News / Rhenus expands again, buying BLG Logistics freight forwarding network

Last month it was LOXX Group; this month Rhenus is further cementing is position in Europe with the acquisition of BLG Logistics Group’s freight forwarding sites.

BLG wants to focus on its contract, automotive and container divisions and is selling BLG International Forwarding to Rhenus, which has been acquisitive for some time in almost all parts of the globe. Rhenus will make its network available to BLG’s remaining business.

Rhenus takes on BLG’s nine air and sea freight sites in April and will integrate them, along with some 100 staff, into its network of 12 branches in Germany. The new business will allow the company to handle greater volumes through its LCL hub in Hilden, as well as its air freight hub in Frankfurt.

And it plans to expand its food business, as well as trade fair and event logistics, Rhenus said.

“We’ve paved the way for the continual expansion of our air and sea freight activities during the last few years,” said Stefan Schwind, managing director of Rhenus Air & Ocean Deutschland.

“Thanks to the additional business sites, employees and business activities, we’re consolidating our network in the Air & Ocean division in Germany. We’d also like to develop new lines of business, like transporting food using reefer containers and activities in the trade fair and event logistics sector.”

BLG said it would retain its freight forwarding site in Bremen, which focuses on heavy and project goods, overland and sea freight traffic.

Board member Jens Wollesen said: “Even if we’ll no longer be represented right across Germany, in terms of freight forwarding, we’ll continue to provide extensive international services in our contract, automobile and container divisions.”

Last month, Rhenus said it was taking over LOXX Group, an LTL and FTL cross-border specialist, in a bid to strengthen its German and European activities, taking on five operational business sites in Germany and Poland.