Gebrüder Weiss has been present in Japan for 25 years

Gebrüder Weiss looks back on 25 years of air and sea freight transport in Japan. “The decision to establish a presence in Japan has proven to be a long-term successful strategy. Companies in the island nation produce for recipients all over the world. Their goods can therefore be found in numerous supply chains within the Gebrüder Weiss network,” explains Michael Zankel, Regional Manager East Asia / Oceania at Gebrüder Weiss.

(Lauterach/Tokyo) Thanks to its strong industrial base, Japan had developed into one of the most successful economies in the world by the end of the 1980s and currently ranks fourth in terms of gross domestic product. “It was therefore obvious to integrate Japan and the Asia-Pacific region into the global network of Gebrüder Weiss to offer these companies solutions for their logistical requirements,” recalls Stefan Aebi, Country Manager Japan at Gebrüder Weiss. For sea freight transport, there are five major transshipment points right at the doorstep with the container ports of Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka. The airports in Tokyo and Osaka provide connections to the air freight network.

Congratulations on the anniversary also came from customers who have supported Gebrüder Weiss with its transport services since the early years: “During the pandemic and other global challenges, Gebrüder Weiss has always reliably supported us with excellent logistics services. Their professionalism and innovative strength have brought us great added value, and we greatly appreciate the trusting partnership,” says Hisaya Shiga, Assistant to the Head of Sales for Functional Clothing at Kurabo, a Japanese textile and chemical producer. Other customers come from the automotive and mechanical engineering sectors. However, the 40-member team in Japan is not limited to specific industries. “We also take care of furniture, food, and beverages,” explains Stefan Aebi.

Air and sea freight at three locations

In the 25th year after entering the market, Gebrüder Weiss offers its air and sea freight services at three locations in the main economic centers of Japan: in the capital Tokyo, in Osaka, and in Nagoya, a central location for the automotive, aerospace, and textile industries. The Southeast and East Asian network is complemented by branches in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Photo: © Gebrüder Weiss/Stanislav Kogiku / Caption: Team Japan of Gebrüder Weiss: Stefan Aebi (Country Manager Gebrüder Weiss Japan, 2nd from left, back) with his team, Michael Zankel (Regional Manager East Asia / Oceania, 3rd from left, back) and Lothar Thoma (Managing Director Air and Sea Freight, 1st from right, back)