What Schaflein Spedition does

Schäflein AG (Schäflein Spedition) is a German Mittelstand contract logistics provider founded in 1939 and headquartered in Röthlein, Bavaria. The company operates 35 logistics centers across Germany, Austria, and Poland spanning 500,000 sqm of warehouse space, supported by 2,500 employees, 160+ company-owned semi-trailers, and a network reach across 20 European countries via memberships in NG.network, CargoLine, and E.L.V.I.S. Schäflein runs eight service lines — transport logistics (road, air, sea, rail), warehousing, container management, value-added services, IT expertise, contract logistics solutions, logistics consulting, and logistics real estate development — with approximately 40% of revenue from industrial customers and 27% from mobility customers. The customer base spans industrial manufacturers, automotive and aftermarket, FMCG and retail, e-commerce, chemical/hazardous materials, food, steel/metal, and tyre industry verticals, served through a named-account enterprise sales model.

The company's technology backbone is a proprietary IT stack developed in-house: a warehouse management system (LVS) with 1,000+ configurable functions, a transport management system (TMS) with telematics and tracking, the Datencubus® customer portal, sprintBOX Navigator for reusable load carrier management, and the Cepra network-wide Track&Trace system — built on PHP and .NET and integrated into customer ERP, LVS, and TMS environments. Operational automation is delivered via the LOCIT subsidiary and AutoStore®-based small-parts warehousing. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, AEO-F, IFS Logistics, HACCP, CARIS 2, EN 16258, and EN 16247-1 certifications.

Commercially, Schäflein earns revenue through transaction fees on transport and freight forwarding services, managed-services contracts for warehousing and container management (sprintBOX), professional services for IT, consulting, and real estate development. The go-to-market is sales-led with named account managers and Microsoft Teams-based personal consultation, supplemented by an online Cargoboard booking channel for general cargo and customer portals (mySchäflein) for ongoing engagement. In June 2026 FM Logistic acquired a majority stake, marking FM Logistic's entry into Germany while retaining existing management (Achim Schäflein as CEO, Bernd Schäflein as COO, Christoph Heller as CFO) and the Schäflein brand.

Name

Schaflein Spedition

Legal name

Schäflein AG

Website

https://schaeflein.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Schäflein AG is a German Mittelstand contract logistics provider operating 35 centers across Germany, Austria, and Poland with 2,500 employees, offering transport, warehousing, container management, value-added services, and proprietary IT solutions to industrial, automotive, retail, and food customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Logistics Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Order Management, Pick/Pack & SLA Execution (Cartonization/Wave Picking) (TLAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Value-Added Services in Bond (Kitting, Labeling, Repacking, Light Assembly) (TLALAGAI), Chemicals & Hazmat Transload (Regulated Goods) (TLALAFAH), B2B Heavy/Bulky Last-Mile (Retail-to-Store, Store-to-Store, Jobsite) (TLAAAKAL)

Keywords

• Contract logistics services
• Freight forwarding
• Warehousing and storage
• Container management
• Supply chain solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Röthlein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transport and Freight Forwarding Services: Revenue from national and international freight forwarding including road (general cargo, part-load, full-load), rail, air cargo, and sea freight services. Own trucking fleet with over 160 semi-trailers supplemented by chartered carriers and network partnerships.
2. Contract Logistics and Warehousing: Customized warehouse logistics solutions including dedicated and multi-user facilities, inbound logistics (JIT/JIS), outbound logistics, production logistics, and e-commerce fulfillment. Revenue from handling, storage, and value-added services.
3. Container Management (sprintBOX): Full-service container management for reusable load carriers including disposition and administration, cleaning and repair, transport and storage management, and rental/pooling services.
4. Value-Added Services: Additional services including assembly, steel/aluminum cutting in saw centers, quality inspections and testing, and packaging services.
5. Logistics IT Solutions: IT expertise services including IT infrastructure, software development, digitalization, and customer portals (Datencubus®) provided to clients.
6. Logistics Consulting: Consulting services including lean management/SSCE, project implementation, and task force management for logistics optimization.
7. Logistics Real Estate: Development and facility management of logistics properties for customers, from planning and construction to financing and property management.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schäflein is a German contract logistics provider offering end-to-end supply chain services including national and international freight forwarding (road, rail, air, sea) backed by an owned fleet of 160+ semi-trailers, multi-sector warehousing across 35 locations and 500,000 sqm, container management for reusable load carriers (sprintBOX subsidiary), value-added services (assembly, processing, quality inspection, packaging), proprietary IT solutions (WMS, TMS, customer portals), logistics consulting, and logistics real estate development. The company serves primarily industrial and manufacturing customers (~40% of revenue) and mobility/automotive customers (~27%), with additional vertical expertise in consumer goods, retail, e-commerce, chemicals, food, steel/metal and tire industries across Europe.

