S - Geis Group

The cusTomer and sTaff magazine of The geis group July 2010 www.geis-group.com
New logistics concept
for Husqvarna
CEE network:
eastwards expansion continues
Solar logistics:
still sunny!
Photo: Fotolia / heli42

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

04
08
12
16
top StorY
04 Still sunny
06 Solar logistics with Geis
road ServiceS
08 CEE network: eastwards expansion continues
10 Working for Schaeffler on the west-east axis
10 Quality ranking: TSG‘s success confirmed
11 AEO status speeds up supply chain
11 Geis uses hybrid truck
11 Secure air freight in the IDS system
logiSticS ServiceS
12 Husqvarna: logistics reorganized
coNteNtS |
3
14 „Automotive industry-level performance achieved“
14 A logistical sales aid
15 Geis builds a multi-user logistics and technology centre
15 „Green“ packaging concept
air + Sea ServiceS
16 Thousands of tonnes right across Pakistan
17 Hamburg: Air and sea freight under one roof
17 Aerospace Logistics bundles together skills
17 A surprise in Africa
geNeral NeWS
18 „Making clear the difference...“
18 New Sales and Marketing Manager at Geis SDV
19 Artistic-bike world champion works for Geis
19 The Nuremberg Company Run: Geis took part
19 Anniversaries
Published by
Hans Geis GmbH + Co Internationale Spedition
Rudolf-Diesel-Ring 24, 97616 Bad Neustadt/Saale
Tel.: +49 9771 603-0, Fax: +49 9771 603-109
www.geis-group.com
Responsible for the contents
Geschäftsführung der Geis-Gruppe
Editorial
STROOMER PR | Concept GmbH
Christian Stephan, Sonja Objartel.
Kristine Wegner, Christoph Goldammer (Design)
Rellinger Straße 64a, 20257 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 853133 0, Fax +49 40 853133 22
E-Mail: mail@stroomer-pr.de

4
Still Sunny
The sun is set to shine for another four billion years, so the outlook is bright for the
solar energy industry and its service providers.
Photo: BSW-Solar / Langrock

Despite the economic crisis, increasing
non-European competition and the lowering
of state subsidies for solar energy,
the solar module market will continue to
grow. The German photovoltaics industry alone expects
turnover to increase by more than 20 percent
this year. In addition, it expects increased levels of
investment and another increase in the number of
people employed in the industry (see information
graphic).
All the signs are pointing to growth in our sunblessed
neighbouring European countries too. Italy
is considered the market with the greatest potential,
with alternative energy forms being supported by
legislation and state subsidies. France is currently
way behind Germany in the use of solar energy. But
there too state subsidies are being used to promote
the industry.
sunny energy. There are a number of reasons for
the positive forecasts. First of all, there is a growing
widespread consensus that solar energy is vital to the
future of the world as an alternative to fossil fuels
and nuclear energy. In just a few decades time, the
earth‘s oil and uranium reserves will have been exhausted.
The sun however will remain with us as an
energy source until time indefinite, and won‘t cause
any oil catastrophes or generate nuclear waste.
Not least because of this, solar energy has an unbeatable
image as clean and regenerative energy.
This coupled with financial incentives by the state
also means an increased willingness among private
individuals to use the technology. Last year in Germany
alone, home owners spent more than six billion
euros on solar modules. This is more than the
large German energy producers invested together in
the construction and expansion of new and existing
power plants. Although lower state subsidies will
temporarily slow down the rate of expansion, there
is no possibility of it coming to a halt.
Solar energy is also becoming increasingly interesting
for those with limited financial resources and no
property of their own. The solar sector reckons that
in just a few years‘ time end-users will be able to obtain
solar energy for the price of conventional electricity.
This will become possible through technical
progress and the accelerated expansion of the photovoltaics
market. Solar energy will then no longer lag
behind other forms of energy in terms of cost.
pictUre leFt: the thermal solar energy system
on the roof of the Federal government‘s press
and information office in Berlin helps power
the building‘s air-conditioning system
sunny logisTics. These developments in the solar
energy sector open up a large number of opportunities
for the logistics industry. Solar logistics is still
a very new area, and those who react quickly and
flexibly to the needs of this dynamic sector will profit
from its continuous growth in the future. Since
2008, the Geis Group has been handling solar supply
chains and has developed solutions that are tailored
to the needs of the industry.
Alongside procurement logistics and appropriate
storage solutions, Geis also guarantees on-time delivery
of the sensitive solar products to end customers.
„The particular challenge when it comes to solar
logistics is to be able to cope with the extreme fluctuations
in shipping quantities“, says Geis Managing
Director Dr. Johannes Söllner. „We guarantee this
flexibility through specially-developed logistical
processes that we adhere to strictly with the help of
various IT solutions.“ —
Solar energy companies create jobs in Germany
Number of jobs
Solar heating and solar electricity
top StorY |
5
the logistics
industry is also
benefitting from
the continuous
growth of the
solar industry.

