company

1932 – Foundation

In the pioneering days of road freight transport, the company is founded in 1932 by Wilhelm Hammesfahr as a forwarding company based in Dusseldorf. Close contacts soon develop with the company Henkel, which is looking for alternatives in the distribution of goods. A business relationship begins that continues to this day.

1939-1949 – World War II

The outbreak of World War II forces the company to cede a large part of its vehicle fleet to government agencies. However, the transport business can be maintained on a smaller scale during the war years.

1952 – New start

By entering the emerging field of silo business, the company establishes itself in a new forwarding business segment. In the 1960s, the company grows to become the main haulage contractor for the West German cement industry. In particular, large construction sites benefit from the replacement of bagged cement by silo cement.

1971 – Foundation of SITRANS GmbH & Co. KG

Silo operations from the forwarding and transport levels are outsourced to a new subsidiary. SITRANS also establishes itself as a building materials dealer for fly ash and cement.

1976 – Expansion

A regional detergent warehouse in Monheim am Rhein is put into operation for Henkel.

1977 – Relocation

Relocation of the company headquarters and administration to Monheim am Rhein.

1978 – Company founder Wilhelm Hammesfahr passes away.

He was succeeded as managing partner by his son Klaus-Dieter Hammesfahr.

1980 – Munich Branch

Establishment of a branch in Munich to bundle activities in southern Germany. At the same time, a regional warehouse is opened for the complete range of Henkel KGaA products (cosmetics, adhesives, detergents and chemical products). The Munich branch subsequently becomes the second-largest shoe importer in Germany.

1982 – Takeover of UNITAS GmbH & Co. KG

Increase in shareholding (to 100%) of the forwarding contractor UNITAS, Dortmund. From now on, the focus of business activity is placed in Southern Germany and the Benelux countries. The chemical industry (Henkel, Hoechst and Bayer) is one of the major customers.

1986 – Sale of SITRANS

Sale of SITRANS Sale of SITRANS GmbH & Co. KG to VEBA AG.

1987 – Foundation of Hafa Versandservice GmbH & Co. KG

A new subsidiary is founded as part of the planning, implementation and launch of a central warehouse concept for the cosmetics division of Henkel KGaA.

The field of activity at Hafa Versandservice GmbH & Co. KG includes storage, picking, labelling, order processing, shipping and complaints handling. Hafa sees itself as a logistics service provider specialising in IT and warehouse logistics.

1994 – Merger of the transport business

Dissolution of UNITAS GmbH & Co. KG and partial continuation of their business under the management of Wilhelm Hammesfahr GmbH & Co. KG.

1997 – Expansion of product range

Takeover of parts of the product range of Hans Schwarzkopf GmbH into the existing central cosmetics warehouse.

1998 – Central warehouse of Schwarzkopf & Henkel Cosmetics GmbH

Wilhelm Hammesfahr GmbH & Co. KG takes over the function of a central warehouse keeper for Schwarzkopf & Henkel Cosmetics GmbH on a built-up area of 45,000 sqm and approx. 250 employees.

2000 – The third generation

Klaus-Dieter Hammesfahr hands over the management of the company to his son Sven Hammesfahr.

2001 – Foundation of Hammesfahr Logistik-Service GmbH

In order to adapt more flexibly to the extended requirements placed on full-service logistics providers, ancillary logistics services (packaging, order processing, shipping service, etc.), information logistics and consulting are outsourced to Hammesfahr Logistik-Service GmbH. As part of a redesign of the central warehouse, involving substantial structural extensions, a new pick to light system for picking small parts is put into operation (capacity: 50,000 picks/day). Packaging activities are expanded by setting up three production lines supported by conveyor technology and fully automated carton sealing machines (total capacity: 30 million individual items/year).

2010 – Logistics HUB Monheim

Construction of a fully automated high-bay warehouse for storing 16,000 aerosol pallets and the initial operation of a railway station for handling up to 625,000 pallets per annum via the existing railway siding.

2018 – New export warehouse

Construction and operational implementation of a new export warehouse, incl. an integrated railway station on Daimlerstr. in Monheim.

2019 – Railway Agent

Authorisation to operate as a railway company.