First of three new construction projects at ‘Cargo West’
This is where goods enter the security area
Cologne Bonn Airport is setting the course for future-oriented cargo handling at the ‘Cargo West’ site and has invested around 6 million euros in a new goods control point, which has now been put into operation as the first building in a complex at a newly constructed interface to the security area. In the future, a border control station and a new entrance gate, also for heavy goods vehicles, will also be built here.
‘The airport is continuously investing in its future infrastructure,’ says Thilo Schmid, CEO of Flughafen Köln/Bonn GmbH. “With the new goods control point, we are creating an important prerequisite for optimising the processes involved in deliveries to our airport in a sustainable manner,” says Schmid.
The new goods control point was built in around 15 months. From now on, all deliveries destined for companies working in the security area will be unloaded, checked and inspected here, reloaded on the airside and delivered to their destination.
In addition to the use of materials that are as durable as possible, many sustainability aspects have been taken into account during construction:
- The building has been constructed using a robust wood-hybrid construction method, using wood from PEFC-certified forestry.
- Electric forklift trucks are charged at night using battery storage with energy from the rooftop photovoltaic system.
- Rainwater from the roof is collected in a cistern, from where it can be pumped for the green spaces and for regular sewer flushing.
- The technical installations were mainly installed visibly and uncovered to avoid the need for additional cladding materials.
- The building is equipped with a wallbox for charging the inspection office's own electric vehicle, as well as the first heat pump at Cologne Bonn Airport.
The structure consists of a hall measuring around 17.5 x 30 metres and creates many synergies with the future neighbouring buildings. The new access gate Z40 will be built to the east of the inspection office and is expected to be operational in September of this year.
Cologne Bonn Airport has been investing in more than 25 major projects since 2022, and thus in the infrastructure of the future. As part of the large-scale investment programme, the focus is not only on cargo but also on all operational areas and the airport terminals.