6 | top StorY
Solar logiSticS
with geiS
International solar technology group SunPower relies on Geis‘ concentrated logistical energy
for its solar logistics within Germany.
SunPower is considered the world-leader in the
development of high-efficiency solar modules,
and distributes its products all around the
world (see info box). Such a high-flying company
naturally requires a reliable and flexible logistics
partner in Europe. Consequently, the NASDAQlisted
company opted for the European contract logistics
cooperation Logistics World Alliance (LWA)
in August 2008. It includes seven powerful European
logistics service providers and combines under
one roof comprehensive sector expertise, knowledge
of regional markets, and flexible warehousing
and transport solutions (see info box, page 7). „We
were looking for a European logistics partner with
precisely this type of profile“, says Nicholas Hyner,
SunPower RLC EU Operations Manager.
The LWA partner for Germany, the Czech Republic
and Slovakia is Geis. Thanks to the close integration
of its Road Services and Logistics Services divisions,
the Geis Group is able to provide top-notch logistics
services for the high-tech products of SunPower
within Germany.
sophisTicaTed TransporT logisTics. From Rotterdam,
LWA partners convey the goods to their
European distribution centres, located in Milan,
Lyon, Nuremberg, and elsewhere. Transporting
solar components is no easy task because the solar
modules are very fragile and highly sensitive. The
goods conveyed also include articles for final assembly
such as cables and spare parts. „Transporting the
sensitive and in some cases bulky freight safely calls
for knowledge, circumspection, sensitive handling
and special equipment“, says Hans-Peter Schneider,
Managing Director of the Logistics World Alliance.
SunPower
Photo: Istock / LL28
The US group, according to
its own statement, has been
designing, manufacturing and
delivering the planet’s most
powerful solar technology
broadly available today for
the past 25 years. SunPower
is considered the worldleader
in the development of
high-efficiency solar solutions,
with SunPower solar modules
supplying up to 50 percent
more energy than conventional
modules. Today SunPower
calls four continents home,
serving utilities, commercial,
and residential customers
across the globe.

flexible sTorage and disTribuTion. Storage of the
goods also calls for sensitivity and a high degree of
flexibility. All new warehouse locations are initially
operated using the cross-docking system. Later on,
when the market has stabilized, flexible warehouses
are set up. One example of a flexible warehouse is
Geis‘ warehouse in Nuremberg, where SunPower‘
solar modules and accessories and, as of late, marketing
material too are stored. The entire warehouse is
completely turned over twice a month. At the end of
each cycle, demanding handling peaks are encountered,
with Geis employees having to deal with a
high volume of goods, both inbound and outbound.
During these times, everything needs to run like
clockwork. Each product has a serial number, which
is recorded during entry scanning, and picking is
voucherless using local IT systems.
As soon as the solar components leave the warehouse,
the Nuremberg warehouse‘s outgoing-goods
processing system informs SunPower of the serial
numbers that are on their way to each customer. Sun-
Power‘s customer service department then passes on
this information to its customers‘ upstream dealers,
so that they can start with the preparations. „Providing
this advance notice is especially important, as
the modules have to be installed in series for optimal
electricity generation“, says Werner Dettenthaler,
Geis Site Manager in Nuremberg.
Once out of the warehouse, Geis also takes care of
delivery within Germany - including right up to the
doorstep if necessary. „Some of SunPower‘s customers
live in very remote places. Despite this, Geis always
delivers on time. Geis drivers also always call
customers in advance as part of our standard service“,
explains Geis Managing Director Dr. Johannes Söllner.
„As soon as the solar products have been handed
over, a message is sent to SunPower on the same day
confirming delivery.“
clever added-value services. Without reliable
IT systems, international procurement, intermediate
storage at partner sites and Europe-wide distribution
would be next-to-impossible tasks. For this reason, the
IT systems used by the LWA partners are linked to
each other and to SunPower‘s system. „For SunPower
and its customers this means maximum transparency
and exact preparation because we display all status information
in real time“, explains Dr. Johannes Söllner.
„The system can also be flexibly expanded.“
Geis‘ added-value services to SunPower don‘t end
there, however. Alongside clever IT solutions, our
service portfolio also includes preassembly of solar
modules out of more than 80 individual components,
and if a solar module needs to be replaced following
a complaint, Geis implements its so-called „Swap
Service“, with the faulty components exchanged for
new components, and the original components returned
to the supplier.
Geis also stands out on account of its expertise in the
area of packing services. The group has developed a
new kind of packaging that enables individual solar
panels too to be sent securely. „We consider it important
that we not only fulfil SunPower‘s requests
and requirements, but also that we continually expand
the range of services offered to them. We are
therefore also planning to significantly increase the
size of our Nuremberg warehouse in the near future,
specifically for SunPower“, says Dr. Johannes
Söllner. „Together with our LWA partners, we want
to provide SunPower with the best-possible service,
and thereby provide a place in the sun for as many
solar modules as possible.“ —
www.sunpower.com
Photo: BSW-Solar
top StorY | 7
Logistics
World Alliance
the logistics World alliance
(lWa), which is based in
luxembourg, was founded
in March 2006 and offers
customers europe-wide
contract logistics services.
its cooperation partners
include aditro logistics,
Bibby distribution, the
geis group, log Service
europe, MgF logistique,
p&o Ferrymasters and redur.
the cooperation partners
operate more than 300 sites
across europe and have
access to almost two million
square metres of storage
space. together they
employ around 18,000
people and generate an
annual turnover of more
than 2.1 billion euros.
the latest technology:
solar-cell manufacture is
highly-specialized

