On October 1, 2026, Thalia officially opened its new omni-channel hub in the gate.ruhr business park in Marl, Germany. At the heart of the highly automated facility is an AutoStore system delivered by Element Logic, currently the most powerful installation of its kind in Germany. With this new facility, Thalia is strengthening the connection between its physical stores and online business, creating a more efficient and flexible logistics operation to support future growth.

A new logistics hub connecting physical and online retail

Covering approximately 56,000 square meters (603,000 sq. ft.), the new site has been developed as an innovation hub with fully integrated logistics and fulfillment capabilities.

The omni-channel hub will play a central role in supplying Thalia’s bookstores, toy stores, and online customers with books and a wide range of additional products.

The official opening ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thomas Terhorst, Mayor of Marl.

Today, we are opening much more than a new logistics center. The omni-channel hub in Marl is a technology and innovation hub for Thalia. This is where we are investing in the future of our company, and where we demonstrate our strong confidence in the future of bookselling.

Ingo Kretzsch, CEO of Thalia Bücher GmbH.

The solution: AutoStore by Element Logic at the core of operations

The new site combines state-of-the-art automation with highly efficient fulfillment processes. Element Logic delivered the AutoStore system as part of the automated intralogistics solution, featuring 530 robots and 280,000 storage bins, with the capacity to store and process up to 10 million items for distribution.

The system includes 69 picking ports and 27 additional inbound ports, supported by an extensive conveyor network connecting the AutoStore system to other key areas of the facility.

By implementing the solution, Element Logic is helping power automated product fulfillment at the new site. The system forms a critical part of the infrastructure that enables Thalia to serve both its physical retail stores and digital sales channels with speed, reliability, and flexibility.

The automated solution is complemented by designated areas requiring manual handling, along with additional fulfillment and production processes.

Supporting future growth and efficient fulfillment

With the new omni-channel hub, Thalia has established a central logistics facility designed to support both its physical retail network and growing online business.

The combination of automated storage, integrated fulfillment processes, and additional manual handling areas provides a flexible infrastructure for managing a wide range of products and distribution requirements.

The facility represents an important step in strengthening Thalia’s logistics capabilities and creating a foundation for future growth.

New opportunities on a former mining site

The omni-channel hub is located on the site of the former Auguste Victoria 3/7 coal mine. For decades, mining shaped the region’s economic development. Today, the business park is creating new industrial, technology, and logistics jobs, helping transform the area for the future.

Once fully operational, the Thalia site is expected to employ up to 1,000 people. The facility will also create opportunities for apprentices, trainees, and students seeking hands-on industry experience while completing their education.

“This region has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt and evolve. Here, industrial history is being transformed into economic opportunity for the future. We are proud to be part of this development and look forward to making a long-term contribution to Marl and the wider region.” says Ingo Kretzschmar, CEO of Thalia Bücher GmbH.

Sustainability at the core of the project

Sustainability has been a key focus throughout both the construction and operation of the new facility. The building meets Germany’s Energy Efficiency House 40 standard and is equipped with a rooftop solar power system. Heating is provided through heat pump technology.

Green roofs and façades, rainwater management systems, and a biodiversity program featuring wildflower meadows and nesting habitats further support the site’s sustainability goals.

The property was developed in partnership with ECE Work & Live, which has operated as ParkProperty Europe since March 2026, serving as project developer, while Goldbeck acted as the building’s general contractor.

Construction moved quickly, with the facility completed in less than two years from groundbreaking in December 2024 to the start of operations in early 2026.

Thalia facility featured by Westdeutscher Rundfunk

The German broadcaster WDR covered the opening of Thalia’s new site as part of its Lokalzeit Dortmund program. The feature aired on October 1, 2026, and highlights the new facility and its significance for the region.
Watch the feature on WDR

Facts & Figures 

• 530 AutoStore R5 Robots
• 280,000 bins
• Up to 10 million items of storage capacity
• 69 picking ports
• 27 inbound ports
• Approx. 56,000 m2 total facility area
• Several kilometres of conveyor technology
• Official Opening in October