BUILDING AND PLANNING WAREHOUSES
- DRIVING YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
For over 60 years, Astron has been helping companies across Europe to build warehouses that are far more than just additional space. Every warehouse is built in close coordination with your processes, your space requirements and your growth targets. In this way, you not only create space, but also invest in efficient processes, smooth logistics and long-term returns.
With Astron, you receive the complete scope of services from a single source: consulting, planning, structural engineering and construction. An experienced team accompanies you from the initial idea to the turnkey handover. The proven construction method enables free spans of up to 100 metres and maximum design freedom. By combining standardised construction elements with individual solutions, a warehouse is created that suits your company perfectly.
A decisive advantage lies in its flexibility: an Astron warehouse can be adapted again and again over its entire service life - to new technologies, changing goods flows or growing requirements. This means you are investing in a building that grows with your company.
Production takes place in our own production facilities using high-quality materials. This ensures quality, precision and reliability in every construction phase. Whether as an industrial hall, logistics hall or commercial hall - you will always benefit from durable solutions that combine functionality and architecture at the highest level. Whether simple roofing for a quick extension or a complex logistics centre with 30,000 m² of space: with Astron, you will get a warehouse that is economical, can be flexibly extended and guarantees you long-term success.
Fast delivery, fast use
Fixed costs
Binding dates
Free span up to 100 m
More than 58,000 references
Everything from a single source
WAREHOUSE VARIANTS - as flexible as your logistics
Warehouses - the versatile classic
Warehouses play a central role in your logistics or production operation. This is where you store raw materials, semi-finished products, finished products and more. We customise the warehouse flexibly to your needs and the requirements of your industry.
Typical areas of application:
- Industrial & production facilities
- Commercial warehouse for trade & wholesale
- Spare parts warehouseConstruction types and equipment:
- Steel halls or system halls with self-supporting spans
- Roller & sectional doors, arcade rooflights, ventilation systems
- Connection to loading zones or rampsYour benefits:
- Inexpensive to build & quick to realise
- Flexible use for a wide range of goods
- Easy to expand & adapt
Logistics warehouses - the hub of your goods flows
Increase the efficiency of your supply chain by combining storage, handling and transport organisation within a single warehouse: the logistics warehouse.
Typical areas of application:
- Logistics service providers & freight forwarders
- E-commerce & mail order
- Automotive & mechanical engineering
- Food & pharmaceutical logisticsConstruction types and equipment:
- Self-supporting halls with high flexibility for the flow of goods
- Docking stations, high-speed doors, lorry access
- Optional integration of refrigerated areas, intermediate ceilings, or as a warehouse with officesYour benefits:
- Optimised flow of goods & short throughput times
- Scalable as the company grows
- Can be combined with digital logistics systems
Forwarding warehouses - for fast goods handling
If fast goods handling is your priority, a freight forwarding warehouse is the right solution for you. The storage and loading zones for incoming and outgoing goods form the heart of your transport logistics - within an optimised warehouse.
Typical areas of application:
- Forwarding companies
- CEP services (courier, express, parcel)
- Transport logistics in industry & tradeTypes and equipment:
- Handling zones with loading ramps & door systems
- Short distances for fast loading & unloading
- Optional warehouse with office for dispatchingYour benefits:
- Efficient goods handling with high frequency
- Direct connection to transport infrastructure
- Flexible use depending on shipping method
Cold storage / deep-freeze warehouses - for temperature-sensitive products
Your sensitive goods need constant temperatures - with a cold store you are on the safe side. Whether fresh food storage at +4 °C or deep-freeze storage at -20 °C - we offer you a customised warehouse solution.
Typical areas of application:
- Food industry & wholesale
- Pharmaceutical storage
- Chemical productsTypes and equipment:
- Insulated panel design with refrigeration units
- Temperature zones can be combined
- Hygienic floor & wall coveringsYour benefits:
- Constant refrigeration for sensitive goods
- Energy-efficient refrigeration technology
- Customised refrigeration zones as required
Transshipment halls / cross-docking - always on the move
With a transshipment hall or cross-docking hall, you can ensure smooth supply chains - with short dwell times and fast turnover of goods in the warehouse.