oad ServiceS |
9
Eastwards expansion continues
The Geis Group is continuing to gradually expand its East-West traffic, with customers being
the main beneficiaries. Below is an interview with Geis Managing Director Klaus Stäblein about the
network in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the strategy of the Geis Group.
Klaus Stäblein,
Managing director
Hans geis gmbH + co
mr stäblein, the geis group claims
to provide also full-coverage transport logistics
in cee countries. how do you manage to
do this?
Klaus Stäblein: It‘s all in the mix. First of all, the
Geis Group has its own full-coverage networks in
the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With 13 sites
in the Czech Republic, Geis CZ covers the entire
country, while Slovakia is covered by the 7 sites of
our local subsidiary TEN Expres. Secondly, we use
strong local partners. Thanks to this setup, we can
choose the best partner for each country - to the benefit
of Geis customers.
Which benefits and services are offered
to Geis customers with respect to traffic to
central and eastern europe
Klaus Stäblein: We offer daily services to all the
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, with defined
delivery times directly from our German sites
and via our CEE gateway in Nuremberg. This applies
in relation to both cargo and groupage freight,
as well for direct journeys, express journeys and parcel
shipments. In total, there are 75 regular services
each week from Nuremberg to the CEE countries.
The important thing for many customers is to be
kept constantly informed about the current status of
their shipment. In Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Czech
Republic, Bulgaria, and the Baltic countries we offer
systematic Tracking & Tracing. IT integration on
the basis of EDIFACT/IFTMIN is also possible.
are these services available in the opposite
direction as well?
Klaus Stäblein: Yes they are. We not only distribute
goods in these countries but also organize the procurement
logistics for goods being sent to Western
Europe. As a result, the customer has just one service
provider and one central contact for incoming
and outgoing goods. Combining procurement and
distribution is sound practice – we, for example, take
care of all the transport logistics for the Schaeffler
Group on the west-east axis route (see article on
page 10).
what role do the geis companies
in the czech republic and slovakia play in this?
Klaus Stäblein: They enable us to offer our customers
more extensive logistics services.
what does that mean exactly?
Klaus Stäblein: It means that we can offer customers
the full range of services we offer them in Germany,
including contract logistics projects for local
customers as well as national and international procurement
and distribution. One example is the new
Eastern Europe Central Warehouse for Husqvarna
in the east of the Czech Republic (see page 12). This
is where we warehouse and distribute Husqvarna
goods throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
are there also customers who use the
geis group for their transport logistics from
eastern europe to germany?
Klaus Stäblein: Yes, and their numbers are in-
creasing. For example, at the beginning of the year
we took on a project for fittings manufacturer VAG,
which is based in Mannheim. The Czech company
JMA, based in Hodonin, is a subsidiary of the VAG
Group. JMA manufactures fittings for water management,
e.g. hydrants, sliders and valves. Geis CZ
is now responsible for distributing their products
across Europe. The most important market for the
company is Germany, and accordingly, just for this
customer we have established a new daily service
between our Rajhrad logistics centre near Brno and
Nuremberg, enabling us to offer a 48-hour delivery
service throughout Germany, and a 24-hour service
in Austria. The project also makes full use of our
direct services via our Czech network to Slovakia,
Poland, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.
Thank you very much for your time!

