PIN AG

What PIN AG does

PIN AG is a privately held German postal and logistics company headquartered in Berlin, founded in April 1999 as PIN intelligente dienstleistungen AG and one of the largest private letter service providers in Europe. The company operates an owned sorting center processing up to 750,000 shipments per day, supported by 18 Berlin depots, 500+ mailboxes, 100+ PartnerShops, and a distribution agreement with 110 EDEKA markets for stamp sales. Its service portfolio spans standard letter and registered mail delivery, advertising mail, press and striifband shipments, hybrid digital-to-physical mailing (eBrief), legally compliant digital signatures, mail forwarding and storage, parcel delivery (including CO2-free cargo-bike and EV last-mile), and specialized GDP-compliant healthcare logistics for pharmacies, laboratories, and clinics.

The company's technology stack combines physical postal infrastructure with digital platforms including a customer portal, eBrief digital mailing, Prelabel automated franking, GPS-tracked fleet monitoring, and extended shipment tracking for business customers. Revenue is generated primarily through per-shipment transaction fees across letter, parcel, courier, healthcare, and press/striifband mail categories, complemented by quote-based business contracts and managed mailroom services via subsidiary PIN Logistik GmbH. Distribution combines direct field and inside sales for enterprise accounts, self-serve digital channels, 100+ PartnerShops, 18 depots, and the nationwide Packator GmbH courier platform (acquired 2021, 500+ partners).

PIN AG serves three primary customer segments: business customers (SMBs to large enterprises, including Amazon, BVG, Charité, Land Berlin, Gasag, LBS, STADT UND LAND, rebuy), private customers in Berlin for letter, forwarding, and storage services, and the healthcare sector for regulated logistics. The company employs approximately 1,300 staff, holds ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001 certifications, achieved ESG classification in 2022, and is a member of the mailalliance cooperative and the Bundesverband Briefdienste. Leadership comprises CEO Dr. Axel Stirl, COO/CFO Bernd Fricke, and Data Protection Officer Sachiko Nagata.

Name

PIN AG

Legal name

PIN AG

Website

https://pin-ag.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PIN AG is a Berlin-based private postal and logistics operator founded in 1999, processing up to 750,000 shipments per day and serving business, private, and healthcare customers across Germany with letter, parcel, courier, hybrid digital mailing, and GDP-compliant healthcare logistics services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Postal and Logistics Services

NAICS

Postal Service (491110), Local Messengers and Local Delivery (49221), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)

akta.pro primary industry

Universal Service Letter Mail (Domestic) (TLAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Private postal services
• Letter delivery
• Mail forwarding
• Healthcare logistics
• Parcel delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Moabit

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Letter and Mail Delivery Services: Core revenue from transport and delivery of letters, standard mail, compact letters, large letters, postcards, registered mail (Einschreiben), and press/striifband shipments. Revenue is generated per shipment based on format, weight, and service level. Includes both one-off and recurring shipments for business customers.
2. Franking and Prelabel Services: Revenue from selling stamps (via PartnerShops, EDEKA, online) and from the Prelabel system where postage is calculated retroactively during sorting and billed to customers. This creates recurring transaction-based revenue tied to shipment volume.
3. Parcel and Package Delivery: Revenue from parcel delivery services within Berlin, including CO2-free electric delivery options. Parcel delivery starts at €2.95 for emissions-free delivery.
4. Healthcare Logistics Services: Specialized logistics for healthcare sector including pharmaceutical logistics (pharmacy and direct-to-patient), laboratory logistics (blood, dental, veterinary), and clinic logistics. GDP-compliant transport of medical goods, diagnostic samples, and medical equipment.
5. Logistics and Courier Services: System courier services for overnight shipments, line traffic logistics, and tailored logistics solutions through the Packator subsidiary. Includes same-day, next-day, and overnight delivery across Germany via a network of over 500 courier partners.
6. Mail Forwarding and Storage Services: Revenue from forwarding mail to new addresses (Nachsendeauftrag) and storing mail during periods of absence (Lagerungsauftrag). Pricing varies by customer type (private/business) and duration.
7. Poststellenmanagement (Mailroom Management): PIN Logistik GmbH provides consulting and managed mailroom services to optimize internal business processes for corporate customers, including office butler services and dedicated postal service management.
8. Advertising Mail (Werbepost): Revenue from bulk advertising mail delivery, a lower-cost category for promotional and advertising content sent in bulk quantities (minimum 1,000 units).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

PIN AG provides private letter and mail delivery services in Berlin, Germany, including standard letters, registered mail, advertising mail, and press/striifband shipments, processing up to 750,000 items per day in its own sorting center. The company also offers hybrid digital-to-physical mailing (eBrief), CO2-free parcel delivery, mail forwarding and storage services, specialized GDP-compliant healthcare logistics, and nationwide courier services through its Packator subsidiary. Its distribution footprint includes 500+ mailboxes, 100+ PartnerShops, 110 EDEKA retail stamp points, and 18 Berlin depots.

