What can we expect in 2023? We don’t have the answer. Forecasting tools we have used for decades are no longer good regarding the volatile underlying environment. The coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, energy crisis, a looming recession – all these keywords are synonymous with events that have thrown reliability as we know it into disarray. And we suspect that a return to familiar calm waters is not going to happen.
The entire HSL team has adapted and is well prepared. Day in, day out, our teams in the HSL Group demonstrate that they are capable of adjusting the path and ensure we are clearly steering towards future. At this point, I would like to thank all our employees most warmly for mastering these challenges, for their flexibility in finding the right solution for and together with our customers and partners, whatever the situation. This is only possible when we join forces, and this highlights the strength of our Group!
At the same time, we are concentrating on building up our own network and investing in assets and partnerships. We know that our workforce is only as good as the network architecture at their disposal. Examples of milestones here include the participation in PSA Breakbulk in Antwerp and our new steel logistics hub in Duisburg.
The date of 1 January 2023 will mark a decade since the HSL Group became part of Austrian family-owned Felbermayr as the pioneer of our “forward strategy”. We will continue to pursue this strategy in 2023 as well and work towards developing the HSL Group’s architecture to facilitate incorporating increasingly larger parts of the supply chain within our own network or with partner networks.
Do we already have concrete plans for further investments, participating interests or partnerships? No – we meanwhile make these strategic decisions at very short notice, when an opportunity arises. But please be assured: As an Insight reader you will still be one of the first to hear news from our corporate group in future . But, for the time being, and as the year is ending, we hope to enjoy a little tranquillity and time for reflection
In this spirit, may I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Heiko Brückner
CEO Haeger & Schmidt Logistics