10 | road ServiceS
Working for Schaeffler on the west-east axis
Almost everyone who drives a car uses them: INA engine parts, FAG roller bearings or LuK clutches.
But these three Schaeffler Group brand products are used in other industrial sectors too, for example the aerospace sector.
Since February of this year, the Geis Group has been responsible for transporting them along the west-east axis.
Photos: Schaeffler Group
The Schaeffler Group with its brands INA, FAG
and LuK has 180 sites in more than 50 countries.
Although its main markets have traditionally been
Central and Western Europe, North America and
the growing markets of Asia and Eastern Europe are
becoming increasingly important.
a dense neTwork and sTrong parTners: In
order to optimize its transport logistics to and from
Eastern Europe even further, Schaeffler last year
put the contract out to tender. Its aims in doing so
were to reduce the number of service providers, to
optimize processes and costs and to improve the
integration of the service provider. In addition,
Schaeffler Technologies wanted a dense network,
a strong partnership structure and a networked IT
infrastructure. „We won the tender because of our
close-knit network in Eastern and Western Europe
and our clear concept“, says Werner Dettenthaler,
Geis Eurocargo‘s Site Manager at Nuremberg.
„Since February we have been operating a strongly
consolidated service for Schaeffler via Nuremberg
with daily departures to Eastern Europe.“
Geis operates services in the opposite direction as
well, also via Nuremberg. For example, if a supplier
in Romania has a consignment ready for a German
Schaeffler plant, he places a shipping order via the
Schaeffler internet portal. Geis receives the information
and arranges collection. The goods are
transported on the daily Romania-Nuremberg ser-
vice, consolidated in Nuremberg, and delivered to
the relevant plants.
35,000 Tonnes per year. „Within Germany we
use the network of the general cargo cooperation
IDS to collect and deliver goods, while in Eastern
Europe and for further distribution in Western Europe
we use our direct services to and from Nuremberg“,
explains Werner Dettenthaler. „Using this
concept we now process a total of around 35,000
tonnes per year for the Schaeffler Group, and everything
is running smoothly.“ —
iNa‘s headquarters in Herzogenaurach
IDS Quality Ranking: TSG‘s success confirmed
Geis company Thüringer Speditionsgesellschaft mbH
(TSG), based in Ohrdruf, is top of the list in the latest
Quality Ranking of the general cargo cooperation
IDS, confirming its success during the past year.
Each year the IDS Quality Control Department assesses
the entire range of services provided by all 44
IDS sites in Germany. Procedures, status notifications,
quality records and market appearance are all assessed.
TSG was number one in the Quality Ranking in 2008
too. „The fact that we have once again been successful
shows that we continue to provide our customers
with a top-quality service“, says TSG Site Manager
Marc Geis. „And we plan to continue doing so in the
future as well.“ —

Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Geis uses hybrid truck
An important step forward for the environment: From 2011 the Geis Group will be using a Mercedes
Atego BlueTec Hybrid truck.
This makes Geis one of the first logistics companies
in Germany to test the groundbreaking hybrid technology
on a daily basis. The Hybrid truck is part of
a 50-vehicle „Innovation Fleet“ which will be used
to test the suitability for daily use and environmental
potential of the technology. The Atego 1222 L
has been designed for distribution transport, and the
Hybrid version combines a compact and light fourcylinder
diesel engine with a 44-kW electric motor.
The e-motor primarily supports the diesel engine in
the low and medium speed ranges. Start-up is mostly
emission-free thanks to the electric motor.
mercedes-benz claims that the innovative technology
will reduce consumption by between 10 to
15 percent. CO 2 emissions are reduced by the same
extent – an especially strong argument in Geis‘ view.
„Resource conservation and environmental protection
have been among our corporate aims for many
years. By using hybrid technology, we will be a step
closer to achieving these aims. We look forward to
being a pioneer in this area“, says Geis Managing
Director Klaus Stäblein. —
New: Secure air freight in the IDS system
The German Air Safety Law requires that air-freight
goods be transported within a secure supply chain.
Geis‘ Bad Neustadt and Nuremberg sites now offer
such a secure supply chain to customers who send
their goods to the airport via the IDS system. The
new, straightforward and low-cost service is called
Luftfracht Secured.
The enhanced security level begins when a consignment
is picked up by specially-trained drivers who
ensure that their vehicles are locked at all times.
Luftfracht Secured goods are then handled in an area
of the warehouse that is comprehensively monitored
and to which only authorized personnel have access.
Specially trained staff are also used to transport
freight to Frankfurt and Nuremberg Airport and to
deliver it to consignees. Geis in collaboration with
IDS has therefore created a secure supply chain. —
www.ids-logistik.de
New label for
maximum security
road ServiceS | 11
AEO status speeds up
supply chain
The German customs
authorities have awarded
„Authorized Economic
Operator“ (AEO) status
to the Geis companies
TSG Thüringer Speditionsgesellschaft
in Ohrdruf,
Bischoff International
in Naila, Geis Eurocargo
GmbH in Nuremberg
and Satteldorf and to
Geis Industrie-Service
with its 20 sites.
The exact status awarded
to the Geis companies
is AEO-F, and thereby
encompasses customs
simplification and safety
standards. The main
beneficiaries will be Geis‘
customers because simplified
custom rules mean
that goods can now be
cleared more quickly,
and consequently reach
consignees faster.
Moreover it proves that
Geis operates high safety
standards, because AEO
status requires that
stringent standards be
met in terms of reliability,
financial solvency and
the fulfilment of certain
safety regulations.
Geis SDV and Hans Geis
GmbH were awarded
the coveted AEO status
last year. —

