Lab containers Hamburg – Planexus LABtoGO with 2.75 m internal height for HafenCity, hospitals in Eppendorf and the Bahrenfeld research campus

Your specialist for lab containers · Hamburg metropolitan region

Lab containers Hamburg – BSL-3 laboratories for port climate and storm surge

Name: Planexus GmbH
Address: Am Steinbach 8, Albstadt-Laufen, Baden-Württemberg, 72459, DE
Telephone: +49 7435 7519 700
Price range: €€€

Our managing directors bring more than ten years of experience in lab-container construction. Intelligent, sustainable and modular. We deliver flexible research environments for the future — from the Albstadt works straight to Hamburg, via the A81 / A6 / A7.

While others are still planning, you are already researching.

Complimentary site audit Hamburg +49 7435 7519 700

Specialist in modular laboratory construction

Award 2026 EU Business News

C5-M port climate from the factory

Wesemann Group · 60+ years of laboratory construction

Technically responsible

Planexus Engineering Team · Location ownership Hamburg

Content is owned by the Planexus engineering team — civil engineers, process engineers and laboratory planners with specialised experience in modular laboratory construction. Planexus GmbH is part of Wesemann Holding GmbH and delivers BSL-2, BSL-3, GMP and ATEX containers for pharma, biotech, research and crisis units across DACH.

HQ: Albstadt, BW Plant: Am Steinbach 8, 72459 Albstadt Award: German CEO Excellence Award 2026 Last technical review: April 2026

Pattern interrupt · World premiere at analytica 2026

Planexus shows Hamburg what a lab container in 2026 can really do

A conventional lab container has 2,400 mm internal height. You can stand up inside — but working upright at a fume cupboard is barely possible.

Planexus LABtoGO has 2,750 mm internal height. 9.5 m external length. 3 m external width. A fully glazed front that brings real daylight into every Hamburg port, hospital or research laboratory.

A conventional lab container fits entirely inside a LABtoGO. We do not call it LABtoGO without reason — it is the platform on which we configure BSL-2, BSL-3, GMP cleanroom, C5-M port climate and VC-D vibration isolation for Hamburg.

2.750

mm internal height

Standard: 2,400 mm

9.500

mm external length

3.000 mm width

100%

fully glazed

daylight laboratory

U 0.20

W/m²K sandwich

80–120 mm insulation

View the LABtoGO platform and all configurations

Planexus solves the three Hamburg bottlenecks at which laboratory projects regularly fail

HafenCity storm surge turns standard structural design into a planning error

HafenCity sits only about 1 m above NHN. The design flood level is 7.30 m above NHN. Anyone planning containers without terp elevation to at least +1.30 m will not receive a siting permit from the Hamburg Port Authority — the October-to-March storm-surge season allows nothing else.

Planexus response: HPA-compliant terp elevation prepared at the factory.

HBauO + HPA + BUKEA – three authorities, one application

Hamburg is the only major German city in which three authorities can be competent for a single lab-container project: the Hamburg Building Code (HBauO) via the borough office, HPA on port land, and BUKEA for BSL-3. A single formal error means two to three weeks of standstill per authority.

Planexus response: Procedure-ready building documents for all three authorities at once.

Salt air destroys standard containers in 18 months

Westerly exposure, 78% mean annual humidity, salt aerosol from the port. Anyone siting a galvanised office container as a laboratory in HafenCity, Bahrenfeld or Wilhelmsburg will see corrosion attack on the welds after 18 months — instruments lose precision, and cleanroom classes are no longer certifiable.

Planexus response: C5-M to DIN EN ISO 12944-2 from the factory — stainless steel, duplex, EPDM.

Lab containers for Hamburg: what port climate, storm-surge structural design and research vibration demand of the engineering

Hamburg is Germany’s densest cluster of port industry, mid-sized pharma, tropical medicine, photon research and university medicine. Across 755 square kilometres, Germany’s largest seaport, university medicine in Eppendorf, tropical-medicine research, photon and synchrotron research in Bahrenfeld, university research in Harburg and the Eimsbüttel/Hammerbrook pharma cluster compete for land, permits and engineering capacity. Anyone ordering a container laboratory here is not buying a standard product — they are buying site intelligence.

