Gebrüder Weiss continued its overall positive business policy developments. With a plus of roughly five per cent, the international transport and logistics company was able to generate a preliminary net turnover of 1.24 billion euros. “In light of the difficult economic situation in Europe, we are very satisfied with this annual financial statement,” Chairman of the Board Wolfgang Niessner sums up the past business year. “We have reached our corporate goals and pushed ahead with innovative developments.”   Next to its operative success in all business areas, Gebrüder Weiss has initiated important innovations with its future strategies programme ‘Agenda 2020’. These range from multimodal transport solutions to new logistics concepts, alongside the consideration of ideas around the workforce of the future and the integration of technological trends into new services. Also in 2014, the logistics expert invested in the extension of its worldwide network and continued its eastwards oriented expansion strategy with numerous site expansions in Central and Eastern Europe.   Continuous network extension Chief Financial Officer Wolfram Senger-Weiss on the topic: “The continuous network extension into Eastern Europe and towards Central Asia is part of our strategy. With the market entrance into Russia and our newest locations in Turkey and Georgia, over the past two years we have been able to close a geographical gap in our network.” Moreover, in mid 2014 the company not only moved into new Head Office premises, but also into a new logistics terminal at the main company site in Lauterach in Vorarlberg, and opened new forwarding terminals in Wels, Austria and Sofia, Bulgaria. Further construction projects are due for completion in 2015: In the Lauterach branch, additional comprehensive modernisation works are in progress, whilst a new transhipment warehouse is being built in the Southern German city of Esslingen. The logistics expert is further expanding its locations in Hall, Austria, Brno, Czech Republic and Belgrade, Serbia and setting up a new logistics site in Dubai.   At 56.4 million euros, investment volume stayed at the same high level as the previous year (2013: 60.1 million euros). Additionally, due to low interest rates, the Group was able to increase its resilience through the acquisition of several leased assets in Hungary and Austria, to a value of 24.4 million euros. The high equity ratio has remained relatively unchanged at roughly 55.5 per cent, securing the company significant independence from credit institutions (2013: 56.5 per cent). The workforce has grown by an annual average of more than four per cent, and now numbers 5,868 employees (full-time equivalent).   Land transports and logistics solutions have constant success With a consolidated turnover of 826.3 million euros, the land transport business division was able to increase its turnover in 2014 (2013: 800.3 million euros). “Central pillars of the positive development in this business field were the stable partner network of System Alliance Europe, positive feedback on the Europe-wide cargo and groupage freight product GW pro.line and the successful expansion of the home delivery service, GW pro.line home, in Austria and further central and eastern European countries,” states Wolfgang Niessner. Utilising the special expertise of subsidiary company Far Freight, Gebrüder Weiss has expanded its transport volume in the Caucasus and other CIS nations and opened a branch in Turkey. A total of roughly 10.6 million shipments were handled by land transport in 2014. This has highlighted an increased focus on multimodal transport solutions, which Gebrüder Weiss plans to develop further as it moves into Asia.   With several excellent projects, the logistics solutions division once again positioned itself as a customer-oriented, full-service logistics provider. Contributing factors were the expansion of our high-tech specialisation under the tectraxx brand and the introduction of a modular system of eFulfillment solutions along the entire supply chain. An increase in customer inquiries at the newest logistics site in Georgia, points to yet more positive growth.   Air & Sea in the upswing The Air & Sea business unit posted growth of more than 12 per cent with a turnover of 287.7 million euros. In the sea freight area, groupage freight service GWconsolution, with standardised service levels and the expansion of direct sea freight routes, was able to consolidate its position, with a 20 per cent increase in volume compared to last year (LCL: 433,000 cubic metres). In the air freight unit, the company also turned 2013’s slight backward trend around, recording a growth of 10 per cent with 49,500 tonnes.   In China, the company extended its automotive sector presence even further with the foundation of the joint venture Gebrüder Weiss Automotive Logistics. “With this expertise, we can better address high customer demand in this important market segment and intensify our engagement in China,” explains the responsible Board Member, Heinz Senger-Weiss.   Newly established business area Projects & Break Bulk’s handling of a large number of complex special transports plus their engagement in China, highlight this unit’s love of innovation: “The constant extension of the Air & Sea network, its products and solutions as well as the expansion of logistics activities in Asia are central components of our strategy”, says Heinz Senger-Weiss.   Stable subsidiaries With a turnover of 126.3 million euros in 2014, the Gebrüder Weiss Parcel Service (GWP), partner and shareholder of the Austrian DPD, surpassed last year’s level, despite the competitive environment (2013: 126.1 million euros). Throughout the past year, the parcel service extended its national network of parcel shops for private customers to a total of 580. With a large number of innovative logistics consulting projects and a focus on the field of e-business, subsidiary company x|vise was able to expand its market position. “We have realised successful e-commerce projects in the B2C market and developed individualised web shop solutions for our customers,” says Board Member and Department Head Peter Kloiber. Inet-logistics GmbH also saw gains with its worldwide Transport Management Systems (TMS) developing itself further on the international market. The subsidiary attained more than 18 per cent growth with a consolidated turnover of 14.1 million euros.   Looking forward to the coming business year, Gebrüder Weiss plans to expand its market position and increase its appeal as a service provider and employer even further. “With the term ‘Service Excellence’, our goal is clearly defined,” states Wolfgang Niessner. “Every measure we take is designed to impress and engage our customers through the delivery outstanding services.”