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Westfalia points the way ahead for the future

Westfalia points the way ahead for the future: A new generation takes over with new management and shareholder structure

After 39 years one of the great ones leaves the logistics stage: Ulrich Upmeyer, founder and longstanding managing director of the Westfalia Group of companies, retires. Matthias Upmeyer leads the owner-managed company into the second generation.

Since its establishment in 1971 Ulrich Upmeyer has successfully directed the business of Westfalia. With vision and a sense for innovations he grew the medium-sized company, with its headquarters in Borgholzhausen, into one of the leading suppliers of automated logistics solutions. The breakthrough was achieved at the beginning of the 80s. The development of the Satellite® storage system has formed the company’s history and was taken note of on a global scale within the industry. Since then this system has been used worldwide in the most diverse sectors. Founder Ulrich Upmeyer retires at the age of 66 and hands the management of Westfalia to his son Matthias Upmeyer and Andreas Gartemann.

In order to set the company on solid and sustainable ground in this succession, Ulrich Upmeyer sold his share to a regional entrepreneur. Since the beginning of the year, Siegbert Wortmann, founder and CEO of Wortmann AG in Hüllhorst, has been the new majority shareholder of the Westfalia Group of companies. This strengthens the headquarters in Borgholzhausen in the long term. „I am delighted that we could win Mr. Wortmann as an indigenous, successful entrepreneur from this region to Westfalia“, says company founder Ulrich Upmeyer. Wortmann AG is Germany’s most successful producer of PCs (store brand Terra) and servers, with an notable increase of 12% in sales predicted in 2009 despite the economical crisis. Siegbert Wortmann was awarded „Entrepreneur of the year East Westphalia“ in 2001 and received the Federal Cross of Merit in 2007.

The other shares are held by Matthias Upmeyer and Andreas Gartemann who have jointly assumed management responsibilities of the Westfalia Group. After his business studies, with majors in business administration and logistics at University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück, and domestic and international jobs, Matthias Upmeyer (38) joined the company in 2001. Initially he was responsible for export sales and managed the business unit for automated small part storage systems. Afterwards he took over the sales responsibility for the core business of the Westfalia Group of companies. Andreas Gartemann (37) studied business administration with majors in marketing, production and IT at University of Osnabrück. In 1999 he started his career within the company where he quickly took over the responsibility for marketing and communications. His longstanding counsel regarding the company’s development commended him for the position of the General Manager.

Matthias Upmeyer Andreas Gartemann

In the realignment of the management structure, Mr. Wortmann also takes over the chairmanship of the newly found advisory board. Further members of the advisory board represent the legal and business professions.
br /> The Westfalia Group of companies is optimistic regarding 2010. „ In 2010, as well as in 2009 we see a positive development concerning the order situation in comparison to the overall economy “, says Matthias Upmeyer. Andreas Gartemann adds: „We are happy about the order volume we have already received. It allows Westfalia to operate at full capacity not only on a short term, but also in the medium term.“

www.westfaliaeurope.com


Upcoming Exhibitions
February 2012 - Modex - 6th to 9th February
ProMat2011 was a very successful show with attendees stating they have plans to spend $ 75 billion in materials handling equipment and technology in the next 18 months.
March 2012 - Logimat Stuttgart - 13th to 15th March
Between 13 and 15 March 2012, the 10th 'International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow', LogiMAT 2012, will be putting on a comprehensive show of innovative products, services and the latest solutions in the intralogistics sector. In its anniversary year LogiMAT is taking up the entire north wing of the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
May 2012 - AMHSA - 2nd May 2012
A one-day event for Supply Chain Directors and Senior Logistics Managers to discuss the developments in material handling over the next five years and the key role that automation and software will play.
 Keynote speaker: Lord Digby Jones


June 2012- Transfairlog - 12th to 14th
transfairlog is the name of a new specialist trade fair for international transport and logistics management, taking place for the first time from 12 to 14 June 2012 in Hamburg. transfairlog is aimed at companies involved in the import and export transport chain. It focuses on ocean and inland shipping, forwarding services and operational equipment, warehouse optimisation and process control, container cranes and electric stackers and lots more – in short transfairlog is about the optimisation of international freight transports and logistics processes. The fair covers the full spectrum in the transport and logistics market.
 