Photo: Fotolia / endostock

logiSticS
reorganized
T
he Husqvarna brand and its subsidiary company
Gardena have long been familiar to gardening
enthusiasts and professional landscape
designers. And no wonder: The Swedish manufacturer
is the world‘s largest manufacturer of lawnmowers,
chainsaws, portable petrol-driven gardening
equipment, watering systems and gardening tools.
since The end of lasT year Geis has been implementing
a new central warehouse concept for Husqvarna
in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Instead of
having several small regional warehouses, Geis now
concentrates Husqvarna product handling for the
Czech Republic and Slovakia in Ostrava in the east of
the Czech Republic.
The two companies know each other well: „We have
worked for Husqvarna at Bad Neustadt/Salz for many
years. We also worked for Husqvarna‘ subsidiary Gardena
in the Czech town of Rajhrad near Brno before
the central warehouse concept was implemented“,
says Erik Lassen, Managing Director of Geis Industrie-Service
GmbH. „In the autumn of 2009, the
Gardena products warehouse and the two Husqvarna
products warehouses in Prague and the Slovakian
town of Liptovský Mikulás were closed and transferred
to Ostrava.“
Geis now offers Husqvarna a complete package of logistical
services from a single source. It encompasses
warehousing for finished goods and spare parts, as well
as their entire distribution in the Czech Republic and
Slovakia – including general and parcel shipments.“
To implemenT its central warehouse solution, Geis
has leased part of a newly-constructed logistics park
in Ostrava. „The warehouse logistics for the Czech
Republic and Slovakia are currently managed on an
area covering 7,000 square metres“, explains Geis
Project Manager Pavel Křížek. „We have 6,000 shelf
pallet spaces in our shelf storage facility for storing
smaller products, which can encompass everything
from rose shears to chainsaws. Larger products
such as garden tractors, lawnmowers and scythes in
contrast are stored in blocks.“ These products take
up a lot of space. We currently store around 800
Husqvarna tractors alone in Ostrava, and during the
course of the season, this number is set to increase
even further.
Did you know?
The Husqvarna logo shows
the barrel of a gun seen
from the front. The reason:
The company was established
in Sweden in 1689 as a
manufacturer of muskets.
Husqvarna is accordingly one
of the oldest industrial
companies in the world.
After manufacturing sewing
machines, household
appliances, bicycles and
motorcycles, the company
today is the world‘s largest
producer of outdoor
power products. With the
Gardena brand, Husqvarna
is also Europe‘s number
one company for watering
systems.
logiSticS ServiceS | 13
Garden and forestry equipment manufacturer Husqvarna Group has reorganized its logistics in the
Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company‘s logistics partner is now the Geis Group, which is
successfully implementing a central warehouse concept.
www.husqvarna.com
Photos: Husqvarna
Close to where these large items of equipment are
kept, Geis stores the spare parts for Husqvarna products.
The warehouse holds up to 40,000 different
parts, ranging from small screws to replacement motors
for garden tractors. In order to make optimal
use of and be able to manage these 40,000 different
sections, Geis uses the LFS warehouse logistics system,
which is linked via interfaces to Husqvarna’s
software systems. Data exchange takes place entirely
via EDI.
more Than 35 geis employees currently work for
Husqvarna in Ostrava. Outside the season, they pick
and pack around six truckloads each day. During
the season, the daily volume increases severalfold to
between 13 and 15 truckloads. The Geis Group also
takes care of distribution logistics for Husqvarna
in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, using its own
nationwide parcel and cargo service networks Geis
CZ, Geis SK and General Parcel Čechy.
Erik Lassen: „The project has started smoothly, with
our experience with Gardena products naturally
standing us in good stead. We are currently in the
middle of the high season, and our extremely flexible
employee concept is enabling us to easily handle
these peaks too.“ —

