3 billion tonnes transported safely in 60 years of VTG
- The Hamburg-based wagon hire and rail logistics company VTG looks back on a story of success
- Continued steady increase in environmentally friendly rail freight traffic
Hamburg, October 31, 2011. VTG has seen a lot of movement in the space of 60 years. In fact, between 1951 and 2011, the company’s rail freight wagons transported some three billion tonnes of bulk goods throughout Europe, including mineral oil, chemicals, coal, steel and grain. To do this by road would have required around 75 million trucks – a convoy stretching 36 times around the earth. In the year of its 60th anniversary, the indications clearly point towards growth for VTG. With a continuous high wagon capacity utilization at over 90 percent, its wagon construction plant with full order books and clearly defined growth areas in its logistics divisions, this Hamburg company is looking optimistically to the future.
VTG was founded on October 30, 1951 under the name of VTG Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH. What began as a state-owned company offering a broad range of services has now developed into the largest private wagon hire company in Europe. “Over six decades, we have built up an extremely stable business model which also allows for dynamic growth”, says Dr Heiko Fischer, CEO of VTG. The wagon hire component of the business is complemented with the divisions Rail Logistics and Tank Container Logistics, areas in which VTG also holds a leading market position.
VTG was moving its wagons beyond German borders from the very outset, laying the foundation for its international success. In the 1960s, the company established its first branches outside Germany. VTG continually diversified its fleet of wagons to better meet the requirements of its customers from the chemical, mineral oil, automotive, paper and agricultural industries. More focused product specialization and smaller shipments led to the first steps towards the use of tank containers in the early 1980s. The acquisition of a majority shareholding in Transpetrol GmbH Internationale Eisenbahnspedition in 1992 enabled the company to provide rail freight transports throughout Europe.
For the future, CEO Dr Heiko Fischer expects another surge of growth in all three business divisions: “Flows of transport are becoming more and more global, and so VTG too: we already have a significant presence in China, Singapur, Russia and the US. Our aim is to increase our service in Russia and North America and open up further growth opportunities.”
Growth in the sector is being driven primarily by the global trend towards greater energy efficiency and climate protection. The railway offers clear advantages in this respect over other carriers. According to the forecasts of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development, the volume of rail freight traffic in Germany in 2025 will be 152 billion tonne-kilometers, an increase of 42 percent within 15 years. “In the long term, the railway is the best mode of transport: it spares the environment and uses energy more efficiently”, says Fischer. “The more global the economy, the more indispensable the railway will be for handling large volumes over long distances” states the CEO with conviction. “The railway is one of the few traditional industries that still have a future ahead. Of course, this also has a positive effect on our “home base” in Hamburg and offers security to our Hamburg employees, currently around 354.” Altogether, the VTG Group currently employs a staff of 1,115 worldwide.
To mark its anniversary, VTG is showing an exhibition in Hamburg on the past, present and future of the company entitled “Look Back to the Future”. The aim of the exhibition is to bring to life VTG’s solutions and achievements in the rail freight sector to employees, business customers and journalists alike through impressive installations and exhibits. “Look Back to the Future” opens on October 31 in the VTG-Center.
Further information on VTG’s celebrations can be found at www.vtg.com/60 Years
About VTG:
VTG Aktiengesellschaft is one of Europe’s leading wagon hire and rail logistics companies. The company has the largest private wagon fleet in Europe. Globally, the fleet consists of some 51,200 wagons, with a focus on tank cars and state-of-the-art high capacity freight cars and flat cars. In addition to the hiring of wagons, the Group offers global tank container transports and comprehensive multi-modal logistics services, mainly around rail transport.
With the combination of its three interlinked divisions Wagon Hire, Rail Logistics and Tank Container Logistics, VTG offers its customers a high-performance platform for international transport of their freight. The Group has many years of experience and specific expertise, in particular in the transport of liquid and sensitive goods. Its customers include numerous well-known companies from almost every industrial sector, for example the chemical, petroleum, automotive, paper and agricultural industries.
In the financial year 2010, VTG generated revenue of EUR 629.4 million and operating profit (EBITDA) of EUR 154.4 million. Via its subsidiaries and affiliates the company, which has its head office in Hamburg, is mainly present in Europe, Asia and North America. As at 31 December 2010, VTG had 999 employees worldwide in consolidated companies. Since June 2007, VTG AG has been listed on the official Prime Standard market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and also on the SDAX (WKN: VTG999).
Media contact:
Monika Gabler
Head of Corporate Communications
Telephone: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1341
Fax: +49 (0) 40 23 54-1340
Email: monika.gabler@vtg.com
Yvonne Studier
PR Officer Trade Press
Telephone: +49 (0) 40 23 54-13 45
Fax: +49 (0) 40 23 54-13 40
Email: yvonne.studier@vtg.com