Product overview

PIN AG operates a multi-service postal and logistics platform centered on letter delivery within Berlin. The core product portfolio spans physical mail products (Standardbriefe, Einschreiben, Warensendungen, Werbepost, Pakete, Hybridbrief/eBrief, Digitale Signatur), franking solutions (PIN-Briefmarken, Prelabel, Unfrankierte Sendungen), and digital-first submissions via the eBrief platform. Supporting services include mail forwarding (Nachsendeauftrag), mail storage (Lagerservice), pickup scheduling, and a network of 100+ PIN PartnerShops plus 110 EDEKA locations. The logistics arm encompasses CO₂-free parcel delivery via cargo bikes and EVs, logistics & courier services (enabled through Packator GmbH subsidiary), and specialized Healthcare-Logistik. Operational infrastructure includes 18 Berlin depots, a customer portal, and PIN Logistik GmbH for mailroom management. The company processes up to 750,000 shipments daily and holds ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Packator: Same-day, next-day, overnight and express courier services through over 500 networked courier partners across Germany.
• PIN PartnerShops
• PIN Depots

Products and services

• Prelabel

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 cents net saving per letter vs. Deutsche Post AG
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• mailalliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIN AG is a member of mailalliance, a cooperative/network of regional postal service providers across Germany and potentially Europe. This partnership extends PIN AG's reach beyond Berlin and enables service coverage in postal code regions 0, 1, 39, 98, and 99 for press and striifband mailings.
• first climatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerfirst climate is one of the leading providers of climate and resource protection. PIN AG partners with first climate to support international climate protection projects (improved cookstoves in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nepal; wind energy in India; biomass power in Brazil) to offset emissions from letter delivery that cannot be made by bicycle. This partnership underpins PIN AG's 100% climate-neutral delivery claim.
• Packator GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPackator GmbH is a PIN AG subsidiary (since 2021) that operates a nationwide courier and express delivery network with 500+ partner locations across Germany. Packator covers same-day, next-day, and overnight delivery. PIN AG offers Packator services as part of its logistics and courier portfolio. Online booking available at packator.de.
• PIN Logistik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPIN Logistik GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of PIN AG providing business process optimization services including consulting, office butler services, and poststellenmanagement (mailroom management) to corporate customers. This partnership extends PIN AG's offering from pure delivery to managed business services.
• EDEKA (110 Markets)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor110 EDEKA supermarkets in Berlin serve as retail locations where customers can purchase PIN stamps. This partnership significantly extends PIN AG's retail footprint across Berlin beyond its own PartnerShops.
• DEKRAminorOthersDEKRA certification partner for operational safety and quality standards. DEKRA logo is displayed in the footer of the PIN AG website as a certification credential.
• Bundesverband Briefdienste (BBD)minorOthersPIN AG is a member of the Bundesverband Briefdienste (BBD), the German Federal Association of Letter Services. This industry association membership provides regulatory representation, industry credibility, and networking within the German postal sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Citypost: Regional German private postal operator focused on southern Germany (Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg area). Comparable to PIN AG as a private letter service provider, but operates in a different geography and therefore does not directly compete in Berlin.

Broad incumbents

• UPS: Global integrator offering express delivery, parcel, and supply chain services in Germany. Competes with PIN AG on time-sensitive courier and express shipments, particularly for enterprise customers needing international or inter-city speed.
• GLS (General Logistics Systems): European parcel and logistics provider with nationwide German coverage. Competes with PIN AG on parcel and B2B logistics services, especially via PIN's Packator subsidiary that uses a partner network model similar in spirit to GLS's franchise-based coverage.
• FedEx: Global integrator with domestic German parcel and express operations (including the former TNT business). Comparable to PIN AG's courier/express offerings through Packator, but at global scale and with a stronger international remit.
• Hermes Germany (Otto Group): Otto Group-owned parcel and delivery network with deep German B2C and B2B coverage. Competes with PIN AG's parcel services in Berlin and across Germany, with broader scale and a stronger e-commerce focus.
• DPD (GeoPost): Major European parcel and express delivery network (owned by Le Groupe La Poste) with a substantial German presence. Comparable to PIN AG in providing last-mile parcel services, but at national and pan-European scale rather than Berlin-centric.

Direct peers

• RegioMail: German regional private letter delivery operator active in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. Directly comparable to PIN AG as a competitor private postal operator serving a defined regional area, although operating in a different geography.
• Deutsche Post AG: The German universal service letter and parcel operator and PIN AG's primary direct competitor. Deutsche Post sets the benchmark price (against which PIN AG advertises 10 cents/letter savings) and operates the national infrastructure on which private letter operators depend for non-Berlin delivery.

Emerging players

• Briefbutler: Digital mail management and hybrid mail provider for German businesses, offering secure digital mailboxes and e-signature workflows. Comparable to PIN AG's eBrief and digital signature products as an emerging hybrid/digital-to-physical workflow player, though primarily digital rather than physical.

Others

• Mailalliance: Cooperative network of regional private postal providers in Germany, of which PIN AG is a member. Relevant as a peer and ecosystem partner: the network collectively competes with Deutsche Post at regional level, and Mailalliance extends PIN AG's effective coverage via partner relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pin-mail

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 PIN AG