We know this market in detail. We know that HafenCity will not receive a permit without terp elevation. We know that Hamburg’s westerly exposure combined with 78% mean annual humidity forces corrosivity category C5-M to DIN EN ISO 12944-2. We know that the Bahrenfeld research campus requires vibration isolation class VC-D to VDI 2038 because synchrotron sources demand vibration tolerances below 1 µm/s. These details are not in our quotation — they are the engineering foundation of every container that leaves our Albstadt works.

Made in Albstadt, turnkey in Hamburg. Final assembly and interior fit-out are carried out with Wesemann furniture at our own works — a factory visit can be planned from either side. North on the A81, east on the A6 and north on the A7 via Würzburg, Kassel and Hanover, the heavy-goods distance is around 720 kilometres; the Hamburg-Stillhorn and Hamburg-Heimfeld junctions are standard delivery points for hospitals, HafenCity and Bahrenfeld.

Whether you need a mobile laboratory Hamburg for a time-limited refurbishment phase at a university hospital, a modular lab container Hamburg for a permanent pharma expansion in Eimsbüttel, or a container laboratory Hamburg with BSL-3 containment for tropical-medicine research — we deliver all three answers from the same platform: the LABtoGO from our Albstadt works.

Hamburg applications

Eight applications for lab containers in Hamburg

Each area with a concrete Hamburg site and industry reference.

Pharma R&D

Eimsbüttel and Hammerbrook pharma cluster, clinical trial samples, study containers

Tropical medicine BSL-3

Tropical-medicine research St. Pauli, virology, diagnostics under BioStoffV

University medicine

University medicine in Eppendorf, interim laboratories during hospital refurbishments, KhBauVO-compliant

Photon research

Bahrenfeld research campus, synchrotron environment, free-electron laser, VC-D vibration protection

Port and maritime analytics

Containers for HafenCity and port land, C5-M corrosion protection, HPA permit

Food chemistry

Import analytics in the Port of Hamburg, contaminant, allergen and mycotoxin testing

Materials research

Materials testing in Harburg, university research in Harburg, third-party-funded containers

Aerospace QC

Materials analytics Finkenwerder, composite testing, cleanroom QC

Is your application not listed? We also develop custom modules well beyond the standard.

Request a custom solution for Hamburg

Six engineering disciplines for the Hamburg metropolitan region

Planexus builds lab containers for Hamburg that are tuned in every discipline to regional realities — not generic, but district-specific.

Corrosion protection

C5-M marine to DIN EN ISO 12944-2

Stainless-steel outer panels or duplex coating, fully closed welds, EPDM sealing profiles against Hamburg’s westerly exposure and 78% humidity. A 25-year corrosion warranty on request.

Vibration isolation

VC-D to VDI 2038

Spring-core bearing, no direct contact with the research floor slab. The Bahrenfeld research campus and its synchrotron and photon research demand vibration tolerances below 1 µm/s.

BSL-2/-3 containment

Negative-pressure cascade −50 Pa

BioStoffV, TRBA 100, HEPA H14 on the extract-air path, autoclaved airlocks. Notification to BUKEA and, where applicable, the Hamburg public-health office — we supply the application documents.

GMP and pharma

EU Annex 1 + IQ/OQ/PQ

Pharma pilot production for the Eimsbüttel/Hammerbrook cluster, clinical trial samples for contract researchers, cold-chain-capable study containers to the EU GMP Guide.

Structural design and storm surge

Terp elevation +1.30 m HafenCity

HBauO-compliant structural design, design flood 7.30 m above NHN, elevation coordinated with HPA. Marsh-soil structural design in Wilhelmsburg, soil-class assessment per site.

Cleanroom

ISO 14644 class 5–8

Semiconductor and composite cleanrooms in Finkenwerder, low-particle materials analytics with HEPA H14 terminal filtration, classification with a particle counter at handover.

Three Hamburg specifics

Three engineering requirements that national suppliers overlook — Planexus builds lab containers Hamburg precisely for them

Generic landing pages for the whole of Germany do not address the three realities a lab container in Hamburg actually has to withstand. We do — because we know the Hamburg pharma and research market in detail, and our works in Albstadt produces what arrives here.

