What Ernst Schmitz does

ERNST SCHMITZ Logistics & Technical Services GmbH is a privately held German third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Idstein in the Rhein-Main region, operating since 1989. The company runs three sites — Idstein (over 65,000 sqm of modern, temperature-controlled warehousing), Taunusstein-Orlen (14,500 sqm, including a Luftfahrt-Bundesamt-approved secure air cargo area), and Bad Camberg (approximately 3,000 sqm focused on sports retail distribution) — for a combined footprint of roughly 82,500 sqm. Its service portfolio covers contract warehousing with permanent temperature and humidity monitoring, import/export and customs clearance under AEO-F status, dangerous goods handling across IATA/ADR/IMDG modes, secure air freight for medical devices under RegB approval, kitting and product finishing, returns processing, and customer hotline services.

The business is differentiated by an unusually deep certification stack for a mid-market operator: DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 (since 1995), EN ISO 13485:2016 for medical devices, ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety, IFS-compliant food-sector logistics, AEO-F customs, and RegB air cargo security. Customers operate in medical devices, sports and outdoor retail, cosmetics, food, consumer electronics, and mechanical engineering. The company employs approximately 240 people from 26 nationalities and runs IHK-recognized apprenticeships for warehouse logistics specialists and IT specialists.

Commercially, Ernst Schmitz uses a direct enterprise field-sales motion delivering custom-tailored, jointly scoped service packages rather than standardized SKUs; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution runs through the company's own warehouses, with international reach enabled by the certified air-cargo capability at Taunusstein-Orlen. The firm is founder/management-owned, with Bernhard Hauer as Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) and shareholder; no institutional investors, parent entities, or M&A activity are disclosed. Recent public signals — the 2024 Integrationspreis award, continued certification upkeep, and ESG/sustainability positioning on the corporate website — point to a stable, mature operator rather than a high-growth platform.

Name

Ernst Schmitz

Legal name

ERNST SCHMITZ Logistics & Technical Services GmbH

Website

https://ernstschmitz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) / Contract Logistics

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) & Dangerous Goods Logistics (TLAIAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hazmat Warehousing & Segregated Storage (Bonded/Compliance Facilities) (TLAIAJAB), Secure Hazmat Logistics (High-Theft/High-Risk Dangerous Goods) (TLAIAJAL)

Keywords

• Third-party logistics
• Temperature-controlled warehousing
• Contract logistics services
• Customs clearance brokerage
• Dangerous goods handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Idstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Logistics Services: Third-party logistics (3PL) services including warehousing, storage, order fulfillment, and distribution. Services are custom-tailored to customer requirements with scope and framework selected jointly. Revenue generated through long-term contracts for logistics services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ERNST SCHMITZ is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering temperature-controlled warehousing (over 82,500 sqm across three German sites), inventory management, customs clearance (AEO-certified), dangerous goods handling across air/road/rail/sea modes, secure air freight for medical devices (RegB-certified), kitting and product finishing, returns processing, and dedicated hotline/customer service. Services are custom-tailored to client needs and serve industries including medical devices, cosmetics, food, sports retail, consumer electronics, and machinery.

