We transform logistics into sustainable growth
With over 30 years of experience, CLIP Group offers logistics solutions focusing on decarbonisation. Located in Poland’s logistics hub, it supports global clients like Mercedes and Volkswagen in achieving sustainability goals.
Q: What are CLIP Group’s key operations?
CLIP Group has more than 30 years’ experience in providing a variety of logistics services. We provide contract logistics services for assembly operations, e-commerce, manufacturing, and market supply. Almost half of our group’s turnover comes from cooperation with German companies, including Mercedes and Volkswagen. With origins dating back to the early 1990s, CLIP Group has developed into a holding structure with more than 12 companies operating in five different segments. The first of these includes the construction of warehouses for logistics, assembly plants, e-commerce facilities, and manufacturing facilities for various industries. Our facilities are powered by renewable energy generated by photovoltaic farms, cogeneration units, and, in the future, wind farms and hydrogen units.
Another key segment is automotive logistics under the STS Logistic brand. As a leader in the transport of new cars in Poland, with more than 50% market share, we provide services for Volkswagen Poznań and Września plants, as well as other leading European car manufacturers. We are investing in renewable energy-powered solutions to modernize Poland’s largest car transport network with a focus on decarbonization.
Additionally, CLIP operates Poland’s largest intermodal terminal, spanning 1,000 meters with eight transshipment tracks under five gantry cranes. We have allocated 650 intermodal wagons and 20 new multi-system rail engines from Alstom Germany to serve routes connecting Germany (Duisport), France, Spain, and the Benelux countries to Poland, particularly the Port of Gdansk.
Q: What role does your location play in attracting business?
CLIP Group’s Swarzędz location is at the strategic intersection of two TEN-T corridors: the Baltic–Adriatic and the North Sea–Baltic, along the New Silk Road railway route connecting Rotter-dam to Beijing, as well as other major routes in Asia and Europe. The majority of our customers are foreign companies who choose us because of our strategic location in Poznań, widely considere the best area in Poland for logistics. The region offers a balanced flow of goods to Western Europe and competitive outbound delivery costs, making our business highly profitable.
Our vision of an intermodal hub was established in 2009 with the creation of our first 7,000 m² terminal, which won recognition for its innovative approach to intermodal transport. Initially, this was a small-scale project to test the market viability of the Rotterdam-bound semi-trailer business, which then grew into the large-scale logistics hub it is today. The popularity of the Swarzędz terminal led to further infrastructure investments, including the transformation of a former mining site in Zabrze into a high-end logistics centre. This hub, which includes terminals, car parks, and commercial buildings, is scheduled to open in 2025–2026. We are also developing a 60-hectare intermodal terminal to improve Silesia’s connection to Europe.
Additionally, CLIP owns Poland’s largest duty-free onshore terminal in Małaszewicze (40 hectares), located on the border with Belarus. Another large-scale terminal project is planned to address Poland’s intermodal infrastructure gap, as reported by the European Commission.
Q: What are your strategic priorities?
We are focusing on transitioning to decarbonized logistics, offering solutions that ensure stable and controlled costs for businesses in the long term. Since 2019, we have been transforming the company from a traditional logistics provider into a comprehensive logistics village, covering 300 hectares of land and 700,000 square meters of warehouse space. Our goal is to develop Poland’s largest industrial zone powered by renewable energy sources. Renewable energy is a key focus area. Since 2010, we have been constructing facilities with extensive rooftop photovoltaic installations, generating over 8 megawatts of energy. To increase energy independence, we are working on energy storage solutions and using advanced gas cogeneration technology, currently producing 5 megawatts of both electricity and heat for optimal efficiency.
Q: What differentiates CLIP?
Generating and marketing our own electricity allows us to control our energy costs and be less vulnerable to market fluctuations. We support companies in meeting sustainability goals, helping them move toward decarbonization and become more environmentally friendly. Our logistics buildings exceed current technical insulation requirements and feature LED lighting, underfloor heating, photovoltaic farms, Rolls RoyceSolutions cogenerators, and rainwater reuse systems. In 2023, German retailer KiK became our tenant, opening its first Poland-based warehouse to supply its national retail chain. The decision to locate in CLIP was driven by our proximity to theintermodal terminal and commitment to green, BREEAM-certified buildings.
Q: What opportunities exist for co-operation with Germany?
Germany is our closest neighbor and an integral part of our strategy. After the fall of communism, Poland became a key logistical hub for German businesses. Today, German companies remain some of our largest partners, benefiting from Poland’s competitive business environment and high-quality services.
Q: What are your personal thoughts on Poland’s growth potential?
Poland is no longer a low-cost assembly market—it is becoming a center for highvalue industries and technology-driven manufacturing. While operating costs are still lower than in Germany, Poland offers highly skilled engineers, software developers, and IT specialists who are shaping the country’s digital and industrial transformation.
We see Poland as a gateway between Eastern and Western Europe. The country has modernized ports, railway lines, and air cargo facilities, making it a natural bridge for global trade. Poland’s logistics and manufacturing hubs are increasingly attractive to investors, and we are committed to providing them with world-class infrastructure. We believe that Poland’s future lies in sustainability, innovation, and integration within the European economy. Our dream is to develop alongside the German market, building a sustainable, high-tech logistics network that supports businesses for decades to come.
Source: Global FDi Reports, Die Welt