AUTODOC restores full operational capacity at logistics center in Szczecin, Poland

AUTODOC resumes full operations at Szczecin logistics center

• AUTODOC is moving its operations to a new warehouse in Szczecin
• The company’s employees are guaranteed employment and salary payments regardless of the downtime caused by the emergency closure of its largest warehouse “M40” in Park Szczecin I
• AUTODOC’s logistics center in Szczecin is the largest logistics location of the company

Szczecin, 14.09.2023 – AUTODOC has finalized the lease agreements for a new warehouse that will help to restore full operational capacity to its logistics center in Poland, which was affected by the shutdown of one of its three warehouses in Park Szczecin. The new location has started operations today and will replace the closed warehouse “M40”. Throughout this period, employees will receive salaries and be guaranteed workspace at the new location.

As a result of the violent storm on August 18 this year, the roof of the warehouse of which AUTODOC is a tenant was damaged. The company immediately implemented emergency procedures for employees and operations. The company is in constant contact with the owner and investor of the property as well as other involved parties to clarify the situation.

“We take this incident very seriously and thus fully support our Polish subsidiary AUTODOC LOGISTICS in these challenging times. Our business has been affected, as the building serves as a central logistics hub for all AUTODOC distribution centers in Berlin, Szczecin and Cheb. Products of our own Ridex and Stark brands are stored here for replenishment. Therefore, together with the managing directors in Poland, we immediately began to consider various options to mitigate the negative impact on our employees, our business and our customers,” – says Dmitry Zadorojnii, Co-CEO of AUTODOC SE.

AUTODOC has decided to choose an alternative 26,000 square meter warehouse in Szczecin. It is located only 6 kilometers from “M40” and is easy for employees to reach by car or public transport. In the meantime, AUTODOC regained access to designated safe zones of the damaged warehouse and was able to secure/remove 80 % of its goods, which were distributed to other warehouses, including the new location. More than 2,000 employees work at the Polish logistics center in Szczecin, including more than 500 at the “M40” facility in Park Szczecin I, which has been taken out of service. During the shutdown, all employees are receiving their salaries and have been informed of plans to return to work.

“We want to reassure our employees and emphasize that continuity of employment will be maintained. We were working at full capacity to restore warehouse operations and resume work as soon as possible. All employees have received their wages for the overworked month of August, which unfortunately ended prematurely, as well as attendance and performance bonuses in full.” – says Mateusz Piwowarczyk, Managing Director & Board Member at AUTODOC LOGISTICS POLAND & Global Logistics Operations Director at AUTODOC.

All parties involved – Accolade, the investor and landlord, Blue Assets as property manager, Panattoni as developer, general contractor Trasko, as well as PINB (local building inspectorate) and relevant authorities are working closely together to clarify the causes of the incident and rectify the negative impact on AUTODOC. The building remains closed for the duration of the ongoing investigation. “M40” is AUTODOC’s largest warehouse to date and was only completed in July 2022. Warehouses “M10” and “M13” were evaluated by the owner’s facility manager following the incident and were deemed safe and fully functional.