trans-o-flex

What trans-o-flex does

trans-o-flex is a German B2B logistics and express delivery company headquartered in Weinheim and founded in 1971, operating two purpose-built networks: a national Express network with ten service variants guaranteeing next-day delivery within Germany, and the ThermoMed network for active temperature-controlled transport (2°C to 8°C and 15°C to 25°C) serving pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and electronics customers. The company is GDP-certified for pharmaceutical distribution by both BSI Group Deutschland and TÜV Süd, and holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001 certifications. Its core technology includes the proprietary trans-o-flex Temperature Alarm tool — an algorithm fed by more than 44,500 real-time vehicle measurements that displays daily predicted temperature extremes and probability of excursions for non-controlled shipments — alongside the tof.now self-serve booking platform, the mytof customer portal, the trans-o-flex Insight recipient app, and an EDI interface for enterprise customers.

The business model is predominantly transaction-based, with pricing customized per shipment by weight, dimensions, service level, and destination; regular shippers receive individual enterprise contracts typically structured as multi-year agreements, while ad-hoc customers access the tof.now platform on a pay-as-you-go basis with payment via invoice, credit card, or PayPal. Revenue streams span national express delivery, temperature-controlled transport (ThermoMed), contract logistics (warehousing, pick-and-pack, returns management), freight forwarding and charter transport for consignments exceeding ten pallets, and add-on services such as tof.ecobox reusable packaging and tof.cover document express. Distribution is delivered through direct enterprise field sales, the self-serve online channel, the customer portal, and a contracted network of transport and handling partners, supplemented by cross-border coverage across 36 European countries via the EURODIS network. The operating company trans-o-flex Express GmbH & Co. KGaA is a private German limited partnership on shares, with wholly-owned subsidiaries trans-o-flex ThermoMed GmbH, trans-o-flex Logistik-Service GmbH, and trans-o-flex ThermoMed Austria GmbH; GEODIS-linked supervisory leadership suggests integration into the broader GEODIS group.

The primary customer segment is pharmaceutical and healthcare — supply of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical products under GDP compliance — supplemented by beauty and cosmetics, electronics, retail, and rehabilitation product verticals. Key go-to-market signals include active presence at the BVL logistics congress, a semi-annual customer magazine, email and LinkedIn marketing, and a dedicated careers portal recruiting both employees and transport/handling partners. Customer channels combine direct enterprise sales (phone +49 6201 988 444) with the no-contract tof.now platform for smaller and mid-market shippers.

Name

trans-o-flex

Legal name

trans-o-flex Express GmbH & Co. KGaA

Website

https://trans-o-flex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

trans-o-flex is a German B2B logistics provider founded in 1971, operating the Express and ThermoMed networks for time-critical and temperature-controlled (2-8°C and 15-25°C) transport serving pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, electronics, and retail customers across 36 European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Logistics Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cold Chain Cross-Docking, Transloading & Temperature-Controlled Drayage (TLAIAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Controlled Room Temperature (CRT) Transport (15–25°C) (TLADAHAH), Cold‑Chain Same‑Day (Refrigerated/Frozen) (TLAAADAF), International Express (Time-Definite Cross-Border) (TLAAABAB)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical logistics
• Temperature-controlled transport
• B2B express delivery
• Contract logistics
• Cold chain logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Weinheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Express Delivery Services: Time-critical B2B express delivery of parcels and pallets within Germany (10 express service variants with next-day guaranteed delivery), to Austria, and internationally across 36 European countries. Revenue generated per shipment based on weight, dimensions, service level, and destination.
2. Temperature-Controlled Transport (ThermoMed): Active temperature-controlled transport services in two ranges: 2°C to 8°C (Thermo Express) and 15°C to 25°C (Ambient Express). Serves pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, and other temperature-sensitive goods. Revenue per shipment with premium pricing for temperature compliance and GDP documentation.
3. Contract Logistics: Warehousing, pick-and-pack, co-packing, and returns management for high-value sensitive goods. Typically structured as multi-year contracts with recurring storage and handling fees.
4. Freight Forwarding (Charter & Direct Transport): Charter transport and direct delivery for large consignments exceeding 10 pallets, providing dedicated vehicle transport for time-critical or high-volume shipments.
5. Special Services & Add-ons: Supplementary services including insurance (via Aktiv Assekuranz Makler GmbH), document express (tof.cover), and reusable packaging systems (tof.ecobox). Additional fees per service.
6. tof.now Self-Serve Online Booking: Self-service online platform (tof.now) for booking shipments without contract commitment. Payment via invoice (account customers), credit card (SIX/PayOne), or PayPal. Generates per-transaction revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

trans-o-flex is a German B2B logistics company operating two dedicated networks — the Express network for time-critical parcel and pallet shipments with next-day guaranteed delivery in Germany, and the ThermoMed network for active temperature-controlled transport at 2–8°C and 15–25°C. It serves pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetics, electronics, and retail customers with national and international express shipping, contract logistics, freight forwarding, and digital shipping tools such as tof.now and mytof.

