New logistics concept for Husqvarna CEE network ... - Geis Group

2 | editorial
Dear readers,
„The Geis Group handled the economic crisis in
2009 very well“ – this is how our business performance
in 2009 could essentially be summarized.
Although the net turnover of the Geis Group declined
by 13.2 percent to 528.9 million euros, our
high quality, strong service orientation and strict
We used both the past year and the first months of
this year to develop our company and strategically
prepare ourselves for the emergent economic recovery.
Our aim in 2010 is to achieve a significant increase
in turnover and profit.
Therefore we are focusing on promising new
sectors such as the solar industry. Hardly any sector
has grown as strongly over the past years as the
photovoltaics sector, with turnover expected to increase
by more than 20 percent this year in Germany
alone. Due to the sensitive nature of solar
modules and the urgency by which they are usually
required, the sector needs experienced and reliable
service providers that are able to deliver them quickly
and securely to customers. We, together with our
Logistics World Alliance contract logistics partners,
have already been doing precisely this for one
of the leading suppliers for the past two years. You
can read more about our handling of the solar supply
chain for SunPower and the solar sector from page 4
onwards.
In this edition we will also be shedding light on another
of the Geis Group‘s focus areas: The ongoing
expansion of our network and strategy in Central and
Eastern Europe. We manage the logistics of some of
the world‘s leading companies in the region, including
the Schaeffler Group and the Husqvarna Group
– learn more on pages 8, 10 and 12.
Focus on new and promising sectors
cost controls, including short-time, meant that all
our business areas remained in the black. In view of
the unprecedented scale of the economic and financial
crisis, this is a highly satisfactory result.
The crisis has shown that having three business areas
serves our company well. Our „Logistics Services“ division
succeeded in going against the trend and in increasing
turnover by two percent. This area includes
contract logistics activities such as storage and picking,
as well as complete outsourcing solutions, also
for assembly and special packaging. „Road Services“,
our Germany- and Europe-wide road services division,
recorded a downturn in turnover of 12.7 percent,
while „Air + Sea Services“ fell by 26 percent.
At the end of 2009, around 3,300 people were employed
at our 87 sites across Europe. Last year, they
processed around 9.3 million transport and logistics
orders for our customers, i.e. around 20,000 more
shipments than in 2008. The total number of parcel
shipments was 5.43 million, almost a million more
than in 2008.
On 14 June we began constructing the first section of
our new logistics and technology centre. By November,
the 30,000 m 2 multi-user centre will be ready for
use. Later on we plan to build another two logistics
facilities on the site. Learn more on page 15 of this
edition of Transfer.
Our magazine has been given a new, more modern
layout, and remains the best place to find out the latest
news about the Geis Group. We hope you enjoy
reading it!
Yours sincerely,
Hans-Georg Geis and Wolfgang Geis,
Managing Partners of the Geis Group