14 | logiSticS ServiceS
„Automotive industry-level achieved“
Hand-in-hand with Geis Industrie-Service, Wincor Nixdorf has reorganized its production flow at its Ilmenau plant.
It now runs on the basis of the principle of order-based picking of individual consignments.
At its Thuringian plant, Wincor Nixdorf primarily
produces retail empties collection systems. For
the past four years, Geis has managed the entire
warehousing, supply and disposal for the plant from
its logistics centre in Ohrdruf. „In order to be able
to react more flexibly to fluctuations in demand and
in response to the growing number of models, we
have reorganized our production flow“, explains Oliver
Loske, Head of Operations at Wincor Nixdorf.
„Instead of batch-producing a particular model type,
we now produce different model types directly after
each other on an assembly line.“
As a result, changes had to be made in the logistical
supply. „We now supply the parts on a just-in-sequence
basis to the assembly line“, explains Jochen Creutzburg,
Site Manager of the Ohrdruf Logistics Centre.
„Moreover, we have set up a separate order picking
Photo Barthelmess Group
A logistical sales aid
picking and placing directly in
the assembly frame
Three times a year, Barthelmess‘ subsidiary decorado
GmbH issues a catalogue containing around 6,000
decorative, promotional items for shop windows,
shops and shopping centres. Since June, the contract
logistics for these has been outsourced to Geis Industrie-Service
GmbH, with the work carried out at
Geis‘ warehouse in Seubtendorf in Thuringia.
Here Geis employees are not only responsible for
warehouse procedures but also for incoming and
outgoing consignments. This is because Geis‘ subsidiary
Bischoff International has also, since June,
been responsible, together with a parcel service
company, for procuring and distributing the decorative
articles throughout Europe.
area, called the assembly warehouse, where we store
around 400 different articles which are directly picked
and placed by our employees in specially-developed
transport/assembly racks.“
The challenge for Geis employees is twofold. First,
just one picking error can result in Wincor Nixdorf‘s
assembly line coming to a halt, and secondly the products
in question are largely final-painted sheet metal
parts that require careful handling. „We introduced
a system of final checks years ago. These are carried
out before the parts are transported by shuttle to the
assembly plant. The system is proving to be especially
valuable at the moment“, says Jochen Creutzburg.
„The order-based individual picking system has
been running smoothly right from the word go. This
means that our performance is equal to the high-level
of performance of the automotive industry.“ —
„We help you sell“ – this is the Barthelmess Group‘s motto, and Geis now manages their logistics.
Barthelmess‘ head office
By outsourcing the logistics, Barthelmess is simultaneously
realizing several aims: „First of all in relation
to contract logistics we want to secure a significant
acceleration in order processing speed and efficiency“,
explains Wolfgang Bastert, CEO of the Barthelmess
Group. „And by reorganizing our transport logistics,
we can significantly shorten our delivery times in Europe.
At the same time we‘re benefitting from a later
cut-off time and thereby significantly extending the
last-order deadline for order processing.“ —

Geis builds a multi-user
logistics and technology centre
Large-scale project begun: In the Franconian city of Erlangen, work has
started on the construction of the Geis Group‘s new 30,000 m 2 multi-user
logistics centre. The centre is set to go into operation in November.
Situated right next to A3 autobahn, with a rail connection
and its own harbour on the Main-Danube
canal, the location of the new building couldn‘t be
more convenient. The logistics centre is being built
on a 15 hectare site in Erlangen‘s Industriepark Frauenaurach.
It will encompass almost 30,000 square metres
of logistics area and up to 3,000 square metres
of office and administration area. „The Nuremberg/
Erlangen metropolitan region has ideal connections
for distribution to Eastern and Western Europe“, say
Hans-Georg Geis and Wolfgang Geis.
The new building is 165 x 175 metres large and is
multi-user-compatible. It can be divided into up to
six same-size sections with around 5,000 square metres
of area in each. Every section has six loading bays
and a ground-floor access gate. In total the hall has 36
this is how the new logistics and technology centre will look
Under construction next to the a3 and the Main-danube canal:
the new logistics and technology centre (centre). above and right: optional extension buildings
loading bays and six access gates. Inside the distance
between the ground and the lower edge of the roof
construction is 10.50 metres. It also includes a sprinkler
system.
„At the site we have bundled together expertise on
plant supply, spare-parts and new-goods distribution,
assembly and packing work - including for heavy
goods“, explains Dr. Johannes Söllner, Managing
Director for the Logistics Services area. „Once the
centre is ready, it will be used for contract logistics,
assembly work and packing for several clients. There
will still be sufficient space for additional customers in
the current building and in extensions.“ —
facility.management@geis-group.de
logiSticS ServiceS | 15
„Green“
packaging concept
How can ecology and economy
be reconciled in packaging?
Through recycling, for example.
A team from Siemens Healthcare
and Geis has now developed a
concept that successfully
combines both.
Packaging for high-tech products
is especially complex,
as it has to provide optimal
protection to sensitive devices
and manufacturing costs
are correspondingly high.
To optimize efficiency and
simultaneously improve the
environmental-friendliness of
packaging, Geis‘ and Siemens‘
experts have developed a
new packaging concept and
are already using it successfully
for Siemens‘ mammography
systems.
The packaging consists of
a special pallet, a dust cover
and plastic linings, and the
modules are returned to the
Geis Logistics Centre in
Forchheim from all over Europe.
„Once here, we examine
the packaging systems for
completeness and damage“,
says Geis Site Manager
Gerhard Schindler.
„In addition, we replace all
the modules‘ standard parts
prior to storage for safety
reasons.“
Each packaging module
is accordingly used up to
ten times. „In the past year
alone we saved more than
30,000 euros by having
packaging returned“, says
Hans-Joachim Schumm,
Purchaser at Siemens
Healthcare. „The concept is
a winner for us and the
environment!“ —

