Karl Schmidt Spedition

Karl Schmidt Spedition GmbH is a German logistics company headquartered in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, and serves as the parent company and highest consolidation level of the Schmidt-Gruppe (Schmidt Group). Founded in 1948, the family-owned business has grown into one of the leading bulk-goods (Schüttgut) logistics service providers in Europe. Its core business is transport and logistics using silo trucks and silo containers, complemented by warehousing, product handling, import and export processing, cleaning of silo vehicles, and repair and maintenance services. According to the company's own description, the Schmidt-Gruppe employs roughly 3,000 people across 49 locations worldwide and handles more than 1,000 transport orders per day, along with warehousing orders and customer-specific special assignments. The group operates what it describes as the largest network of logistics centres in the European bulk-goods sector for plastics. Beyond transport, the Schmidt-Gruppe also plans and builds logistics facilities for loose bulk materials, and it uses its own modern freight-forwarding software to support users across its various business areas. The company began specialising in bulk-goods transport with silo vehicles in the early 1950s. After establishing several branches in Germany, it opened its first foreign branch in Antwerp in 1971. Since 1976 it has run a separate business segment for gas transport, carrying medical and technical gases by road. In the 2000s the business expanded into food transport and the fleet was extended beyond classic silo vehicles to include bulk-goods containers (pressure and box containers). As of October 2023 the group consists of companies in various European countries as well as in the Middle East, operating a total of 49 branches. As a family business, Karl Schmidt Spedition remains privately held and is not listed on a stock exchange. Its positioning rests on full-service, one-stop logistics for bulk materials — transport, storage and handling — combined with engineering capability in logistics facilities and a dense European network of logistics centres.

Karl Schmidt Spedition GmbH was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Heilbronn in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is the parent company and highest consolidation level of the Schmidt-Gruppe, a group of companies active in silo and gas logistics. Already at the beginning of the 1950s the company specialised in bulk-goods transport using silo vehicles. This early focus on silo technology shaped the company's identity and became the foundation of its later claim to be one of Europe's leading bulk-logistics providers. After establishing several branches within Germany, the company opened its first foreign branch in Antwerp in 1971, marking the start of its international expansion. Since 1976 the company has operated a separate business segment for gas transport, which carries medical and technical gases in road freight. This diversified the group beyond dry bulk materials into specialised gas logistics. In the 2000s the business was expanded to include food transport, and the fleet was extended beyond classic silo vehicles to include bulk-goods containers, specifically pressure containers and box containers. This broadened the range of materials the group could handle and store. As of October 2023 the group consists of companies in various European countries as well as in the Middle East, and operates a total of 49 branches. According to the company's own website, the Schmidt-Gruppe has developed into one of the leading bulk-logistics service providers in Europe, employing roughly 3,000 people at 49 locations worldwide and handling more than 1,000 transport orders per day. The group also plans and builds logistics facilities for loose bulk materials and uses its own modern freight-forwarding software. Its service range covers transport, warehousing and handling of bulk materials, import and export processing, product handling, cleaning of silo vehicles, and repair and maintenance. The group states that it operates the largest network of logistics centres in the European bulk-goods sector for plastics.

• 2023

  As of October 2023 the group comprises companies in various European countries and the Middle East, operating 49 branches.

• 2000

  In the 2000s the business expands into food transport and the fleet is extended with bulk-goods containers (pressure and box containers).

• 1976

  Separate business segment for gas transport established, carrying medical and technical gases by road.

• 1971

  First foreign branch opened in Antwerp after several German branches were established.

• 1950

  Early in the 1950s the company specialises in bulk-goods transport with silo vehicles.

• 1948

  Karl Schmidt Spedition GmbH founded; headquartered in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg.

Full-service, one-stop bulk-goods logistics provider with a dense European network of logistics centres and in-house logistics-facility engineering.

• Silo truck transport

  Core business of the Schmidt-Gruppe Heilbronn: transport and logistics services with silo trucks.

• Silo container transport

  Transport and logistics services with silo containers, including pressure and box containers.

• Bulk-goods warehousing

  The group operates what it describes as the largest network of logistics centres in the European bulk-goods sector for plastics.

• Product handling

  The entire service chain from production to processing.

• Import and export processing

  Complete import and export handling from a single source.

• Silo vehicle interior cleaning

  Interior cleaning of silo vehicles as an important element in the quality chain of bulk-goods transport.

• Repair and maintenance

  Repair and maintenance services available at numerous group locations.

• Gas transport

  Separate business segment since 1976 carrying medical and technical gases in road freight.

• Food transport

  Business expanded into food transport in the 2000s.

• Logistics facility planning and construction

  The Schmidt-Gruppe plans and builds logistics facilities for loose bulk materials.

1. 1Startseite - Karl Schmidt Spedition GmbHschmidt-heilbronn.de
2. 2Karl Schmidt Speditionde.wikipedia.org
3. 3Karl Schmidt Speditionwikidata.org