HafenCity terp elevation and HPA permit

HafenCity sits only about 1 m above NHN; the design flood level is 7.30 m above NHN. On port land the Hamburg Port Authority is competent rather than the borough office — anyone starting the wrong procedure loses weeks. Elevation of at least +1.30 m is mandatory, coordinated with HPA and LSBG.

Planexus standard: HPA-compliant elevation prepared at the factory; LSBG structural design included in the scope of supply.

C5-M corrosion protection for westerly exposure and salt aerosol

Hamburg lies in the maritime westerly zone — 78% mean annual humidity, salt aerosol from the port, regular storm days. DIN EN ISO 12944-2 assigns Hamburg port sites to corrosivity category C5-M (marine). Standard office containers do not withstand Hamburg’s port climate in the long term — galvanised steel-sheet shells show pitting after 18 months.

Planexus standard: Stainless-steel or duplex outer shell, fully closed welds, EPDM seals, optional 25-year corrosion warranty.

VC-D vibration isolation at the Bahrenfeld research campus

At the Bahrenfeld research campus, large-scale research facilities operate with synchrotron sources, research lasers and free-electron-laser installations. Vibration tolerances sit below 1 µm/s — class VC-D to VDI 2038. A standard container on a direct floor slab destroys the measurement precision of the entire hall.

Planexus standard: Spring-core bearing with measurement protocol, no direct contact with the research floor slab.

Planexus for Hamburg: EU Award 2026, C5-M from the factory, Wesemann ecosystem

Four pillars that no competitor in the DACH region combines in this way.

Award 2026

EU Business News – German CEO Excellence Awards 2026: Planexus recognised as “Leading provider of innovative laboratory spaces”. Internationally awarded immediately after the LABtoGO world premiere at analytica.

Made in Albstadt

Final assembly, interior fit-out and quality control at our Albstadt works (Emil-Mayer-Straße 1). C5-M port climate pre-configured at the factory. A factory visit is possible at any time — from either side.

Wesemann ecosystem

Part of Wesemann Holding, with more than 60 years of experience in laboratory fit-out. Containers, furniture and cleanroom technology — from a single source. One contact. No interface risk.

Comparison for Hamburg: LABtoGO, standard container and conventional construction

An honest comparison matrix — so you can take a well-founded decision before we talk.

Criterion	Conventional build Hamburg	Standard container	LABtoGO
Lead time	18–30 months	16–20 weeks	8–14 weeks
Internal height	3.0 m+	2.4 m	2.75 m
HBauO permit	full procedure	building notification	Building notification + procedure-ready documents
HPA-capable (port)	bespoke	rarely	prepared at the factory
C5-M salt-air protection	bespoke	rarely from the factory	standard from the Albstadt works
Mobility / relocatable	none	limited	fully mobile
Daylight share	high	low	fully glazed

Investment models

Hire, purchase or hire-purchase – we build the model around your Hamburg project

Container specification, biosafety level, cleanroom class, port-climate equipment and duration determine the calculation. Instead of a pseudo-range you receive a project-specific written indication within 24 hours.

For the calculation we need: Hamburg site (HafenCity, Bahrenfeld, Eimsbüttel, Eppendorf), biosafety level (S1/S2/S3, GMP), desired duration and commissioning date.

Request an indication within 24 hours

Hire

Flexible, off-balance-sheet, project-tied

For interim laboratories during hospital refurbishments, time-limited tropical-medicine research, short-term port campaigns. Duration is project-specific.

Purchase

Asset, full control

For a permanent expansion in the Eimsbüttel pharma cluster, at the Bahrenfeld research campus or in Hammerbrook. The LABtoGO platform can be expanded modularly.

Hire-purchase

Transition from hire to ownership

If the interim project can become a permanent site — hire payments can later be credited towards purchase.

