Gebrüder Weiss reports revenue up 11.5%

Reflecting the healthy profit situation, investments were unabated including the ongoing 150 million Euro project. Apart from establishing the new terminal in Maria Lanzendorf, this project also included expanding the locations in Wels-Pernau (Upper Austria), Maria Saal/Klagenfurt (Kärnten) and Wörgl (Tyrol). ”Our Austrian base is the cornerstone of our international success and will therefore continue to be reinforced,” states board chairman Wolfgang Niessner in explaining the company’s expansion policy. Effective 1 September 2005, Gebrüder Weiss also repurchased the 30% share which the Österreichische Post AG (Austrian postal service) held in GW’s parcel service.

Increasing presence throughout the world
As a consequence of recent international expansions, the GW organisation today has 134 locations. The focus continues to be on the Austria/Germany/Switzerland region as well as nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Just this past March, Gebrüder Weiss took over Slovakia’s two M&G companies (M&G Expres and M&G Spedition), thereby securing top spot in the country.

Three locations were opened in China last year, now giving the joint Weiss-Röhlig venture a solid presence in 15 Chinese cities. Operations also got underway at three new locations in the USA and Canada in 2005, GW thus having made solid inroads in North America after just three years. ”We are preparing the logistics base for our customers in America and especially in the Middle and Far East,” according to Heinz Senger-Weiss, Air & Sea management board, on the international development of locations. Gebrüder Weiss has been active in China for more than 25 years now. Two of the three new locations which opened last year, Xian and Chengdu, are deep within the country’s interior. ”That move is an exact reflection of how foreign investments are developing in this country,” explains Heinz Senger-Weiss. GW moreover opened an agent office in Mongolia in 2005, thus becoming one of that country’s first international logistics providers.

Increasing personnel numbers and qualifications
To ensure a qualified employee base for its ongoing expansion, the GW Group also continued its job and qualification initiatives in 2005. The total number of employees in the group rose 6.4% last year to 3,627. After the inaugural promoting potential programme entitled ”Orange Future” concluded successfully in mid-2005, Gebrüder Weiss made the decision to continue the training offensive in 2006. In addition, the GW Group also welcomes 120 trainees each year – just in Austria alone.