As part of a longer-term commitment to production in the Netherlands Apollo is to partially rebuild its tire warehouse in Enschede. The redevelopment will improve operational efficiency and reduce the facility’s environmental impact. Scheduled to reopen in February 2025, the 25,000m2 warehouse will be redeveloped on the existing site by logistics and semi-industrial real estate company Heylen Warehouses.
The existing facility handles goods for Apollo’s two main product brands – Apollo Tyres (for trucks, buses and off-highway vehicles) and Vredestein (for passenger cars) – and has been in continuous use since 1947. The site currently handles the storage and distribution of over five million tires per year.
Demolition of the current warehouse, known locally as the ‘VDC’, will take place on December 1, 2023. It will then be rebuilt with solar panels on the roof to provide renewable energy to the facility, reducing Apollo’s dependence on power from the grid.
This latest investment at the facility is part of the tire maker’s long-term plan to achieve carbon neutrally by 2050. In addition to the Enschede warehouse, all of the company’s European facilities will be upgraded to improve their sustainability credentials by 2025.
“The new-look warehouse will mark an important milestone for the company as we implement a global strategy to become a more sustainable manufacturer,” said Benoit Rivallant, president and CEO of Apollo Tyres Europe. “Over the last few years, we have made significant investments in the region, including increasing biodiversity, improving local water management and supporting the community. This represents the next important stage in our long-term commitment to Enschede.”
