With the notarial certification on 6 August 2026, the green light was given for the construction of a logistics campus by the ThielemannGroup within the FUSION COLOGNE district of Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) at Niehl Harbour. Two logistics facilities are being built on a site of approximately 101,900 square metres, with an investment volume exceeding 100 million EUR. Upon completion, these will be operated as a cohesive campus by the RECHT Logistik Gruppe.
The initial project proposal was further developed in cooperation with the City of Cologne into an adapted, economically viable usage concept. The future facility comprises two opposing hall complexes, connected by a shared loading yard. This configuration enables short distances and flexible processes, optimising space utilisation while creating capacity for approximately 300 skilled jobs.
Navid Thielemann, CEO of the ThielemannGroup, expressed a positive view on the project's realisation with the new, sustainable usage concept. He emphasised that the emerging logistics campus combines high-performance contract logistics, central corporate functions, and attractive work environments at a single location. The direct proximity to Niehl Harbour with its rail connection, as well as traffic links to the A1 and A3 motorways and Cologne/Bonn Airport, are intended to create the conditions for efficient quadrimodal logistics. For the ThielemannGroup, Cologne thus represents a strategically significant location for further corporate development.
Campus Structure and Use
The ThielemannGroup is developing two logistics complexes, each comprising three hall sections and boasting a total building area of approximately 63,700 square metres. The hall areas cover 52,854 square metres, office spaces 3,902 square metres, and mezzanine areas 6,946 square metres. The infrastructure will include 51 loading docks and six ground-level gates to ensure flexible logistics processes.
The RECHT Logistik Gruppe will lease the entire campus and provide logistics services there for the Japanese power tool manufacturer Makita, as well as for other customer projects. Simultaneously, the company's previous headquarters will relocate from Brühl to Cologne, with management and central commercial departments also being situated on the campus. Christian Karl Flick, COO of the ThielemannGroup and CEO of RECHT Logistik Gruppe, highlighted that the new campus will become a core element of the RECHT Logistik Gruppe by consolidating operational and administrative functions and offering room for growth. The relocation of the company headquarters to Cologne underlines the strategic importance of the location.
Sustainability and Outlook
The project represents the first official settlement in the FUSION COLOGNE area. This district, developed by HGK, spans 17 hectares and is to be expanded prospectively to approximately 55 hectares of former industrial land, combining logistics, production, and innovation areas with multimodal transport connections. Steffen Bauer, Chairman of the Board of HGK AG, described the certification as an important milestone and considered the establishment of RECHT Logistik with Makita as a signal for Cologne as an economic and logistics hub. Lisa Hirsch, Managing Director of Fusion Cologne GmbH, added that the further developed concept combines sustainability standards with forward-looking site development that meets the requirements of modern logistics.
A DGNB Gold certification is being sought for the buildings. Plans include photovoltaic systems, green roofs, a district heating concept, and energy-efficient LED lighting. Timber facades for the office area, as well as designed work and social spaces, are envisaged. The outdoor facilities comprise lounge and recreation areas with native plants, as well as an offset area with 1,275 trees and 10,425 shrubs. A focus is placed on electromobility, with charging points for e-bikes, electric cars, and electric lorries, to prepare the site for the electrification of freight transport. The entire FUSION COLOGNE district has successfully completed the auditing process for DGNB pre-certification in Gold, taking into account space efficiency, mobility infrastructure, and sustainable water cycle systems. Construction is expected to commence at the end of the fourth quarter of 2026, following the issuance of the building permit; the building application is in preparation.
