BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH

What BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH does

BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH is a privately held German specialized exhibition and event logistics provider headquartered in Derching/Friedberg (relocated to a new office building by the A8 highway in 2022). Founded in 1973 by Klaus Rauch as the exhibition department of BTG Bavaria Transport GmbH, the entity became an independent company in 1987 and now operates as part of the broader BTG Group (560+ employees across 15 German and 3 European locations plus international subsidiaries). The company's core product is end-to-end exhibition and event logistics — covering consulting and logistics concept design, customs documentation and clearance, multi-modal transport coordination (truck, ship, plane, train), on-site handling with forklifts and cranes, storage of exhibits and packaging, transport and trade-fair insurance, and on-site personnel support at venues. It uses industry-standard freight forwarding, customs, and TMS software rather than proprietary technology.

The company serves exhibitors, trade fair venues, and government bodies — most prominently as the official freight forwarding partner of Messe Augsburg, official site agent in Shanghai, Mexico, and Moscow, and appointed forwarding agent for German federal ministry and federal state participations at international trade fairs. Revenue is generated through project-based professional service fees per exhibition engagement, with the company processing more than 700 trade fairs per year across 200+ cities via its own offices, joint ventures in China, Switzerland, Argentina, Mexico, and Russia, and the IELA partner network (150+ forwarding firms in 50+ countries; BTG is a founding member since 1985). The entity holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and AEO certifications. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH

Legal name

BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH

Website

https://btg-messe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH is a German specialized exhibition and event logistics provider serving exhibitors, trade fair venues, and government bodies worldwide. Founded in 1973 as part of the BTG Group, the company processes 700+ trade fairs per year across 200+ cities via its own offices and the IELA partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Exhibition Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Fine Art & Exhibition Cargo Forwarding (TLACAJAH)

Keywords

• Exhibition logistics
• Trade fair freight forwarding
• Event logistics services
• Customs clearance services
• Trade fair transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Friedberg-Derching

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exhibition Logistics Services: Project-based professional services for exhibition and event logistics including consulting, planning, transport coordination (truck, ship, plane, train), customs clearance, onsite handling, storage, and on-site employee support. Revenue is earned through one-time service fees for specific exhibition logistics projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH provides specialized exhibition and event logistics services for trade fair participants and event organizers. Core services encompass planning and consulting, customs clearance and documentation, worldwide transport, on-site handling at exhibition venues, storage, and trade fair/transport insurance. The company acts as an officially appointed freight forwarder for several major German trade fairs and operates as a one-stop logistics partner covering the full exhibition cycle.

Product overview

BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH is a specialized exhibition and event logistics company offering comprehensive logistics solutions for trade fairs, events, congresses, roadshows, and presentations worldwide. The core offering is Messe- und Eventlogistik (Exhibition and Event Logistics), supported by modular service components including consulting and logistics concept development, customs clearance and documentation, on-site handling with equipment, storage services, and transport insurance. From collection at the customer's premises through to return delivery after the event, the integrated service covers all transport modes (truck, ship, plane, train) and includes on-site support by their own employees at fairgrounds across more than 200 cities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Messe- und Eventlogistik (Exhibition and Event Logistics)

