New central heating terminal enhances supply security and efficiency at the Leuna chemical site and beyond

InfraLeuna GmbH, the owner and operator of the Leuna chemical site, is expanding its infrastructure offerings with a state-of-the-art heating terminal. With its commissioning in the first quarter of 2026, a new central infrastructure facility has been established at the Leuna chemical site to address the changing demands of the chemical industry’s supply chains.

Central Infrastructure for Sulfur Delivered by Rail

The new heating terminal is initially designed specifically for heating sulfur delivered by rail in tank cars. This is due to changes in procurement structures and longer transport routes, which often mean that temperature-sensitive materials, such as sulfur, cannot be unloaded immediately upon arrival. Controlled, reproducible processes are required to reliably restore the necessary temperature and pumpability.

With the new facility, it will be possible for the first time to centrally heat entire trains of sulfur tank cars. The terminal has two tracks, each with eight parking spaces. Up to 16 tank cars can be heated to temperatures of up to 150 °C using steam within a maximum of 48 hours. An integrated steam reduction station ensures precise temperature control, allowing defined heating processes below 150 °C to be implemented as well.

“We are creating an infrastructure here for a critical step in the product delivery process that may not be available to unloaders,” explains Sebastian Ludwig, Head of Logistics Services at InfraLeuna. “Especially for sulfur, which is delivered by rail in large quantities over long distances, we enable reliable and predictable temperature control as the basis for safe further processing or distribution.”

End-to-End Services Along the Rail Network

In the initial phase, rail-based transport is the primary focus. InfraLeuna takes delivery of the freight cars at the Großkorbetha station and handles the shunting operations to the heating terminal. On-site, the steam lines are connected to and disconnected from the heating coils, the steam supply is regulated, and the entire heating process is continuously monitored.

As a registered railway transport company, InfraLeuna is authorized to operate on the Deutsche Bahn network. This allows the company not only to organize delivery but also to transport the heated products further via the national rail network. The heating terminal’s services are not exclusively available to companies at the chemical site. External customers can also use the infrastructure for heating and the subsequent distribution of their products.

Location Advantages and National Distribution

The chemical site boasts a central location with efficient rail connections within Germany and to neighboring Western European markets. Deliveries are generally possible within 48 hours. There is also a direct connection to the A9/A14/A38 highway interchange.

Looking ahead, there are plans to expand the range of services to include road transport. With its own freight forwarding division, InfraLeuna can not only organize transport but also carry it out directly using its own fleet of vehicles. In conjunction with its own locally based hazardous materials container storage facility and tank cleaning services, the company is able to provide additional logistics services.

Future-oriented expansion of the infrastructure

The heating terminal has a modular design and provides the foundation for further applications. In addition to sulfur, other raw materials that require a heat supply prior to unloading to restore the products’ pumpability can also be integrated in the future. Technical preparations for additional heating points for road vehicles are also planned. With appropriate modifications, the heating of tank trucks and ISO containers can also be implemented in the future.

With the new terminal, InfraLeuna is expanding its logistics and service portfolio to include a central, expandable heating infrastructure. The goal is to respond in a structured manner to changing material flows and international procurement routes and to create a high-performance platform that both on-site customers and external companies can integrate into their logistics concepts.