Logistics proof

Albstadt works → Hamburg: 720 km via the A81 / A6 / A7

From the Albstadt works the heavy-goods route runs north on the A81, east on the A6 and north on the A7 via Würzburg, Kassel and Hanover to the Hamburg-Stillhorn or Hamburg-Heimfeld junction. Pure driving time is about 7 hours; with the required permits and escort vehicles it is typically one transport day.

Standard containers under 4 m width and 18 t do not require a heavy-transport permit — next-day installation is possible. Oversize units or HafenCity elevations are coordinated with a 60–200 t mobile crane and escort vehicles through the competent authorities in Hamburg-Mitte and HPA.

From order to operational handover in Hamburg takes 8 to 14 weeks.

720

km from works

~7 h

heavy goods

A81/A7

direct

Motorway junctions

Hamburg-Stillhorn and Hamburg-Heimfeld as standard delivery points for hospitals in Eppendorf, Bahrenfeld, HafenCity and the Eimsbüttel/Hammerbrook pharma cluster. Mobile-crane installation on the following day after site preparation.

Hamburg permits

We prepare everything for the borough office, HPA and BUKEA

Hamburg is the only major German city in which up to three authorities can be competent for a container laboratory: the relevant borough office under the Hamburg Building Code (HBauO), the Hamburg Port Authority on port land, and BUKEA for BSL-3. We communicate with all three — you do not.

HBauO – building notification and permit

The Hamburg Building Code (Hamburgische Bauordnung, HBauO) is decisive. Permit-exempt works and the building notification under Section 60 HBauO apply depending on size and site — we check the classification of your Hamburg site in advance and submit review-ready building documents to the competent borough office.

HPA procedure on port land

On port land the Hamburg Port Authority is competent rather than the borough office. Flood protection, terp elevation of at least +1.30 m and LSBG-compliant structural design are coordinated early with HPA and LSBG — we prepare the full application documents.

BUKEA notification for BSL-3 and GenTG

BSL-3 in Hamburg requires a permit under BioStoffV (federal law) plus a notification to BUKEA — Hamburg’s authority for environment, climate, energy and agriculture. For genetic-engineering facilities S1/S2/S3 an additional notification under the German Genetic Engineering Act (GenTG) is required. We supply the risk assessment, safety concept and complete application documents.

KhBauVO fire protection for hospital siting

Siting at hospital locations requires fire-protection concepts under the Hamburg Hospital Building Ordinance (KhBauVO), sterile logistics and coordination with the hospital building office and the Hamburg fire directorate.

How Planexus builds your container laboratory in Hamburg

Five steps, one contact — from the first sketch to handover.

We listen

Requirements workshop on site in Hamburg or by video. Which biosafety level, which district, which standard, which date.

We plan

CAD layout, building services (TGA) and structural design. HBauO-compliant building documents for the competent borough office — procedure-ready from day 1. HPA pre-alignment for HafenCity sites.

We build

Module prefabrication at the certified Polish partner; final assembly and interior fit-out at the Albstadt works with Wesemann furniture. C5-M outer shell and QC before dispatch. A factory visit is possible at any time.

We deliver

Heavy-goods transport A81/A6/A7 (720 km, 1 transport day). Installation by mobile crane, with HPA terp elevation where required. Connection of all services, functional and leak tests before handover.

We hand over

IQ/OQ/PQ documentation. Training for your operators. Maintenance options for up to 24 months — extendable on request.

FAQ — lab containers for Hamburg

Seven questions, seven answers. Direct, and without marketing speak.

What does a lab container in Hamburg cost?

The investment depends on biosafety level, cleanroom class and port-climate specification. An analytics container for Bahrenfeld sits in a different order of magnitude from a BSL-3 container with a HEPA H14 airlock for a university hospital or a tropical-medicine research facility. We calculate project by project — including C5-M corrosion protection, terp elevation in HafenCity where required, and structural design under the Hamburg Building Code (Hamburgische Bauordnung, HBauO). Send us your site data and we will respond within 24 hours with an indicative range.

Do I need a special permit from the Hamburg Port Authority for HafenCity?

Yes. Inside the port estate the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) is the competent authority rather than the regular borough office. Because HafenCity sits only about 1 m above German ordnance datum (NHN) while the design flood level is 7.30 m above NHN, siting is tied to a terp elevation of at least +1.30 m. We deliver the container prepared for this and align the structural design with HPA and the State Office for Bridges, Roads and Hydraulic Engineering (LSBG).