Product overview

ERNST SCHMITZ Logistics & Technical Services GmbH is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Idstein, Germany, offering a unified suite of logistics services rather than a modular software platform. The core offering spans warehousing and storage (temperature-controlled facilities across three sites totaling over 83,000 m²), international freight management (air, sea, road/rail), customs clearance (AEO-certified), dangerous goods handling, secure air freight for medical devices, kitting and product finishing, and returns processing. These services are complemented by a Customer Service/Hotline function and industry-specific solutions for sectors including medical products, cosmetics, sporting goods, consumer electronics, and machinery. The company also operates IHK-recognized vocational training programs (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik and Fachinformatiker) and continuing education in customs, dangerous goods, and air cargo security. No standalone software product or API-based offering is in scope.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Temperature-Controlled Warehousing and Storage Temperature-controlled warehousing across three German locations (Idstein, Taunusstein-Orlen, Bad Camberg) totaling over 82,500 sqm, with permanent temperature and humidity monitoring and pest control, for business customers across medical, food, cosmetics, sports, electronics, and machinery sectors.
• Import/Export Management and Customs Clearance Customs clearance and international trade management services, supported by Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification enabling simplified customs procedures for import/export customers.
• Dangerous Goods Handling Handling of dangerous goods across air freight (IATA), road/rail (ADR), and sea freight (IMDG) modes, with trained specialists and documented processes for regulated hazardous materials customers.
• Secure Air Freight Handling Secure air freight processing certified by the German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (aviation authority), including a regulator-approved secure air cargo area at the Taunusstein-Orlen facility for worldwide medical device shipments.
• Kitting and Product Finishing Assembly, kitting, and product finishing services to prepare goods for distribution, offered as part of the integrated 3PL service mix.
• Returns Processing Returns processing and management services for handled goods, integrated into customer-specific logistics solutions.
• Customer Service and Hotline Support Dedicated customer service and hotline support integrated into logistics operations, including contact email [email protected] and phone +496126 9974-0.
• Industry-Specific Logistics Solutions Industry-specific logistics solutions serving furniture/shoe care, decorative cosmetics, spices, sports equipment, consumer electronics, and mechanical engineering sectors, with tailored service scope per vertical.
• Logistics Specialist Apprenticeship (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) IHK-recognized apprenticeship program for logistics specialists (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik), including training in SAP, GUS, and Sage warehouse management systems, MS Office, and digital communication tools.
• IT Specialist Apprenticeship (Fachinformatiker) Apprenticeship program for IT specialists (Fachinformatiker) recognized by the IHK, complementing the logistics training offering and supporting internal WMS and IT operations.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DHL Supply Chain: Global 3PL market leader offering contract logistics, warehousing, and value-added services. Overlaps with Ernst Schmitz across multi-vertical contract logistics and temperature-controlled distribution, but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic footprint.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Top-tier global logistics provider with significant contract logistics and specialized industry solutions including pharma/healthcare. Directly comparable to Ernst Schmitz in offering multi-mode, multi-vertical B2B logistics, particularly for regulated products.
• DSV Solutions: Global transport and logistics company with significant contract logistics division including warehousing and value-added services. Comparable as a multi-vertical contract logistics provider serving enterprise customers.
• GEODIS: Global logistics provider offering contract logistics, distribution, and freight forwarding with significant European operations. Comparable in contract logistics services and multi-vertical capabilities.
• Imperial Logistics: African-headquartered but globally diversified contract logistics provider with warehousing and distribution capabilities. Comparable in offering multi-vertical contract logistics and value-added services, though with broader geographic exposure.
• Bolloré Logistics: Global logistics provider offering contract logistics, multimodal transport, and supply chain solutions including temperature-controlled and regulated product handling. Comparable in offering multi-vertical, multi-mode services including specialized air cargo capabilities.

Direct peers

• FIEGE Logistik: German-headquartered family-owned 3PL offering contract logistics, warehousing, and industry-specific solutions across healthcare, consumer goods, and industrial sectors. Closely comparable mid-sized European 3PL with similar vertical breadth and family-ownership profile.
• Rhenus Logistics: German mid-market 3PL with warehousing, contract logistics, and specialized solutions including air cargo and customs services. Highly comparable given German base, multi-vertical offerings, and similar certifications/customs capabilities.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Osnabrück-headquartered mid-market global logistics company offering contract logistics, freight forwarding, and industry-specific solutions. Closely comparable in scale, German roots, and breadth of contract logistics services for medical, retail, and consumer goods customers.

Regional players

• Noerpel Group: Mid-sized German logistics company headquartered in southern Germany offering contract logistics, warehousing, and forwarding. Comparable in scale, German base, and B2B contract logistics focus, though operating in different German regions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ernst-schmitz-logistics

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Ernst Schmitz