Typical areas of application:
- Parcel services and shipping logistics providers
- Wholesale & interim storage
- Logistics hubsTypes and equipment:
- In-line loading gates, dock levellers
- Ramp systems, short distances
- Can be extended to include storage or picking areasYour benefits:
- Minimised handling times
- Efficient goods forwarding
- More favourable storage costs
Picking halls / fulfilment - tailor-made for e-commerce
Storage, picking, packing and dispatch in one efficient process - and within one warehouse. Picking halls and fulfilment centres are an indispensable building block for up-and-coming online retailers.
Typical areas of application:
- online shops & platform operators
- e-commerce logistics service providers
- mail order & returns logisticsTypes and equipment:
- Flexible storage areas for small and large goods
- Pick & pack zones with conveyor technology
- IT-supported warehouse management systems (WMS)Your benefits:
- Efficient processes from order to dispatch
- Scalable with growing order volumes
- Reduction in error rates and delivery times
Distribution centres / last-mile-delivery-hub - your logistical basis
Whether central storage or fast delivery: if you want to move goods efficiently, your company needs a high-performance distribution centre or hub. From high-volume transhipment to the last mile - secure your logistics in a hall that is precisely tailored to your needs.
Typical areas of application:
- Wholesale & retail
- E-commerce platforms
- Central warehouses of production companies
- Regional delivery hubs for the last mileTypes and equipment:
- Space-optimised warehouses with picking and sorting zones
- Automated conveyor systems & scanner technology
- High-bay areas or delivery areas for route planningYour benefits:
- Fast sorting & distribution of large quantities of goods
- Efficient utilisation of space & personnel
- Connection to shipping, transport & delivery networks
Bulk goods warehouses & storage sheds - flexible storage solutions
Whether loose stored goods or valuable machinery: With a suitable storage solution, you can reliably protect your materials and technology from the weather and ensure efficient processes during storage and retrieval.
Typical areas of application:
- Building materials trade & recycling companies
- Agriculture & agribusiness
- Energy & raw materials storage
- Construction & craft businesses
- Municipal building yards & utility companiesConstruction types and equipment:
- Open or partially closed, with high drive-in height
- Robust floor panels for wheel loader operation
- Steel constructions with trapezoidal sheet metal or sandwich panels
- Optionally with partition walls, boxes or technical areas
- Accessible by lorry, wheel loader or tractorYour benefits:
- Fast filling & emptying
- Cost-effective weather protection for machines & vehicles
- High resistance & modularly expandable
- Preservation of material and vehicle value
EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
Your optimised warehouse from the specialist
Throughout Europe, companies rely on Astron's proven quality, innovative strength and reliability in warehouse construction. More than 58,000 successfully realised projects show how complex requirements can be implemented economically and efficiently in modern warehouses - regardless of industry, size or location.
A team of over 150 engineers and architects analyses your processes and develops customised concepts. Each warehouse is created using state-of-the-art tools, high-quality materials and in-house production - precise, durable and functional.
Whether a forwarding warehouse, transshipment warehouse, order picking centre or flexible industrial warehouse: your goals determine the planning. You benefit from solutions that optimise processes, use space efficiently and are architecturally impressive.
In short, a warehouse from Astron is more than just a building. Modern logistics halls and industrial halls increase the efficiency of your logistics, create flexibility for further growth and ensure sustainable success.
WELL PLANNED IS HALF BUILT
Free planning aid as PDF
Building a warehouse starts with smart preparation. Our planning guide provides you with everything you need: compact checklists, practical tips and the right questions to get you started with warehouse planning. Free, direct, helpful - for all those who expect more than just standard from their warehouse.
OUR KNOW-HOW
Your new warehouse will benefit from our expertise. And so do you.
Warehouses today have to do more than simply offer space: They need to speed up processes, save energy, remain flexible - and, of course, be financially viable. This is exactly where our expertise comes into play.
For us, every logistics centre project begins with a close examination of your individual requirements: What goods will be stored? What do your processes look like? What extensions are conceivable? Step by step, this results in a concept that fits perfectly - technically, functionally and economically. From the initial idea and planning to the turnkey handover of your new warehouse: with every step, we get closer to your goals.
We advise you on floor plans, materials and technical solutions - always with an eye on the big picture. It's not just the investment costs that count for us, but also the operating costs over the entire service life of your warehouse. We use digital tools such as BIM to ensure speed and transparency. The result: a customised warehouse that grows with your requirements.