16 | air + Sea ServiceS
thousands oF tonnes
right across pakistan
11 diesel engines weighing 320 tonnes each, 28 heavy components with an individual weight of between
60 and 90 tonnes, and around 30,000 tonnes of freight – for MAN Diesel & Turbo SE Augsburg SDV
Projects (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Geis SDV) delivered all these items destined for use in a future
power plant safely and on time near Lahore/Pakistan.
In March 2009, SDV Projects‘ team of experts set
about organizing the large-scale order. The initial
project phase involved transporting the heavy
components to various European harbours, from
where they were shipped to Port Qasim/Pakistan.
The second phase and “real” work for the SDV
Projects team began as soon as the shipments arrived
in Qasim in Pakistan, however. The heavy cargo
then had to be transported 1,500 kilometres across
mountainous terrain. Prior to shipping the goods,
SDV carefully had examined the route.
„The roads were often in very bad condition. But
thanks to our careful examinations, we were prepared
for every eventuality and all the deliveries between
Karachi/Port Qasim and Lahore - hundreds
of them in total - went smoothly“, says Jens Fürstenau,
SDV Projects Project Manager.
follow-on work included: Once the consignments
had reached their destination, specialists hired
on behalf of SDV Projects unloaded the heavy items,
positioned them on their respective foundations and
aligned them precisely. After a total of ten months,
the large-scale logistical order was completed in
January 2010. „MAN Diesel & Turbo SE Augsburg
are very happy with our work“, says Managing Director
Heinz Niclas. „And we‘re delighted that everything
went to plan.“ —
carefully examined in advance:
transporting goods along unpaved
roads and through mountainous
terrain represented a considerable
challenge for the Sdv projects team.
the 1,500-km-long journey across
pakistan ultimately went precisely
to plan, however.

Hamburg:
Air and sea freight under
one roof
An increased local presence and the use of
synergies - these are the two main reasons
for bringing together the air and sea freight
areas of Geis SDV in Hamburg.
On 12 December 2009, the entire Geis SDV
sea freight team, including the management,
moved into the air freight office.
The new joint address is:
Obenhauptstr. 11, 22335 Hamburg
„By having a common office, we‘re not only
making optimal use of synergies but also promoting
the uniform image of Geis SDV to
the outside world“, says Site Manager Claus
Freydag.
SDV Projects employees moved to Obenhauptstraße
two weeks before the sea freight
team. More than 100 employees now work
here under one roof. —
Aerospace Logistics
bundles together skills
Geis SDV is investing strongly in its Aerospace
Logistics product area in order to bundle
together skills and expertise. The main
beneficiaries of the subsequent shorter decision
paths and faster allocation of experienced
advisors will be customers.
Since January, Jan Kleine-Lasthues has
worked as Director Aerospace Sales Germany
and is responsible for German sales activities,
while Jens Elsner, as Director Aerospace
Operations Germany, is responsible
for the operational side of the business. Jens
Elsner, who on 1 February 2010 was conferred
power of attorney for Geis SDV, manages
the operational area as an independent
profit centre. These changes have already
been implemented at Hamburg and Frankfurt,
with Munich to follow
on 1 January 2011. —
Jens elsner,
director aerospace
operations germany
a surprise
in aFrica
air + Sea ServiceS | 17
Shipping goods from Kenya to Zimbabwe is normally
routine work for Geis SDV. However, when one shipment
contained 21 tonnes of medical materials, things took
an unexpected turn.
Originally, around 1,200 packs of medicines and medical supplies were
to be transported by road from Nairobi to Harare on behalf of the
Tübingen-based Deutsches Institut für Ärztliche Mission e.V. (German
Institute for Medical Mission). But then everything changed: At the end of November
2009, just as the Geis SDV Stuttgart team and local colleagues were
about to load the truck, the government of Zimbabwe closed its borders to medical
shipments due to increased smuggling of counterfeit drugs.
To ensure ThaT The urgenTly required medicines did reach their destination,
Geis SDV and SDV‘s experts kept their cool and overnight drew up an alternative
plan. They separated the medicines from the remainder of the shipment and flew
them with the approval of the Medicine Control Authority Zimbabwe to Harare,
while the remaining goods were sent as planned by road to Zimbabwe. „At the airport,
the medicines went through customs without any problems and arrived on time
with the customer - the Zimbabwe Association of Church Related Hospitals, as did
the truck shipments“, says Joachim Wittner, head of Geis SDV‘s Stuttgart office,
which oversaw the project. —
Foto: Fotolia/Sabrina Gwerder

