CargoBeamer Appoints Nicolas Albrecht as CEO

The logistics service provider CargoBeamer has appointed Nicolas Albrecht as the new CEO effective immediately. Co-founder Dr. Hans-Jürgen Weidemann will continue to oversee CargoBeamer technology as CTO. A successful completion of the financing round amounting to 33.5 million euros with new and existing investors; company valuation rises to 245 million euros.

(Leipzig) CargoBeamer, a leading logistics service provider in reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector, is accelerating its growth trajectory. The supervisory board has appointed Nicolas Albrecht (33) as the new CEO. Albrecht joined the board of the Leipzig-based company as Chief Business Development Officer in January 2020. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Weidemann (59), co-founder and previously serving as CEO, will continue to be responsible for CargoBeamer technology as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Dr. Markus Fischer (47), who has been on the board since 2016, remains the company’s CFO.

CargoBeamer is leading the way in Europe for emission-free freight transport on a large scale. A proprietary and patented transshipment technology enables the company to transport all types of semi-trailers fully automated, quickly, and cost-effectively by rail. Rail transport is 100% electric and reduces CO2 emissions by 80% compared to road transport with a diesel truck. At the same time, it can help prevent the growing congestion on roads and highways. The technically proven CargoBeamer system has successfully demonstrated its market readiness in the past, is gaining increasing importance in the market, and will be introduced on all major transport corridors in Europe over the next five years.

Robert A. Osterrieth, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of CargoBeamer: “The appointment of Nicolas Albrecht as CEO represents a paradigm and generational shift in the leadership history of CargoBeamer. After Hans-Jürgen successfully developed the leading technology for transshipping transport from road to rail and brought it to market readiness with the launch of the Kaldenkirchen – Domodossola line and the opening of the first terminal in Calais, it will be Nicolas Albrecht’s task to accelerate the existing growth trajectory and expand the route and terminal network along the European transport corridors.”

From Paper to Market Readiness

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Weidemann, co-founder and CTO of CargoBeamer: “My vision was and is the introduction of a technology for automated, fast, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective rail transport of all types of semi-trailers. With the unique CargoBeamer system, we have realized this vision from paper sketches to market readiness – reducing the CO₂ emissions of tens of thousands of transports per year compared to road transport by around 80 percent.”

Nicolas Albrecht, CEO of CargoBeamer: “CargoBeamer has the potential to contribute massively to CO2 emission savings through the scaling of its system and to become the European market leader in combined road-rail transport. We benefit from the major megatrends surrounding climate protection, increasing congestion on the roads, and rising volumes in freight transport. Our growth trajectory is ambitious yet realistic: in about 10 years, we aim for revenues of up to 5 billion euros with attractive profitability.”

Financing Round of 33.5 Million Euros

To implement the growth trajectory, CargoBeamer plans significant financial investments in the wagon fleet and terminal network. Recently, fresh growth capital of 33.5 million euros has been secured, after which the company valuation now stands at 245 million euros. In addition to existing investors who have helped bring CargoBeamer to market readiness, the new investors mainly include private capital providers and family offices from Switzerland and the USA, who have been convinced by the long-term growth potential of CargoBeamer and its important contribution to climate protection. In January 2021, the strategic partner Duisport also joined the investor portfolio.

Dr. Markus Fischer, CFO of CargoBeamer: “We are very pleased with the support and backing from both our existing and new investors. The fresh capital helps us pursue our ambitious growth trajectory. Above all, it demonstrates confidence in our technology when international investors provide private capital for our growth.”

Matthias Ederer, private investor from New York: “CargoBeamer meets many criteria that make it a very promising company for investors: massive growth potential, proprietary and functionally proven technology, and a business model that is difficult for other companies to replicate due to high market entry barriers. The company benefits enormously from the two major megatrends of climate change and increasing congestion on roads and highways. Last but not least, I was also convinced by the aspect of being able to make a real contribution to climate protection.

Building a European Route and Terminal Network

With the fresh capital, the wagon fleet will be doubled to over 600 cars, and the development of new CargoBeamer terminals will be advanced. By 2032, a tight network of over 50 new routes and around 30 CargoBeamer terminals is to be established in the core market of Europe, with each route and terminal carefully selected along the main trade routes. After the first transshipment facility was opened in Calais in the summer of 2021, construction of the next two terminals in Domodossola (Northern Italy) and Kaldenkirchen (German-Dutch border) is expected to begin this year. This will allow CargoBeamer to fully serve routes between Germany, Italy, and France with its own transshipment technology starting in 2023, enabling semi-trailers to be loaded fully automated, quickly, and cost-effectively. Further investments are planned for the continuous development of the cloud-based software “CargoBeamer eLogistics,” which enables the completely digitized management of the transport chain, including customer information, booking, administration, dispatch, track & trace, clearing and reporting, as well as billing.

Photo: © CargoBeamer / Image Caption: The new CEO of CargoBeamer, Nicolas Albrecht