Product overview

trans-o-flex is a B2B logistics and express delivery company offering a comprehensive portfolio of transport solutions for packages and pallets. The core offerings consist of National Express Delivery (with 10 service options under 24-hour delivery), International Express Delivery (covering 36 European countries via EURODIS), and Active Temperature Control services including Thermo Express (2-8°C) and Ambient Express (15-25°C) for pharmaceutical products. These are complemented by Contract Logistics (warehousing, fulfillment, returns management), Freight/Charter Services, Special Services (dangerous goods), and sustainable solutions like the tof.ecobox reusable packaging system. The digital infrastructure includes the mytof.de customer portal, the tof.now online booking platform (no contract required), the trans-o-flex insight receiver app (iOS/Android), EDI interfaces for enterprise integration, and various e-services for shipment management, tracking, and cost optimization. The company operates specialized networks: the Express network for standard shipments and the ThermoMed network for temperature-controlled logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• tof.now: Online shipping tool for business customers (B2B) enabling shipment booking without contract obligations.
• tof.ecobox
• tof.cover
• trans-o-flex insight
• mytof
• ThermoMed
• Ambient Express
• Thermo Express
• TOF.SPOT

Products and services

• Expressversand national (National Express Delivery) B2B express shipping service within Germany offering ten different express options with standard delivery times of less than 24 hours, including time-certain delivery up to a specified time slot, for time-critical shipments.
• Expressversand international (International Express Delivery) International express shipping across 36 European countries via the EURODIS network, handling all formalities for cross-border B2B logistics.
• Active Temperature Control (Thermo Express 2-8°C and Ambient Express 15-25°C) Active temperature-controlled transport services maintaining specified temperature ranges (2-8°C and 15-25°C) for pharmaceutical and sensitive goods throughout the logistics chain, operated through the GDP-certified ThermoMed network.
• Kontraktlogistik (Contract Logistics) Customized warehousing, pick-and-pack, co-packing, kitting, and system-supported returns management services for high-value and sensitive goods.
• Spedition / Charter- und Direkttransport Freight forwarding and direct transport services including charter options for large consignments exceeding 10 pallets or oversized goods.
• Special Services Specialized transport solutions including handling of dangerous goods and other non-standard shipping requirements.
• tof.ecobox (Reusable Packaging System) Reusable packaging system for sustainable, multi-use transport containers reducing single-use packaging waste in B2B logistics.
• tof.cover (Document Express) Express document delivery service for urgent paperwork and documentation shipping.
• tof.now Online Shipping Platform Online shipping platform for business customers enabling booking, label generation, and shipment management without contract commitment; supports parcels, pallets, documents, and temperature-controlled transport.
• mytof Customer Portal Customer portal providing interactive shipment tracking, damage reporting, daily delivery notifications, communication with customer service, and employee sub-account creation for registered B2B customers.
• trans-o-flex insight (Recipient App)

Quantifiable outcome

• Active temperature control generates up to 4x lower CO2 emissions than passive tempering for temperature-sensitive goods transport
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GEODISmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEODIS is referenced as a parent/sister company. The trans-o-flex website links to GEODIS location finder and the imprint lists Amaury Valicon (Chairman of Supervisory Board of trans-o-flex) in a GEODIS context. GEODIS appears to be the parent company of the trans-o-flex group, providing strategic backing and integration within a global logistics group.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CEVA Logistics (CMA CGM): CEVA Logistics operates dedicated Healthcare and Pharma verticals with GDP-compliant warehousing and temperature-controlled transport. Comparable to trans-o-flex on pharma-specialized contract logistics and 2-8°C/15-25°C road transport across European corridors.
• UPS Healthcare: UPS Healthcare (formerly Marken/UPS Cold Chain Solutions) provides time- and temperature-sensitive shipping, cold-chain storage, and GMP/GDP-compliant distribution for pharma and biotech. Comparable customer base and active temperature control offerings to trans-o-flex's ThermoMed and Express networks.
• DSV (Pharma & Healthcare): DSV's Pharma & Healthcare division, recently expanded with the DB Schenker acquisition, provides temperature-controlled road, air, and sea freight with GDP-certified handling. Direct overlap with trans-o-flex on cold-chain B2B road transport for pharmaceutical shippers across Europe.
• Eurotranspharma: Eurotranspharma is a European temperature-controlled road transport specialist serving pharmaceutical customers with GDP-certified 2-8°C capability. Closest mid-sized peer to trans-o-flex by geography, customer vertical, and network design.
• DHL Supply Chain (Life Sciences & Healthcare): DHL's Life Sciences & Healthcare division operates Good Distribution Practice (GDP)-certified cold-chain networks for pharma and medical devices globally. Direct overlap with trans-o-flex on temperature-controlled B2B transport, GDP compliance, and pharmaceutical customer base, though DHL operates at vastly greater scale and global footprint.
• Movianto (Walgreens Boots Alliance): Movianto is a European pharmaceutical logistics specialist providing temperature-controlled warehousing, distribution, and transport to pharma manufacturers. Overlaps with trans-o-flex on cold-chain B2B distribution and GDP compliance, with a stronger warehousing footprint.
• FedEx Custom Critical / Healthcare: FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx HealthCare Solutions provide time-critical, temperature-sensitive, and chain-of-custody transport for life sciences and medical device manufacturers. Comparable to trans-o-flex on next-day/time-definite express and active temperature-controlled B2B deliveries.
• Kuehne+Nagel (KN PharmaChain): Kuehne+Nagel's Pharma & Healthcare unit operates temperature-controlled airfreight and overland solutions under the KN PharmaChain brand with end-to-end GDP compliance. Comparable to trans-o-flex on regulated temperature-sensitive transport, with broader international reach and modal coverage.

Regional players

• General Logistics Systems (GLS): GLS operates a Europe-wide parcel delivery network with B2B focus and is headquartered in the same DACH region as trans-o-flex. Comparable on European B2B parcel distribution, though GLS does not specialize in active temperature-controlled pharma logistics.

Broad incumbents

• GEODIS: GEODIS is the apparent parent group of trans-o-flex and a top-five global logistics provider with broad contract logistics, freight forwarding, and supply chain solutions. Relevant as the strategic parent and as a wider-portfolio incumbent operating in the same European logistics market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trans-o-flex-weinheim

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about trans-o-flex