Zeppelin, the German Cat Dealer, is building a New Logistics Hub for Parts in Cologne

In a major strategic move, Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH, the Caterpillar Dealer for Germany, is launching construction of a new logistics distribution centre, LOG25, near Cologne. The facility is poised to become the heart of its spare-parts operations for Caterpillar machines across Germany.

For decades, Zeppelin has maintained its Central Spare Parts Warehouse (Zentrales Ersatzteillager, ZEL) in Cologne, operating since 1967. But as demand has surged—with more than 60,000 Cat machines across Germany now supported by some 800 service technicians, the existing infrastructure has reached capacity. 

To accelerate delivery, boost efficiency, and introduce automation, Zeppelin is investing in a state-of-the-art logistics centre on a plot of about 52,000 m². The structural shell is expected to be completed by December, with full commissioning of order picking slated for 2027.

Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH and the Zeppelin Group

Based in Garching near Munich, Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH is Europe’s leading construction equipment dealer and the exclusive Caterpillar partner for Germany since 1954. The company employs around 1,940 people and operates a nationwide network of 35 branches providing sales, service, financing, and consulting for Cat machinery. Its portfolio spans construction machines from 1 to 150 tons, including excavators, wheel loaders, dozers, and engines, along with certified used equipment and a broad range of digital and rental services. In 2024, Zeppelin Baumaschinen achieved €1.19 billion in revenue, confirming its position as the largest company within the Zeppelin Group. With a service coverage that reaches every region of Germany, the dealer guarantees fast spare-parts availability and customer support through its dense service network and direct connection to Caterpillar’s European logistics center in Grimbergen, Belgium.

The Zeppelin Group operates globally across the construction, industrial, and energy sectors, offering solutions that span machinery sales and rental, power systems, plant engineering, and digital services. Headquartered in Garching and legally based in Friedrichshafen, Zeppelin is present in 29 countries with more than 12,000 employees. The Group is organized into four strategic business units: Construction Equipment, Rental, Power Systems, and Plant Engineering. In 2024, Zeppelin generated €3.8 billion in revenue, and following acquisitions completed in 2025, the consolidated turnover exceeds €5 billion. Owned by the Zeppelin Foundation and Zeppelin Luftschiffbau GmbH, the Group continues to invest in technology, sustainability, and service innovations that strengthen its market presence across Europe, Eurasia, and beyond.

Layout, Design and Capabilities

Inside, the facility will host roughly 16,400 m² of indoor usable space plus 4,000 m² outdoors. It will handle procurement, storage, and nationwide distribution of Cat spare parts and engines to Zeppelin branches and service stations across all business segments in Germany.

Zeppelin plans to deploy modern warehouse technologies including:

• A high-bay warehouse (for palletized stock)
• An AutoStore automated parts system (ideal for small parts, compact storage and efficient picking)
• A dedicated hazardous-materials storage section
• An in-house hydraulic hose assembly workshop
• Beyond its logistics function, the building itself will be built to sustainability standards:

It will adhere to energy standard EG40

• Heating will rely on an air-source heat pump
• The roof is slated for a photovoltaic (PV) installation
• The building envelope is optimized for energy efficiency
• Durable, lasting materials will be chosen for construction, aligning with Zeppelin’s sustainability ambitions

Zeppelin puts this project forward as its largest single real-estate investment to date. “We are rewriting our commitment: 98 % of spare parts within 24 hours,”

says Holger Schulz, CEO of Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH. 

Planning, Site, and Strategy

The LOG25 project has roots dating back to 2020, when Zeppelin conducted a feasibility analysis. By 2022, the logistics centre concept was green-lit. Seven potential options were evaluated, including modernizing the old site, but capacity constraints and aging systems ruled that out.

A major hurdle was finding a suitable location. Zeppelin insisted on staying in Cologne, partly to maintain close ties with the Caterpillar central spare parts hub in Grimbergen (Belgium) which supplies the ZEL twice daily. Also, Zeppelin wanted to avoid displacing its 130 ZEL staff via long commutes.

The selected site is located at Rudolf-Diesel-Straße 36 in Porz-Eil, around 4 km from the existing ZEL in Grengel. It is well connected via Cologne’s ring and the A59, A3, and A4 highways.  AYKA ParX Management GmbH will develop the brownfield site (over 50,000 m²). Patrick Schumacher-Kurowski (AYKA) notes the environmental benefit of redeveloping dormant land, reducing further sealing, and contributing to sustainable industrial growth in the region.

The project received swift support from local authorities: the digital building permit was approved in just nine months, a notably short timeframe for a project of this scale.

Operational Impacts & Scale
In its current ZEL facility, Zeppelin holds approximately 70,000 distinct parts. Daily, up to 9,000 line items depart toward construction sites or workshops. Over 99% of end customers are within Germany.

Parts range from the smallest—an oil sample set under 1 g—to massive components like the Cat 3512 engine, which weighs over five tons.

By centralizing and modernizing its logistics, Zeppelin aims to raise service levels, reduce lead times, and accommodate greater volume. The logistics centre is a foundational pillar for its ambition to deepen market leadership in spare-parts provision.

Zeppelin, the German Cat Dealer, is building a New Logistics Hub for Parts in Cologne published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.