SCHAEFER Systems International (SSI), a leading provider of warehousing, materials handling and shelving systems, opened its new regional headquarters at Dubai World Central (DWC) in the UAE last month.

Taking advantage of DWC’s purpose-built aviation and logistics infrastructure, the 5,000-sq-m headquarters will serve the entire Middle East and African markets.

It was inaugurated by UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori in the presence of SSI Schaefer CEO Rudolf Keller, SSI Schaefer managing director Asia Pacific and MEA (Middle East and Africa) Brian Miles, SSI Schaefer MEA general manager Matthias Hoewer, Dubai Aviation City Corporation executive chairman Khalifa Al Zaffin, Dubai Aviation City Corporation COO Rashed Bu Qara’a, and other officials from the government and banking sector.

Keller said: “The Middle East and Africa region is an important growth market for SSI Schaefer and will be a key focus area of its global expansion programme. The transfer of our headquarters to Dubai World Central is an important move that gives us greater flexibility to pursue our growth plans in the region. DWC provides all the business and logistics facilities that we require, adding momentum to our ongoing expansion programme in the Middle East and Africa. Moreover, we look forward to serving the government and semi-government sectors in particular and the UAE in general, as we shed light on the proper solutions for logistics systems.”

Al Zaffin said: “The inauguration of the new headquarters manifests the strategic importance of DWC as a key aviation and logistics hub for global manufacturers. DWC opens new possibilities for companies to expand their geographical reach, while enhancing operational efficiency and overall productivity. We are very pleased to contribute to Schaefer’s continuing success and growth in the region.”

Bu Qara’a said that DWC has generated strong interest from global companies such as SSI Schaefer which are looking to strengthen their presence and market reach in the Middle East, Africa and Asian markets. “Our partnership with Schaefer also demonstrates the distinct ability of Dubai World Central to cater to the specific demands of businesses from diverse industries through a multimodal platform for aviation and logistics sectors,” he said.

SSI Schaefer is a world leading supplier in intra-logistics and racking/shelving systems (storage equipment) with more than 50 subsidiaries worldwide.

Founded in 1937 in Germany by Fritz Schaefer, SSI Schaefer currently employs more than 9,000 people in 16 factories around the world.

DWC is a strategic initiative of the government of Dubai that strongly positions the emirate as a leading international trade centre. It has been developed to meet the present and future needs of Dubai’s aviation, tourism, trade and logistics sectors.

Recognised as the Middle East’s first aerotropolis, DWC is one of the most ambitious projects of its kind in the world comprising the new Al Maktoum International Airport, set to be the world’s largest in volume and size upon completion, and the adjacent specialised free zones focused on logistics sectors and aviation industries. It occupies an area of 140 sq km in Jebel Ali and is in close proximity to Jebel Ali Seaport, the sixth largest container terminal in the world.