Steel, Salt, and Sustainability: K+S and Innofreight Reinvent Fertilizer Freight

Not all containers are created equal. Some just hold goods — the chemietainer rewrites logistics. Designed for fertilizer, built for the future, it’s rolling out across Germany and Poland with 33-ton payloads and zero patience for inefficiency.

German raw materials group K+S has begun operating the first 60 ChemieTainers, developed by Austrian logistics provider Innofreight, to streamline fertilizer transport to Poland through intermodal rail solutions. Officially unveiled at K+S’s Werra site—where the company extracts 20 million tonnes of raw salt annually—this development signals a major step forward in sustainable freight logistics.

According to Innofreight’s founder, Peter Wanek-Pusset, the ChemieTainer project progressed rapidly from concept to delivery: "Innofreight developed this container in a very short period of time and built the first 60 units, with another 60 to follow soon. This is a great achievement, and we are proud of it."

The collaboration builds upon previous successes, including the introduction of SurfaceWaterTank containers in 2024. Now, with ChemieTainers entering service, the partnership between the two companies deepens, enhancing intermodal rail transport across borders.

Design for Efficiency and Safety

The 20-foot ChemieTainer is purpose-built for dry chemical goods, featuring a durable internal coating and a pneumatically operated swivel roof. Each container can carry up to 33 tonnes of fertilizer, and when paired with Innofreight’s 2×45 ft InnoWaggon, a full train can haul approximately 1,500 tonnes of cargo. As railmarket.com reports, "Night loading is supported, which allows the operation to extend beyond standard daytime windows." This flexibility contributes to increased efficiency, especially under tight delivery schedules.

In terms of safety, the roof can be operated remotely from ground level, significantly reducing risks associated with manual loading. "The operator no longer has to climb up, which is a real relief, especially in winter," said Domen Rožanc, Managing Director of Innoduler, the Slovenian production subsidiary responsible for manufacturing the units.

Closing the Last-Mile Gap with a Full-Service Model

K+S aims to move more freight from road to rail without compromising last-mile delivery capabilities. The ChemieTainer enables this by combining block train efficiency with final truck distribution. Once the containers arrive in Poland, they are transshipped at local terminals and delivered by truck to individual customers. According to K+S logistics buyer Lukas Miglanz, the combination of ChemieTainer and InnoWaggon "allows us to put fewer trucks on the road and reduce CO2 emissions." This solution doesn’t only support environmental goals. It also reinforces K+S’s long-standing logistics chain, improving payload efficiency while maintaining flexibility for diverse delivery scenarios.

Innofreight Transport Logistics, part of the wider InnoWorld group, coordinates transport operations. Maintenance responsibilities fall to ContServ, located just a few kilometres from the Werra production facility. Manufacturing continues at Innoduler’s Slovenian plant, ensuring a steady pipeline for the next 60 ChemieTainer units. No specific contract values have been disclosed, but both companies have indicated that additional intermodal concepts and container types are under review. These may further support K+S’s shift toward a more rail-dependent bulk logistics infrastructure.

A Strategic Shift Toward Sustainability

The ChemieTainer project aligns with broader industry efforts to reduce emissions and adopt greener logistics strategies. Fertilizer and mineral transport by rail offers lower environmental impact compared to road haulage, especially when optimized for bulk capacity and loading frequency. "From a sustainability and efficiency perspective, this development is significant," said Miglanz, noting that greater use of intermodal trains will continue to be a key pillar of K+S’s transport strategy.

With European rail freight volumes expected to grow, and increasing pressure on industries to minimize carbon footprints, projects like this may offer a blueprint for others in the chemical and raw materials sectors.

Sources: Innofreight; railmarket.com