Product overview

Schäflein is a German logistics company offering an integrated portfolio of logistics services. The core offering spans eight main service lines: Transportlogistik (road, air, sea, rail freight), Lagerlogistik (warehousing across multiple sectors including food, hazardous materials, e-commerce, and industrial), Behälterlogistik (container management), Value-Added-Service (assembly, processing, quality inspection), IT-Kompetenz (warehouse management system, transport management, software development), Logistiklösungen (contract logistics, e-commerce fulfillment, spare parts, tire and bike logistics), Logistik Consulting (process optimization), and Logistikimmobilien (real estate development). Key sub-brands include sprintBOX for container management, AirCargo and SeaLine for specialized transport, Palettenhotel for pallet services, and Datencubus for customer portals. Services are supported by proprietary IT systems with over 1,000 functions and connections to logistics networks across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportlogistik (Transport Logistics) National and international freight forwarding services covering road (general cargo, part-load, full-load), rail, air cargo, and sea freight, supported by an owned fleet of 160+ semi-trailers and partnerships with logistics networks including CargoLine and NG.network. Targets industrial and commercial shippers across Europe.
• Lagerlogistik (Warehousing) Warehouse logistics services including pallet management (Palettenhotel), factory logistics, hazardous materials storage (TRGS 510 compliant), industrial logistics, consumer goods logistics, steel and long goods handling, food logistics (IFS certified), small parts logistics with AutoStore automation, and e-commerce fulfillment. Covers 500,000 sqm across 35 locations in Germany, Austria and Poland.
• Behälterlogistik (Container Logistics / sprintBOX) Container management services for reusable load carriers (KLT, GLT, blisters, trays, pallets) including cleaning, repair, dispatching, administration, and rental/pooling. Operated through the wholly-owned sprintBOX GmbH subsidiary with European container depot network and sprintBOX Navigator IT platform.
• Value-Added-Service Component and module assembly in assembly centers, steel and aluminum processing in saw centers, quality inspections with digital real-time documentation, and packaging services. Targeted at industrial customers in metals, automotive, manufacturing and aftermarket sectors.
• IT-Kompetenz (IT Expertise) IT infrastructure, custom-developed warehouse management system with 1,000+ functions, transport management system with tracking & tracing, software development in PHP and .NET, digitization and innovation management, and Datencubus customer portals. Provided primarily to internal operations and external logistics customers requiring integration.
• Logistiklösungen (Contract Logistics Solutions) Tailored contract logistics solutions including inbound logistics with JIT/JIS supply, outbound logistics, inhouse logistics outsourcing, supplier and consignment warehouses, bonded warehouse operations, e-commerce fulfillment (B2B and B2C), system supplier services, spare parts logistics, tire logistics, and bike logistics.
• Logistik Consulting Consulting services including PPS systems and Schäflein Supply Chain Excellence (SSCE), lean management, project implementation, and task force management for logistics optimization with 24/7 availability.
• Logistikimmobilien (Logistics Real Estate) Development and facility management of logistics properties for customers, including new construction and development with project management and facility management of existing properties.
• AirCargo (Air Freight) Worldwide air freight services including consolidated shipments, direct loading, on-board courier, charter flights, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery for time-critical international shipments.
• SeaLine (Sea Freight) Sea freight services including FCL (Full Container Load), LCL (Less than Container Load), breakbulk and RoRo, import/export worldwide, and door-to-door solutions for international container and project cargo.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% shipping quote achievement in hazardous materials logistics
• +3 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LOCIT (internal automation unit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLOCIT is Schäflein's specialized internal unit for automation and digitalization. It develops innovative solutions and high automation levels for logistics operations. LOCIT is referenced as a key differentiator in the partnership with FM Logistic, as its automation capabilities will be transferred to FM Logistic's operations in Poland, Slovakia, Spain, France, and other countries.
