During the last decades logistics as a business sector has nicely evolved. Had it been restricted to transport, handling and storage in the past, it has now developed from an internal interface function (which means logistics as a supplier for other departments) into cross-company operating Supply Chain Management. Reasons for this enormous increase of relevance are rising demands of customers and increased competition via accreting markets. Companies have detected the optimization potentials of logistics a long time ago and as a result, capable value chains have emerged into competitive advantages nowadays. Therefore, you can claim that logistics is a driving force for the world economy.
Because of the EU East Expansion its geographical center moved from the Low Countries and the north-eastern part of France to Germany. Along with this additional benefit the Metropolregion Ruhr is more and more developing into a traffic hub and a center of logistical competence. At this point, the most important European traffic flows, East-West- as well as North-South-directions, meet.
In the next couple of years, the geographical location of the Metropolregion Ruhr within the expanded Europe will raise the region to an important location for European distribution centers. In competition to the current top logistics locations Belgium and the Netherlands the Metropolregion Ruhr owns a decisive advantage because of its opportune geographic position and existing logistical expertise. Therefore, a huge mutual goods flow develops between East- and West-Europe.
The logisticians and industry in the Ruhr Region which is Europe's third-largest conurbation behind Paris and London have recognized this trend early on and consequently transferred the regional location advantages to the markets. Not only because of the central position and high population density of 1,208 inhabitants per square kilometre the region has developed into one of the most attractive logistics locations in Europe. Therefore, it isn't surprising that the logistics volume portion of 8.3% of the GDP in the Ruhr Region is way above the European average.
In the last years, especially the Eastern Ruhr Region with the cities Dortmund and Hamm as well as the district of Unna has more and more developed into the first address for expertise with regard to logistics. The Eastern Ruhr Region is one of the most exciting and dynamic regions in Germany. The area of Dortmund, Hamm and the district of Unna is a modern industry, research and service location and a logistics hub for the economic area Rhine/Ruhr, Europe and the remaining world. In the Eastern Ruhr Region, approximately 39,000 employees work in the logistics sector. A healthy mix of major enterprises and medium-sized businesses is