18 | geNeral NeWS
„Making clear
the difference...“
Since 1 January 2010, Hans-Peter Schneider (51) has been responsible
for Geis Group distribution activities outside the Geis core region.
In the interview below, he discusses his work and targets.
mr schneider, part of your
work is to acquire new customers.
how do you go about this?
Hans-Peter Schneider: In future I plan to focus
on potential customers in non-typical „Geis regions“.
There are two basic reasons for this. First
of all demand has changed. Logistics chains are
now more specialized, international, and sectorspecific.
It is more important than ever before
for customers to find the right logistics partner,
i.e. one that is capable of meeting their specific
requirements. Geis has excellent references, and
we see considerable potential for it to expand
further, including outside its regional catchment
area. The second reason is that, since studying
business administration at university, I have always
worked in the logistics sector, and for many
years I have worked in the field of European sales
activities. Over the course of time I have made
many valuable contacts, which I can now use for
the benefit of Geis.
Hans-peter Schneider
in the interview
why should customers choose
the geis group?
Hans-Peter Schneider: As Managing Director
of the contract logistics cooperation Logistics
World Alliance – a role I continue to occupy – I
got to know Geis as an extremely reliable partner
and a rock-solid, mid-size structured company
with clear aims and innovative ideas. These
characteristics combined with a very flexible
management are what make Geis different from
the other companies in the market. We have to
make this difference clear to customers, and my
colleagues and I will be pulling out all the stops
in this respect.
What do you personally find fascinating
about geis?
Hans-Peter Schneider: The Geis Group primarily
stands out from the competition because
of its high-quality service and outstanding customer
references. By developing personal contacts
and implementing suitable marketing
measures, my colleagues and I want to communicate
and promote these and other Geis Group
strongpoints even more strongly within Germany
and Europe. These measures have already
resulted in us acquiring new customers for Geis
Eurocargo and Geis CZ.
Thank you very much for your time!
New Sales and
Marketing Manager
at Geis SDV
Since 1 October 2009,
Jörn Schmersahl (48) has
been the new Business
Manager of Geis SDV‘s
Sales and Marketing
Germany division in
Hamburg. A qualified
shipping and chartering
manager, he has longstanding
operational and
management experience
in various areas of the
international transport
and logistics sector in
Germany and abroad.
Jörn Schmersahl was last
employed as Sea Freight
Manager at Agility Logistics,
with responsibility for
Germany, the Netherlands,
Belgium and Poland as
well as for the development
of various sales and
marketing areas.
„One of my main tasks
at Geis SDV is to expand
our core products area
to include other products
besides our successful
healthcare and aerospace
products“, says Jörn
Schmersahl. „In addition,
we have already
started to strengthen our
presence nationwide
via key account management
and trade lane
management.“ —

The Nuremberg Company Run:
Geis took part
Artistic-bike world
champion works for Geis
Whether it‘s jumping from the saddle onto
the handlebars, or riding backwards on the
rear wheel with no hands, no one in the world
can currently hold a candle to Geis employee
David Schnabel in the world of bicycle acrobatics.
The 25-year-old proved this once
again at the 54 th UCI Indoor Cycling World
Championship, held at the end of 2009 in Tavira/Portugal,
in which he beat competitors
from 18 nations to become World Champion
in the Men‘s Single artistic cycling competition.
This is the fourth world championship
title for the performance athlete, who trains
for two hours three evenings a week.
During the day, David Schnabel works as an
administrator in Geis‘ distribution logistics
and warehousing area in Würzburg. „We
are proud to have a world-class sportsman
as part of our team“, says Geis Site Manager
Marco Weißensel. David Schnabel is modest
about his achievements: „I‘m happy that my
sporting activities are viewed so positively at
Geis.“ —
On 6 May, almost 10,000 runners proved their sporting fitness by taking part in this year‘s Nuremberg
Company Run. Among them were 30 runners from the Geis Group. The focus as always was on enjoyment
rather than on running time. On the six-kilometre run, runners ran around the Dutzendteich lake.
„This is the third time in a row that we have taken part in the Nuremberg Company Run. Despite the
cold, wet weather, all the participants once again had a great deal of fun and once past the finishing line
celebrated together in front of the Nuremberg Stone Grandstand“, says Geis Site Manager Werner
Dettenthaler. „We definitely want to take part again next year.“ —
geNeral NeWS |
19
Over the past few months, four Geis
employees have celebrated their
25 th anniversary with the company.
Renate Scharrer,
who joined the
Geis Group from
Siemens Med in the
course of a transfer,
celebrated her
25th anniversary at the Forchheim
office on 7 January 2010. She retired
in June 2010. We would like to thank
her for her longstanding work in
the small-parts warehouse.
He first worked
for Siemens Med,
and then for Geis:
Jürgen Petschl
celebrated his 25th anniversary with
the company on 21 January 2010.
He works at Forchheim in goods
receiving.
Günther Wichert
also joined Geis
from Siemens Med.
He has worked in
goods receiving at
the Röthelheimpark
site since 18 February 1985.
Klaus Räder
began his career
on 1 April 1985
at Hans Geis in
Bad Neustadt as a
forwarding clerk.
Here, he has been responsible for the
company‘s fleet of vehicles since
May 1998.
The Geis Group would like to say
a big thank you to all of them!

SucceSS
in logiSticS
iS eaSy...
…if you have a strong partner at your side. Geis offers
professional and flexible logistics services, including
procurement, warehousing and distribution, as well as
comprehensive value-added services.
Success guaranteed!
www.geis-group.com