Logistic Service Provider Simon Hegele Moves into the Port of Duisburg / 5,600 sq.m. Warehouse to be Completed in logport by August / Cost of 3.6 Million Euros

Duisburg, 7 March 2006 – Automatic telling machines, bank statement printers and 4-ton computer tomographs are among the equipment delivered and installed by Karlsruhe-based Simon Hegele Gesellschaft für Logistik und Service mbH. “Where necessary, we will even organize the crane,” said Arno Kumm who is one of Simon Hegele’s managing directors.

A new building with a net floor area of 5,600 sq.m. in the logport part of the Port of Duisburg will be delivered to the logistic service provider for its operations on 1 August. The structure will be built by Hafen Duisburg-Rheinhausen GmbH, a subsidiary of Duisburger Hafen AG, at a total cost of some 3.6 million Euros. “Simon Hegele’s decision to expand its Duisburg operations and to go to logport has strengthened our location and will create both jobs and value for the company’s stockholders,” commented Duisburger Hafen AG’s Chief Executive Officer Erich Staake.

Transportation, unloading, assembly and start-up are the key activities of the medium-sized logistic service provider recently promoted to the “Top Job” class by Germany’s former Minister of Economics Wolfgang Clement. Handelsblatt, the financial daily, referred to the company as a “Hidden Champion”. The organization ranks easily among the top 100 German logistics firms, operates over 300,000 sq.m. of roofed warehousing and service areas, runs 200 vehicles and distributes its cargo around the world. With 1,200 employees today, the number of staff has been trebled over the last six years. Undoubtedly, Handelsblatt’s qualification of a “hidden” champion is no longer needed.

Frank Degener was Simon Hegele’s first permanent employee in Duisburg in the late 1990s. “We had 500 sq.m. of storage capacity at the time,” the Operations Manager remembered. The net warehousing area will grow to 5,600 sq.m. on 1 August this year when the new 3.6 million Euro building will be delivered by Hafen Duisburg-Rheinhausen GmbH to Simon Hegele Gesellschaft für Logistik und Service mbH. 50 employees will be working for the logistic service provider in Duisburg and 20 trucks will carry the company’ cargo. “We have been responsible for all project management and control functions and developed a customized solution together with Simon Hegele,” said Staake.

The Duisburg Center of Simon Hegele will chiefly operate for Siemens (mainly the Medical Solutions business) and the dm drug mart chain. On the 1,600 sq.m. gallery of the warehouse at a height of approx. 6 meters, “we will for example assemble the complete dm mart cash registers and add certain hardware equipment,” Degener described some of the work. Over 800 dm outlets are served by Simon Hegele. Whenever one of dm’s shops is opened, closed, moved or refurbished, the logistic service provider is involved.

“Our drivers are all qualified electricians, mechanics or fitters,” Degener underlined “who happen to hold a commercial driving license.” Traveling fitters with logistic expertise is how he nicknames his staff.

Simon Hegele’s staff work for a company that is committed to its people. An “Employee of the Year” is elected annually at each company location,” but directors or operations managers cannot be elected,” Operations Manager Degener stressed quickly. A group of 12 to 15 employees of the year and their spouses then leave on vacation together for example to Mauritius, South Africa or the United States. They are always highly dedicated to their work when they return.
 Source: Press Release