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IELA (International Exhibition Logistics Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTG is a founding member (1985) of IELA, the sole worldwide association of exhibition forwarding companies. IELA provides a partner network with more than 150 exhibition forwarding companies in over 50 countries.
• BTG Argentina S.A.coreOthersJoint venture company (BTG EXPOTRANS) in Buenos Aires, Argentina providing exhibition logistics services in South America. Website: www.btg-argentina.com
• BTG International Freight Forwarding (Beijing) Co. Ltd.coreOthersWholly-owned subsidiary in Beijing/China with representative office, providing exhibition logistics services in China. Shanghai branch opened 2016. Website: www.btg.cn
• BTG Suisse AGcoreOthersWholly-owned subsidiary in Basel-Pratteln, Switzerland providing exhibition logistics services in the Swiss market.
• BTG Events Europe AGcoreOthersSubsidiary in Widnau, Switzerland providing event logistics services in Europe.
• JAGUAR TRAFIMAR LOGISTICS S.A. de C.V.coreOthersJoint venture partner in Mexico City, Mexico (founded 1998) providing exhibition logistics services in Mexico. Website: www.jaguartrafimar.com.mx
• Clamageran-FoirexpominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company in Paris, France providing exhibition logistics services. Website: www.clamageran-expositions.fr
• TRANSLINK Hong KongcoreOthersJoint venture company founded in 1988 in Hong Kong for exhibition logistics in the Asia-Pacific region.
• BTG Group (Parent Company)coreOthersBTG Messe-Spedition is part of BTG Group - a medium-sized and innovative freight forwarding group with more than 560 employees. Services include national and international road transports, air and sea freight, logistics projects and worldwide event and exhibition logistics. German locations include Augsburg, Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, Kempten, Hamburg, Munich, Neuss, Plochingen, Ravensburg and Schongau. Website: www.btg.de
• IELA Partner NetworkcoreOthersWorldwide partner network of more than 150 exhibition forwarding companies in over 50 countries, organized through IELA association.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CEVA Logistics: CEVA Logistics is a global freight forwarder and contract logistics provider with exhibition and event transport capabilities as part of its broader portfolio. It competes for multi-mode exhibition logistics contracts worldwide, particularly with enterprise customers seeking integrated supply chain solutions.
• DSV: DSV (formed via the Panalpina acquisition) is a global freight forwarding leader with active exhibition and event logistics business, particularly strong in Europe. Its scale and recent M&A-driven expansion make it a credible competitor for the same trade fair and government contracts BTG serves.
• DB Schenker: DB Schenker is a top-3 global freight forwarder with significant trade fair and event logistics capabilities, headquartered in Germany. It directly competes with BTG for German federal and state participations and major German trade fair venues, offering broader scale and rail/air integration alongside specialist event services.
• DHL Global Forwarding (Trade Fairs & Events): DHL Global Forwarding is the world's largest air and ocean freight forwarder and operates a dedicated Trade Fairs & Events service line with worldwide coverage. While not a specialist-only exhibition forwarder, DHL competes with BTG Messe-Spedition for trade fair logistics contracts from multinational exhibitors, particularly on large flagship shows and government pavilions.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world's largest freight forwarders with an established exhibition logistics practice across Europe, Asia and the Americas. It competes with BTG Messe-Spedition on cross-border exhibition shipments, leveraging its global network and digital visibility tools to win enterprise exhibitor accounts.

Direct peers

• GES (Global Experience Specialists): GES is a leading global exhibition services company offering freight, customs, on-site logistics and exhibit services for trade shows. It is a direct peer to BTG Messe-Spedition in the freight forwarding and on-site handling segments, particularly for North American venues and outbound international exhibitions.
• Freeman: Freeman is one of the largest exhibition services companies in the world, providing freight, on-site handling, and exhibit logistics for trade shows across the US and globally. While US-centric, Freeman is a direct peer for the freight forwarding and on-site handling portion of BTG's service offering, particularly for international exhibitors at US shows.
• Expo Logistics Group: Expo Logistics Group is a specialized trade fair and exhibition freight forwarder headquartered in Germany, with offices across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. It is one of the closest direct peers to BTG Messe-Spedition, serving the same German and international exhibitor base with comparable on-site handling and customs services.
• Cosdel International Freight: Cosdel is a US-headquartered specialist freight forwarder focused on trade shows and exhibitions, with worldwide operations serving North American venues and outbound shows. It directly competes with BTG Messe-Spedition for exhibitor contracts at international trade fairs.
• Willi Althoff Internationale Spedition: Willi Althoff is a German specialist freight forwarder with a long-standing exhibition and trade fair logistics practice serving major German venues. It is one of the closest domestic direct competitors to BTG Messe-Spedition, operating in the same German trade fair ecosystem with similar on-site handling and customs capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/btg-messe

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 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 BTG Messe-Spedition GmbH