Schmitz Cargobull

Line

• Ulrich Schümer, CEO
• Jürgen Kluge, Chairman of the Supervisory Board

The Schmitz Cargo Bull AG is a German manufacturer of semi-trailers, trailers and semi-trailers. The corporate headquarters is located in Horstmar, the office of the Company in the neighboring Old mountains. The family employed in the financial year 2012/2013 3,270 people and has a turnover of EUR 1.51 billion, making it the market leader in Europe. Shareholders are equally the families Dr. Heinz Schmitz, Peter Schmitz and Bernd Hoffmann.

Company History

Birth and ascent

The origins of the company date back to the year 1892. Thus began the company founder Heinrich Schmitz, in which the family-owned for more than 100 years old forge in the mountains near Münster to build cars. A first upward trend took the new business branch of the forge with the increasing motorization in the late 1920s. During this time, the company changed from a craft to an industrial vehicle manufacturer. In 1928 the first, equipped with solid rubber tires, automotive trailer was delivered. In 1935, semi-trailers and container vehicles were manufactured with steel outer skin on wood framework. Schmitz 1950 produced his first insulated and tempered construction.

Expansion, crisis and realignment

The company grew in the sixties and especially after the first oil crisis in the early seventies, when large orders from the producing countries in the Middle East brought double-digit growth rates. 1969, a subsidiary plant in Vreden was opened. In 1980, a new headquarters in Old mountains built on a large site on the outskirts of the village and set up an additional production facility in Berlin. With the start of the First Gulf War broke out in the eighties, the orders from the Arab countries away, and Schmitz Cargo Bull got into a first major crisis.

The reform policy in Eastern Europe and the German reunification gave the company a temporary new lease, failed to re- orders until the mid- nineties. This was followed by a rigorous reconstruction of production: The product range was limited to four basic types, the number of components required is greatly reduced, shortening the production and delivery times and reduced the share of wage costs. In addition, a business plan was introduced, in which the core production facilities Ancient mountains, Vreden and Gotha were modified to include satellites, where the final stage of production takes place close to the customer.

In March 1999, the failure of a company's IPO due to weak demand for the shares. Plans for a new IPO no longer existed ever since.

In fiscal year 2004/2005 ( 01.04. Till 31.03. ) Schmitz Cargo Bull reported for the first time a turnover of over one billion euros ( 1.21 billion euros, 36,000 vehicles produced ). Within five years, sales were doubled and been hired 1,500 new workers.

Current Business

In fiscal year 2007/2008 for the first time a turnover of over 2 billion was achieved ( 2.14 billion euros, 66,500 vehicles produced ). In September 2008, all temporary workers were laid off in the three core production sites due to strong reduction in orders, working short in December. The core workforce remained. Compared to the record result of 2007/2008, sales decreased 2009/2010 by 70 percent to 660 million euros ( 12,800 vehicles produced ). From the beginning of 2010, the order situation had stabilized, so that could be returned to the multi-shift operation. From 2010/2011, sales exceeded the billion mark again.

Schmitz Cargo Bull plans for the near future to penetrate new markets such as India and China. A Memorandum of Understanding for co-operation with the Chinese Dongfeng Motor Company, Ltd.. , One of the world's largest truck manufacturer, was signed in April 2012, a joint - venture agreement was followed in November 2012. Such collaboration will focus on the production of semi-trailers in the Chinese market. Production in China is to be recorded in 2014. Since 2013 Schmitz Cargo Bull also produced to a lesser extent in St. Petersburg in Russia. 2014 will be put into operation in the south of the city a new, larger facility.

Products and services

The product range of Schmitz Cargo Bull comprises:

• Saddle bags for dry and refrigerated cargo
• Platform trailers and semitrailers for general cargo, steel, paper, drinks
• Tippers for bulk materials in construction and agriculture
• Saddle container chassis
• Trailers and bodies

Schmitz Cargo Bull has subsidiaries following services:

• Cargo Bull Finance: Leasing and hire purchase
• Cargobull Parts & Services: spare parts and other services
• Cargo Bull Cool: transport refrigeration machines
• Cargobull Telematics: Trailer Telematics
• Cargo Bull Trailer Stores: used vehicle trade

Locations

Most of the production takes place in Germany and is sold abroad. The main markets are Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Manufacturing facilities are located in Germany in the Old Mountains, Vreden, Gotha, and Berlin Toddin abroad in Zaragoza ( Spain), Panevėžys (Lithuania ) and in St. Petersburg ( Russia).

Schmitz Cargo Bull is represented with its own sales and distribution partners in almost all European countries and operates across Europe, a network of around 1,200 authorized workshops.

Brand

The brand name Schmitz Cargo Bull with the blue elephant as a trademark was introduced in the late eighties. Until then, the company operated as Schmitz- trailer vehicle GmbH and Co. KG.