How long does delivery of a lab container from Albstadt to Hamburg take?

The distance is around 720 km — by heavy-goods transport north on the A81, east on the A6 and north on the A7 via Würzburg, Kassel and Hanover to the Hamburg-Stillhorn or Hamburg-Heimfeld junction. Pure driving time is about 7 hours; with the required permits and escort vehicles it is typically one transport day. From order to operational handover in Hamburg takes 8 to 14 weeks.

Will a lab container withstand the salt air in the Port of Hamburg?

Standard office containers do not withstand Hamburg’s port climate in the long term. We manufacture lab containers for port sites in corrosivity category C5-M (marine) to DIN EN ISO 12944-2 — with stainless-steel outer panels or a duplex coating, fully closed welds and EPDM sealing profiles that stand up to the maritime westerly exposure and 78% mean annual humidity. A 25-year corrosion warranty is available on request.

Can Planexus install a lab container on a Hamburg university hospital campus or at the Bahrenfeld research campus?

Yes, that is technically possible. Siting on a hospital campus in Eppendorf would require coordination with the relevant hospital building office — fire protection under the Hamburg Hospital Building Ordinance (KhBauVO Hamburg) and sterile logistics are critical there. At the Bahrenfeld research campus, vibration isolation class VC-D to VDI 2038 is decisive, because synchrotron sources, research lasers and free-electron-laser facilities demand vibration tolerances below 1 µm/s. Installation on a spring-core bearing with no direct contact to the research floor slab is possible.

What requirements apply to BSL-3 containers in Hamburg?

BSL-3 in Hamburg requires a permit under the German Biological Agents Ordinance (BioStoffV) — federal law — plus a notification to BUKEA (Hamburg’s authority for environment, climate, energy and agriculture) and, where applicable, the Hamburg public-health office. Technically the ordinance requires a negative-pressure cascade of at least −50 Pa, HEPA H14 on the extract-air path, autoclaved airlocks and redundant ventilation. Our containers are tested to TRBA 100 before dispatch and handed over with IQ/OQ/PQ.

Hire or buy — what makes sense for a Hamburg pharma or research project?

Rule of thumb: for project durations under 24 months — for example interim solutions during hospital refurbishments or time-limited tropical-medicine research — hire pays. For a permanent expansion at Bahrenfeld, Hammerbrook or in the Eimsbüttel pharma cluster, purchase usually prevails, often with a hire-purchase option. We compare both models for your Hamburg project, including balance-sheet impact and residual value.

Complimentary site audit

Send us your Hamburg site and laboratory profile

Within 48 hours we deliver: a site assessment, a container configuration with dimensions and specifications, the permit path under HBauO/HPA/BUKEA, a delivery and installation date, and an indicative investment bracket for hire and purchase.

Direct contact

Telephone

+49 7435 7519 700

info@planexus.de

Works & headquarters (720 km via the A81/A6/A7)

Emil-Mayer-Straße 1
72461 Albstadt

Factory visit

We show you your container during manufacture — including the C5-M outer shell before dispatch. Appointment by arrangement.

Write to us

Container laboratory Hamburg

Lab containers Hamburg — Albstadt factory visit and site audit

We manufacture LABtoGO to order at the Albstadt works — C5-M port climate pre-configured at the factory. A factory visit is possible at any time, complimentary site audit included.

Call now Complete the enquiry form

Further lab-container locations in the DACH region

Hamburg is Germany’s gateway to the sea and the northern pharma and research centre of our nationwide delivery area. These locations share related industry or research profiles:

Stuttgart

Powertrain research and materials

Munich

Automotive, universities and research

Frankfurt

Rhine-Main pharma cluster

Berlin

Hospital and biomedical research

Düsseldorf

NRW chemicals cluster

Austrian pharma and medical technology

Lab containers at your location too

We build for you in Germany, Switzerland and Austria — to the same high standards, aligned with local building law and regional codes.

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Germany

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Switzerland

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