Since October 1, 2023, Felbermayr Holding has held a stake in the Dutch inland shipping company Rijnmond Logistics Beheer BV, based in Papendrecht. Operationally, the young team will work closely with Haeger & Schmidt Logistics, which also belongs to Felbermayr. Horst Felbermayr, CEO of the holding company of the same name, Cees van Putten, Managing Director of Rijnmond Logistics and Heiko Brückner, CEO of Haeger & Schmidt Logistics, report on the investment project, which was internally codenamed “Max Verstappen”, in an Insight interview.
What motivated you to invest in the inland shipping company Rijnmond Logistics?
Horst Felbermayr: There is already a long-term relationship between HSL and Rijnmond Logistics. Due to my trust in the management and the knowledge of the many years of successful cooperation between the two companies, it was a logical decision for me to invest in Rijnmond Logistics. In addition to the “positive chemistry”, I was also impressed by the company’s committed and professional approach to business.
How do the businesses of HSL and Rijnmond Logistics complement each other?
Heiko Brückner: We have been looking for a suitable partner to complete our business on the Benelux Rhine corridor for years. The young and dynamic inland waterway operator is the perfect match for us. The dedicated team is a 1:1 match for our group of companies – we have known and worked together for many years in some cases. Together we can expand the markets in which we operate.
How did you find out that Felbermayr and HSL were the right partners for you?
Cees van Putten: The first contact came about when I told my friend Peter Sauer, who works as a consultant for HSL, about our future plans. This set the ball rolling. Many discussions and fine-tuning followed. But from the first interaction with Felbermayr and HSL, we knew that we were on the right track. We felt that these were our partners for a common future and couldn’t wait to start working together.
Why did you invest in inland shipping and choose a location in the Netherlands?
Horst Felbermayr: We started combining rail, road and water transportation back in the 1990s. This involves multimodal transportation, which also makes ecological sense. That is why we are continuing to pursue this path with the utmost consistency. The location in the Netherlands perfectly complements our existing trimodal terminals in Duisburg and Krefeld on the Rhine and Sulzemoos near Munich as far as the Austrian Danube with a Felbermayr port in Linz and our location in Albern, not far from Vienna.
What is the core business of Rijnmond Logistics?
Cees van Putten: We are a full-service logistics provider in the field of inland shipping logistics service provider for dry bulk goods with a special focus on grain and minerals. Our fleet consists of three of our own inland barges, including two coupling units, and around 20 permanently chartered vessels. These extensive capacities enable us to always provide the best solution for our customers.
We charter and schedule the ships in accordance with regulations on the Rhine and its tributaries. We also take on fiscal representation and act as a cargo agent in the seaport.
In which areas does the shareholding in Rijnmond Logistics strengthen the inland shipping activities of the HSL Group?
Heiko Brückner: By investing in Rijnmond Logistics, we can drive forward the expansion of the HSL Group in two main directions: we are diversifying our portfolio and strengthening our geographical coverage. Rijnmond Logistics contributes its expertise in the bulk goods sector with its own ships and crews. This strengthens our inland navigation activities as a whole with the prospect of acquiring new volumes in a targeted manner.
Geographically seen, the Benelux region is an important hub for us in terms of chartering. We want to strengthen our activities here, together with HSLB in Antwerp. Towards the hinterland, we cover the entire Rhine axis with our various locations. These include the Rijnmond branch in Luxembourg, which operates there under the name TransEst Lux, our headquarters in Duisburg with the new steel logistics hub and the locations in Andernach, Kehl/Strasbourg and Lauterbourg. Rijnmond Logistics is also important for our joint forward strategy with PSA BB in Antwerp.
Why is the Luxembourg branch operating under the name TransEst Lux and what role does it play in your business?
Cees van Putten: In the past, TransEst was a French company. A few years ago, the company moved to Luxembourg. In 2019, one year after we were founded, we took over TransEst and this location has been representing the Rijnmond Group on the Moselle and Saar since then.
What new operational opportunities can the market expect?
Heiko Brückner: We will be able to increase our presence in the bulk goods segment in future. We will offer new services, particularly in the Middle and Upper Rhine trade lanes. But we can also position ourselves even more broadly in the seaport of Antwerp, where we are already well represented with HSLB. The investment also contributes to our strategic goal of promoting one-stop shopping with our own fleet.
Rijnmond Logistics is a young company with only five years on the market. Why did you set the strategic course for a joint future with Felbermayr and HSL?
Cees van Putten: As a young, but very fast-growing company, we considered what opportunities there were to either consolidate or continue to grow in a responsible way. We have known HSL for years as a very reliable market companion. As we serve a different customer base on complementary routes, we have no points of friction, but all the more synergies.
With Felbermayr as a family-owned company, we have found a suitable umbrella under which we can grow continuously and align ourselves for the future.
How far is a further development of your own inland waterway capacities or chartering options strategically planned or desired?
Horst Felbermayr: From a strategic point of view, we want to continue to expand our available shipping space. It is also important to mention that a diversification of cargo is welcome. With regard to the latter aspect in particular, Rijnmond Logistics strengthens our portfolio with its logistics solutions specializing in bulk goods transport.
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About Rijnmond Logistics
Founded in 2018, Rijnmond Logistics Beheer BV employs a total of 40 people. The company operates three of its own inland vessels, including two coupling units. The charterer also deploys around 20 other charter vessels. The inland shipping company has branches in Papendrecht and in Schengen, Luxembourg. According to the Felbermayr Group, Rijnmond Logistics has an annual revenue of over 40 million euros.