Cordeel Group launches sustainable logistics warehouse of the future with NEXUS Logistics

New total customized concept is circular, sustainable, fast and evolves with the customer 

Cordeel Group, the Belgian family construction company that grew into a European one-stop shop with several specialized subsidiaries, is pioneering an innovative new customized concept for logistics warehouses: NEXUS Logistics. In it, it brings together its expertise from various fields to set a new sustainability standard in logistics. From bio-based materials and circular construction techniques to thoughtful energy use, biodiversity and maximum adaptability: everything has been thought of. 

Founded in 1934 by founding father Ghislain Cordeel as a joinery, Cordeel has grown over the years into one of the largest construction groups in Belgium, which now also operates on a European scale. Still an independent player, today the family business has several subsidiaries, alliances and joint ventures with diverse areas of expertise that enable it to complete the building process from start to finish: from design and technical support to delivery and maintenance.

Today, Cordeel Group brings all that expertise and insight together in NEXUS Logistics, setting a new standard in the construction of sustainable, future-proof logistics warehouses. Everything has been thought through very thoroughly, with an extensive analysis of the full life cycle of the various elements.

Logistics of the future

"Cordeel has traditionally had great expertise in designing and building logistics warehouses. With the launch of NEXUS Logistics, we are now going one step further: we are making the bridge to the logistics of the future. In it, we gather all the know-how, knowledge and skills that are already being applied today in our individual companies into a future-proof total concept, with which we can quickly create a maximally sustainable, circular and modular warehouse tailored to the specific needs of each customer. Not only do we reduce our customers' ecological footprint and energy bills, we also make their operations future-proof and ready for tomorrow's logistics challenges.", says Kevin De Hainaut, CEO of Cordeel Belgium. "This is only possible through a thorough focus on sustainability, and by making full use of the synergies within the Cordeel Group."

This does not start from a fixed set of building blocks: Cordeel's own 'design & build' team sits down with the customer and develops the perfect warehouse based on its unique needs. Only behind the scenes is there a certain standardization (e.g. at BIM level) and the necessary integration within the group's ecosystem to ensure that everything fits together optimally. 

Sustainable, futureproof and fast 

The NEXUS Logistics concept is: 

SUSTAINABLE

• The energy consumption of the techniques is limited to 20 kWh/m²/year, ​ where a few years ago the industry average was 70 kWh/m²/year was.
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  • Use of energy-efficient heating and cooling technologies with 100% heat pump technology and low GWP values of refrigerant gases
  • Heat and cold emission systems at low temperature regimes for maximum climate comfort and demand-controlled ventilation with heat recovery
  • Smart LED lighting with presence and daylight control 
  • Possibility of providing solar panels, with the installation being optimally sized according to the needs of the user
  • Charging infrastructure for cars and trucks are provided and can be expanded step by step
  • Ability to easily add a stationary battery system to the building's electrical grid, again according to the user's needs
  • Monitoring of energy flows and integration into the Building Management System; in function of the total installation, this can be expanded with a full-fledged Energy Management System in order to not only measure, but also intelligently steer and further reduce the total energy cost
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• The embodied carbon, i.e., the CO₂-emissions from the materials used, of 178 kg of CO₂/m² amounts to a reduction of 38% versus classic concrete warehouses. This is possible by focusing, among other things, on the one hand on bio-based (for example, for façade insulation, paint and wooden beams) and on the other hand low-emission materials (for example, low-carbon steeldeck). The precast concrete elements produced by C-concrete are also manufactured with green concrete.

FUTUREPROOF

• The warehouse is circular and modular. That is, it Evolves with the needs of each business and can be adjusted, expanded or reduced in function, with no loss of materials. The internal layout can also be changed easily. 
• Aligned with the EU taxonomy and BREAAM Excellent.

FAST

• Sophisticated preparation using a template BIM model incorporating all possible execution details
• Optimal cooperation within the Cordeel Group's diverse ecosystem ensures that the various companies and the techniques used are optimally attuned to each other
• Extensive prefabrication, including in the structure of the warehouse using concrete combined with wood

In addition, the durability is in a host of other details:

• Efficient systems and techniques that require little maintenance;
• Aspiration system for fire detection with PFAS-free fire extinguishers;
• Traffic flow optimization;
• Collection and reuse of rainwater;
• Limit drainage and permeable paving;
• Green roofs and green spaces with attention to local biodiversity and wildlife: flowers and plants, insects, birds...;
• Recreation areas to promote employee well-being;

"So NEXUS Logistics is really a total concept, where we are committed to innovation to create smart, energy-efficient and emission-free solutions. We hope to be a pioneer within the construction industry by doing so", concludes Kevin De Hainaut.