• sprintBOX GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnersprintBOX GmbH is Schäflein's specialized subsidiary for container management solutions, offering cleaning, repair, disposition, administration, rental, and pooling services for reusable load carriers (KLT, GLT, trays, pallets). Operates container depots throughout Europe. sprintBOX Navigator is the proprietary IT system. Contact: Heiko Raab, Managing Director.
• CargoLinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCargoLine is a European network for general cargo logistics. Schäflein is connected to the CargoLine network enabling daily departures, national 24-hour standard delivery times, international departures with defined standard delivery times, and continuous consignment tracking. CargoLine network connection enables same-day shipment dispatch after ordering.
• NG.networkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNG.network is a European transport network for general cargo. Schäflein partners with NG.network alongside CargoLine for daily departures and standardized transit times in Germany and Europe.
• E.L.V.I.S. NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE.L.V.I.S. is a network for part-load and full-load transport. Schäflein uses the E.L.V.I.S. network alongside its own truck fleet and chartered carriers to ensure sufficient loading space even during peak periods and to deliver goods without transshipping.
• Palettenhotel® (Internal brand/service)minorOthersPalettenhotel® is Schäflein's own pallet handling service brand offering rack storage and block storage in classic multi-user locations, including incoming goods, storage, retrieval, and dispatch.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• cargo partner: Austrian-headquartered mid-market 3PL offering air, sea, road freight and contract logistics across Europe and globally. Comparable to Schäflein in scale, European mid-market positioning, and integrated freight/warehousing services.
• Noerpel Group: German Mittelstand logistics provider focused on general cargo, part/full loads, and contract logistics with deep South German roots. Closely comparable in scale, service portfolio, and target customer segments to Schäflein.
• FIEGE Logistics: German family-owned contract logistics specialist with significant warehousing and value-added services. Comparable to Schäflein in mid-market contract logistics, e-commerce fulfillment, and family-owned heritage.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German family-owned global 3PL offering road, air, sea freight and contract logistics. Closely comparable business mix and Mittelstand heritage to Schäflein, with overlapping industrial customer base.
• DACHSER: German family-owned 3PL with a strong road transport and contract logistics franchise across Europe. Directly comparable to Schäflein as a Mittelstand road-freight and warehousing operator serving industrial and retail customers.
• Rhenus Logistics: German family-owned 3PL with warehousing, transport, and contract logistics operations across Europe. Comparable to Schäflein in service mix, vertical specialization, and Mittelstand positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Kuehne+Nagel: Global logistics incumbent with major road, contract logistics, and integrated logistics operations across Europe. Competes with Schäflein for industrial and automotive accounts but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• DB Schenker: One of Europe's largest land, air, and sea freight forwarders and contract logistics providers. Overlaps significantly with Schäflein in road freight and warehousing but operates at substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• DHL Supply Chain: Global contract logistics leader and part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. Overlaps directly with Schäflein's warehousing, e-commerce fulfillment, and industrial contract logistics offerings but at vastly larger scale and global reach.

Others

• FM Logistic: French family-owned 3PL with €1.9B revenue across Europe, Asia, and Latin America; signed agreement in June 2026 to acquire a majority stake in Schäflein. Becomes parent and platform for Schäflein's pan-European expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/teamschaeflein

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Schaflein Spedition