BUILDING INDIVIDUAL STORAGE HALLS - Fast. Efficient. Technically mature.
We use innovative products to adapt your industrial hall flexibly to your requirements. Instead of rigid grid dimensions, we rely on variable solutions - and thus create warehouse floor plans that precisely match your individual processes.
The supporting structure forms the stable basis of your logistics hall. We combine roof solutions and wall solutions to suit your utilisation. With additional elements such as canopies, roof overhangs or parapets, we set design accents and expand the functionality.
Commercial hall accessories such as crane runway girders, floor slabs or window elements complement the fittings perfectly. With materials such as stone, wood or glass, we create space for architectural freedom and customised design.
Because we use high-strength steels, the construction is lighter - and therefore more economical. Construction as a customised steel hall reduces transport costs and simplifies assembly. The result: a lightweight hall that not only works, but also pays for itself.
WHAT WILL YOUR WAREHOUSE COST?
At first glance, the construction of a new commercial warehouse appears to be a major investment. However, the pure construction costs are often manageable. The long-term operating costs are decisive - from energy consumption and maintenance to taxes and ongoing management. Location, equipment and energy efficiency also have a significant impact on the overall costs.
It is therefore important to take a holistic view of the total costs of an industrial building. The central question is not just: "How much will it cost to build the warehouse?", but rather: "How economically will the building function over many years?"
This is precisely where Astron provides support: using our CYPRION software and supplementary analysis tools, we simulate various scenarios, calculate the long-term warehouse costs and identify potential savings. This allows you to realistically calculate and compare the costs of a warehouse.
Find out here which factors determine the costs of a logistics warehouse, which equipment is worthwhile and how you can make your warehouse future-proof:
HOW DOES THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF A WAREHOUSE WORK?
Building a warehouse is more than just a construction project - it is a strategic step for your company. From the initial idea to the finished warehouse, there are many decisions to be made: Which construction method is optimal? What is the best utilisation? And how can the project be realised in an economical, sustainable and future-proof way?
Astron will guide you through the entire process - in a structured, efficient and cooperative manner. From analysing requirements and warehouse planning with digital tools such as CYPRION to prefabrication, assembly and turnkey handover: you benefit from clear procedures, well-established processes and an experienced network. This allows you to keep an eye on costs, reduce risks and gain planning security.
Find out on the following page how an industrial construction project actually works - and where Astron relieves, accelerates and supports you:
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS - short answers
Astron helps you to realise your ideas - within a fixed time frame and a fixed budget. And this happens particularly quickly thanks to the system approach, automated production and prefabricated, perfectly harmonised products.
As a rule, your building is completely planned and produced in just 10 to 14 weeks. Assembly is completed by certified fitters in just a few weeks, and the interior work is also completed quickly.
Example calculation: 14 weeks planning & production + 8 weeks assembly + 8 weeks completion = half a year
Result: A fast construction process, rapid commissioning and therefore a rapid return on investment.If you want to build a warehouse, you will usually need planning permission. A planning application for a warehouse is required by law as soon as it is a permanent, localised building. Astron supports you right from the start: We prepare the necessary documents, have experience with the authorities and accompany you all the way through to authorisation.
When is planning permission required for a warehouse?
- Permanent building (fixed location):
Always subject to authorisation. The building application is submitted to the responsible building authority by a planner authorised to submit building documents.
- Temporary warehouse (e.g. tent or lightweight hall, 3-6 months):
Often considered a "temporary building". In this case, a notification to the building authority with an inspection book is sufficient; formal authorisation is not required.What documents are required for the building application for a warehouse?
- Site plan of the property
- Construction drawings (floor plan, section, view) of the warehouse
- Structural analysis
- Description of the planned use
- Fire protection concept, if applicable
- Proof of access (access road, electricity, water, etc.)Important notes on the building application:
- Depending on the federal state, different state building regulations apply with additional requirements for the construction of warehouses.
- Changes of use, such as the conversion of an existing hall into a warehouse, are also subject to authorisation.
- Stricter regulations often apply to commercial warehouses, particularly with regard to workplace regulations and fire protection.Yes, under certain conditions you can also build warehouses without foundations - but only in special cases. The decisive factor is whether the building is temporary or permanent.