June 2012 - CSCO Forum - 18th to 20th June
The Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum is the most elite gathering of the Heads of North America’s Best-in-Class supply chains. Nowhere else will you find a greater concentration of top executives sharing strategies and engaging in board-level discussion and debate.
 
If your role depends on knowing the key supply chain management strategies of the industry leaders, and meeting and developing relationships with the executives who lead those supply chains, then you cannot afford to miss this event!
 
Join the highest level, most cutting edge forum for the industry executives who are driving their organizations and their careers towards a new era of innovation and success
June 2012 - 3PL Summit - 18th to 20th June
eyefortransport's 10th 3PL Summit, co-located with the Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum, form  the most elite meeting place for senior supply chain executives on the one hand, and the CEOs of the largest 3PLs on the other.  Discover the growth strategies of the industry leaders at their only meeting place.
 
Join the highest level, most cutting edge forum for the industry executives who are driving their organisations and their careers towards a new era of innovation and success.
 
Register to attend the most game-changing event in the industry today.
June 2012 - 3PL Awards - 19th June
Each year the eyefortransport 3PL Awards aim to recognize those 3PLs that continuously deliver excellence in logistics operations and superior service to their customers. The awards are decided on by 3PL customers - the manufacturers and retailers who depend upon and work with logistics service providers every day.
 
As such, these awards take on a special significance, and the winners can feel confident in the knowledge that their customers have chosen them as best of breed partners in supply chain excellence.
June 2012 - SIL - 5th to 8th June
The fourteenth edition of the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL 2012), which will be held from 5th to 8th June at Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía venue, has just presented its slogan.


September 2012 - Material Handling - 27th to 30th
The Material Handling World Expo is an endeavor
which is specifically designed to present an array of
developments in the material handling segment of the
industry. With an exhibition area spread over 10,000
Sq. Mtrs. and a guarantee of over 100 participants
both locol and foreign, The Material Handling World
Expo is a place to be.
October 2012 - CILF - 15th to 17th October 2012
The 7th China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair (CILF2012) shall be held on Oct. 15-17, 2012. （Mon.-Wed.）
 
March 2013 - IMHX - 19th to 22nd March
After a hugely successful event in November 2010, a large number of IMHX exhibitors have rebooked for the next show in March 2013.
Case Studies
Crisplant - Witt-Gruppe Distribution Centre
The new centre is part of the Witt-Gruppe’s Vision 2020 through which it plans to position itself as the most profitable Europe-wide group of retailers in the 50plus market whilst achieving a 50 % reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.
Coca-cola, Amatil
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has been located in Northmead for more than 30 years and over this time, has experienced high levels of continuous growth. The Northmead plant manufactures 60 million unit cases of soft drinks per year, producing product in cans at 2,000 per minute and PET bottles at 600 per minute.
The letter of the law
Corinna Hardt tells Logistics Business why an increasing number of companies in the field of postal services and logistics maximise their profits with the help of automated weighing systems.
Pilot scheme success
Preventing accidents is a top priority in all areas of the logistics sector. When utmost importance is attached to safety, specialists have to be called in order to help prevent accidents.
Extending reach and life
Add-ons and customisation are two aftermarket services that greatly benefit the forklift truck. Logistics Business catches up with news and innovations from this highly competitive market sector.
TVH makes a smart move
It’s always nice to report a happy ending, even in harsh economic times for the materials handling industry. Read how two Logistics Business customers recently teamed-up to facilitate a state-of-the-art distribution facility for forklift truck parts.