building on this established framework meant we could extend the site’s capabilities rather than having to secure the necessary permitting from scratch at a new location.

The technical infrastructure has also been designed to provide flexibility as products, volumes and customer requirements change. The expansion therefore opens a new capability for the automotive sector while allowing the site to continue supporting existing chemicals customers and adapt to future requirements.

3. Direct access to the rail network

The major differentiator will be the new rail terminal, which will give Wolfenbüttel a direct connection to the rail network. Once complete, the site will be the only dangerous-goods warehouse in the region with a direct rail connection.

The opportunity to combine this new capability with an established chemicals logistics operation was a significant advantage. Rather than creating a standalone battery facility elsewhere, we can integrate specialist lithium-ion battery storage, existing chemicals expertise and direct rail access at a single location.

This gives customers greater choice in how they organise their supply chains, while strengthening links between Wolfenbüttel and our wider European logistics network.

Greater capacity and choice for our customers

The decision to expand Wolfenbüttel is therefore not simply about adding another warehouse. By combining our existing chemicals expertise with purpose-built lithium-ion battery storage and direct rail access, we are creating a more versatile logistics hub for both established and emerging industrial supply chains.

For our customers, that means new capacity, new transport options and greater flexibility, all from a location with an established track record in chemicals logistics.

Find out more about our chemical and battery logistics solutions.