Medium-sized and Grounded

Interview

DUVENBECK Logistik GmbH

It is the varied task that appeals to Mag. Norbert Joichl. He has been employed at DUVENBECK Logistik GmbH for twelve years, and since 2005 as the managing director. "The industry is very interesting," he concludes. "There is never a dull moment." The logistics expert has his office in Graz, Austria, and within the company, he handles Eastern Europe. The vast majority of clients come from the automotive industry, but the logistics specialists are also active in other sectors. Despite the size it has now reached, the company still sees itself as a medium-sized company that has not lost its grounding and relies on "old virtues" such as reliability, trust, and honesty.

Since its founding in 1932, DUVENBECK has evolved over the decades from a transport company into a forwarding agency. With DUVENBECK Logistics GmbH, Graz is one of 36 European locations of the German corporate group, which shows a presence in Germany, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Hungary with subsidiaries and branches.

The DUVENBECK corporate group, based in Westphalian Bocholt, is a holding company with flat hierarchies, where all companies operate as daughter or sister companies. All country companies work very independently. Standard products like reporting tools and sales guidelines are adapted to the specific conditions of each country and company.

Mag. Norbert Joichl, Managing Director of DUVENBECK Logistik GmbH
Mag. Norbert Joichl, Managing Director of DUVENBECK Logistik GmbH

From Transportation to Logistics

Over the decades, DUVENBECK has evolved from a pure transportation company to a versatile forwarding agency. Thus, the company has grown along with the OEMs and has adapted to their specific requirements through quality checks and integrated manufacturing steps. Today, the portfolio includes transportation services as well as tasks of a regional forwarding agency with the collection and sorting of goods.

On the roads of Europe: DUVENBECK vehicle
On the roads of Europe: DUVENBECK vehicle

DUVENBECK Logistik GmbH considers Eastern Europe, where three-quarters of its revenue is generated, as a reference region. In addition, standard logistics services are offered, including just-in-sequence transport from their own warehouse to customers' production lines. For transportation, DUVENBECK maintains its own fleet of nearly 1,500 vehicles, including swap body vehicles, mega trailers, and articulated lorries.

Optimizing IT

Currently, DUVENBECK is intensively engaged with the topic of Industry 4.0. Here, the company is on a good path. "We aim for automated data processing from the receipt of the order to the destination," clarifies Mag. Norbert Joichl. To capture and process data even more precisely, the company's own IT is also being further optimized.

Own Academy

DUVENBECK also places great value on knowledge transfer. "Currently, we are establishing our own academy to train and further educate our employees," explains the managing director. This way, the company aims to remain attractive for the next generation.

Focus on Eastern Europe: DUVENBECK is particularly well represented here.
Focus on Eastern Europe: DUVENBECK is particularly well represented here.

Mag. Norbert Joichl is also deeply concerned about the reputation of the forwarding industry, which he believes is better than its reputation: "The profession is very interesting. We try to motivate employees and promote their strengths. Of course, this also includes attractive compensation."

Positive Corporate Culture

Mag. Norbert Joichl sees a positive corporate culture as a significant unique selling point: "We value the worth of our employees." Despite its internationality, DUVENBECK offers personalized services, combined with a high standard.

Another strength is its own fleet, which handles about half of all transportation. This allows the company to be much more flexible and also to take on more demanding quality tasks. Thus, DUVENBECK is much less dependent on subcontractors than many competitors.

DUVENBECK's operations site: Kecskemet is one of 36 European locations.
DUVENBECK's operations site: Kecskemet is one of 36 European locations.

Started with a Horse-Drawn Carriage

The history of the company dates back to 1932 when Christian Duvenbeck founded his moving company with a horse-drawn carriage. From 50 employees in 1992, the number has now grown to 5,500. The mid-1990s marked the transition from a German to an international company. Since that time, DUVENBECK has grown significantly.

Of the 500 million EUR in revenue generated by the Duvenbeck Group, more than half is earned outside of Germany. DUVENBECK is no longer just about transport. For instance, they also manufacture rear axles for a renowned automobile manufacturer. As the portfolio has developed extensively, the dependence on individual customers has significantly decreased.

80% of the customers come from the automotive industry. Other sectors include the plastics and electronics industries. Thus, DUVENBECK is not only active for the most prestigious manufacturers in the automotive industry, but also handles logistics and transportation of glass bottles for experts in the beverage industry. The company's sales are managed by the central Key Account Management, which, for example, takes care of the major OEMs. Regional branches, on the other hand, look after the local customers. Furthermore, DUVENBECK is represented at the 'Transport and Logistics' trade fair.

Comprehensive Services: DUVENBECK's Warehouse Logistics
Comprehensive Services: DUVENBECK's Warehouse Logistics

Classic Values

Down-to-earth attitude, classic values, and customer orientation are what make Mag. Norbert Joichl consider DUVENBECK's success. The company also proves its innovative strength with a modern fleet, ecological footprint, and environmental training for drivers. Qualitative growth, optimization of training, and Industry 4.0 are set to further advance the company.