When is it possible to build a warehouse without a foundation?
Temporary lightweight buildings or so-called "temporary buildings" can be erected without a foundation if they:
- are only used temporarily (e.g. 3-6 months)
- are not firmly attached to the ground
- are secured with ground nails or ballast
- meet the static requirements such as wind and snow loadsWhen is a foundation mandatory?
A foundation is almost always required for a permanent storage building. It ensures:
- long-term stability
- compliance with relevant building regulations (e.g. DIN EN 1991)
- eligibility for approval by the building authorityRequirements for a hall without foundations:
- Load-bearing floor for ground spikes or ballasting
- No basement
- Structural analysis certificate available
- Use exclusively for storage, not for production or commercial workConclusion: It is possible to build a warehouse without a foundation if it is only used temporarily and is categorised as a temporary building. For permanent use, however, a foundation is almost always mandatory - both for structural and legal reasons.
If you are looking for speed, cost-effectiveness and flexibility when building a warehouse, a steel hall with a modular design is the right choice. Steel buildings can be tailored precisely to your requirements, offer a short construction time and can be completely dismantled and rebuilt at another location if necessary. This allows you to remain flexible in the long term.
Concrete halls only come into their own in a few special cases - for example, if there are exceptionally high fire or sound insulation requirements. However, they are permanently tied to one location and are significantly less adaptable if your utilisation or operational requirements change.
In direct comparison, the steel hall impresses with its versatility, rapid realisation and sustainable cost-effectiveness. It is therefore the future-proof solution for most construction projects.
What is really worthwhile?
Whether you should build, buy or rent a warehouse depends on your needs, budget and future plans. In a direct comparison, a new build offers the greatest advantages: you get a customised warehouse that perfectly matches your requirements, creates long-term value and meets the latest standards.Building a warehouse
With a newly built warehouse, you are investing in a solution that is precisely tailored to your needs: the right size, optimised equipment, energy-efficient construction and architecture that can be extended if required. Government subsidies can reduce the costs. Although construction requires a higher initial investment and a little more time, the result is a long-term, flexible and value-enhancing solution.
→ Ideal for companies with a clear growth strategy and specific requirements.Buy a warehouse
An existing property is often available at short notice and offers ownership with depreciation options. Disadvantage: The hall is not customised, is often less energy-efficient and ties you to a fixed location with no option to expand.
→ More suitable for companies with constant needs that do not require customisation.Rent a warehouse
Renting requires low initial costs and offers flexibility, for example in the event of seasonal demand or a change of location. However, renting is more expensive in the long term, does not create any intrinsic value and makes you dependent on the landlord.
→ Practical for start-ups or companies with very short-term requirements.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
TOP 3 REASONS FOR BUILDING A HALL WITH ASTRON
Customised design
Your wishes are translated into flexible industrial halls that meet all your needs and take your specific processes into account.Accompanying support
From the initial idea, we accompany you through the construction process right up to realisation.Open for future developments
Future expansions and adaptations can be easily implemented, so that your building can be flexibly adapted to the development of your company. An Astron hall can be used or remodelled several times - and at the end of its life cycle, the steel used is 100% recycled.
Our warehouses are highly energy-efficient and durable with an operating life of over 50 years. The system construction with prefabricated steel components ensures high quality, low maintenance and a particularly long service life. Complemented by highly efficient insulation systems and the use of durable, low-maintenance materials, operating costs are permanently minimised.
We invest in research and development in order to offer ever more innovative and efficient solutions for cycle-orientated and carbon-free construction. The components of our system construction are an essential basis for the circular economy.
We can build big - without restrictions. Thanks to various construction methods such as welded, hot-rolled or cold-formed, we can create warehouses with a free floor plan design, with no limits in terms of geometry. We combine materials such as steel, concrete or wood according to your wishes. The halls are flexible, functional and offer numerous architectural possibilities. You will be surprised how much design freedom a warehouse from Astron offers.
FREE ADVICE
No off-the-shelf solutions: with us, you get advice that really suits you. With over 150 engineers, decades of experience and real industry expertise, we work with you to develop the best answer to your challenge. Personalised, individual and free of charge.