This rebranding is the culmination of an integration process that began in January 2013 with Dachser’s acquisition of Azkar. The companies had already been cooperating since 2007, and one year later Dachser purchased a stake of 10 percent in its then partner for Spain. “The two companies were an excellent match right from the word go. We share the same values, and we have the same corporate culture and business vision,” explains Bernhard Simon. “On this basis, we were able to advance quickly and smoothly with the integration. Simultaneously, we have achieved profitable growth on the Iberian Peninsula every year since the takeover.”

Since the acquisition, Dachser has closely integrated its organizations in Spain and Portugal into its European groupage network. The 70 daily import and export lines that existed in 2013 have increased to 130 today, while the number of shipments from and to Europe grew by 40 percent over the same period. Michael Schilling emphasizes the advantages of a standardized European groupage network: “What you see is what you get. If it’s got Dachser’s name on it, then there’s Dachser in it – customers can bank on that. In addition to integrated IT systems, standardized processes, workflows, and network rules are the foundations for reliability, safety, and quality.”

 

Switch to Dachser colors

A rebranding is accompanying the end of the integration. The national subsidiaries will operate under the names of Dachser Spain and Dachser Portugal in the future. “That was our goal, which was advocated by employees, management, and customers,” underscores Juan Antonio Quintana. “The Dachser network underpins our success. We’re now playing in a completely different league than we were four years ago, and we can support customers in their worldwide growth. Accordingly, it is only logical that we take the next step and also become Dachser in our branding.” Five branches – in Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga, Porto, and Valencia – are already decked out in the blue and yellow colors, and the rest are due to follow by 2020. Of the approximately 2,000 short-haul trucks, over 70 percent already sport the Dachser branding today.