International technology group Körber has completed the acquisition of Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business to create what it calls “a global leader for end-to-end supply chain technology.”
Körber will now integrate Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business into its Supply Chain business unit and will relocate the unit’s headquarters from Bad Nauheim to Constance, Germany, where Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business is currently located.
Siemens and Körber announced the contract signing for the sale of the mail and parcel business to the Körber Group for €1.15 billion in February 2022, as Körber sought to broaden its range of supply chain services and Siemens planned to focus on its core technology businesses.
The sale did not include Siemens Logistics’ airport logistics business, which remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG.
Ralf Thomas, Chief Financial Officer of Siemens AG, said: “The successful sale of our mail and parcel business to the Körber Group is a further step to streamline our portfolio. We are proud to have found Körber – as the ideal new owner for the successful parcel business with a future-oriented strategy for growth, innovation and investment.”
Company backgrounds
Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business is a leading provider of automation and advanced software solutions in Europe with a strong market presence in North America and a foothold in the fast-growing Chinese market. With around 1,200 employees, it generates annual revenue of about €500 million.
Körber’s Supply Chain business unit offers software, automation, voice, robotics and material handling solutions, plus systems integration expertise. The company is constantly expanding its customer base and solution offering to meet the demands of the growing supply chain sector.
Last month, for example, Körber teamed up with GXO Logistics to develop Operator Eye – an AI-based solution that tracks error patterns and autonomously minimizes downtime and human intervention in the picking process. According to Körber, Operator Eye helps leading global contract logistics providers cut picking errors by 75%.
Furthermore, Körber has also formed a strategic partnership with Canadian robotics company Attabotics, which will see Körber equip European companies with Attabotics’ 3D automated storage and retrieval technology that offers efficient order picking, including sequencing and buffering.
“End-to-end supply chain execution”
The integration of Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business into Körber’s Supply Chain business unit will help Körber offer more integrated and automized solutions that ensure end-to-end connectivity, real-time visibility, speed, and adaptability at efficient costs.
By incorporating technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, robotics, as well as advanced warehouse automation and blockchain technology, Körber will further empower customers to better predict future trends and is well on track to become market leader in end-to-end supply chain execution and integration.
“We are thrilled to move our headquarters to Constance, bringing the teams together. By combining our knowledge and passion for cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, we are convinced that we will be market leader in end-to-end supply chain execution and system integration and shape the future of global supply chains together,” said Dirk Hejnal, Chief Executive Officer at Körber Business Area Supply Chain.
Thomas Amend, CEO of Siemens Logistics’ mail and parcel business, concluded: “The two companies’ knowledge and solutions as well as the regional structures are a perfect fit. I am sure that we can make a significant contribution to strengthen Körber’s position on the way to become a global leading supplier for end-to-end supply chain technology.”
