The forwarding agent is permanently expanding its reach, totally financed out of its own cashflow.
But growth also leads to new challenges, such as speaking the same language in business when dealing with customers, understanding and adopting to proven company values such as integrity,
teamworking or reliability, to name but a few. In this respect, EMO Trans is still good old school as shown once more during their week-long global network meeting in Cologne, Germany, attended
by 200 “EMOS” that ends this Tuesday.
Taiwan, China, Vietnam: Those were the three markets where EMO Trans enlarged its footprint in recent months, setting up new stations. Others will follow, announces the management, without
revealing names. But even without producing big news during the forwarding agent’s Cologne meet, the facts delivered there by leading executives of the company were highly interesting:
"Meanwhile, we run 100 offices in Asia, the Trans Pac region, Europe and the Americas," states Jo Frigger, the Chairman of USA-based Emo Trans Inc.
“After our expansion in Asia we intend to concentrate our future activities more on Latin America, eventually by setting up joint ventures with local partners.”
The harmful tariff policy kicked off by Mr Trump “hasn’t really affected us much up to this point except for some impact on products coming from the metal industry.”
“Decades ago, we started as an air freight agent. Meanwhile the ration sea/freight is roughly 60 to 40.”
“Although we do not belong to the big boys in logistics but still have a manageable company size, we offer the market the entire range of services along the supply chain, offering tailored
solutions to our clients.”
“And yes, we earn money, but I won’t disclose any figures!”
Jo’s coming home
After being in forwarding for 60 years, with 46 years of his business career spent at New York-based EMO Trans Inc., Jo Frigger has reached retirement age a while ago. But instead of spending his
time in Florida, having somebody to serve him drinks and meals under palm trees, he is still extremely committed in his company’s business matters and his word not only weights but is extremely
respected within but also outside the EMO world.
And seemingly also by the officials of his hometown Cologne that honored Jo Frigger on Sunday for his remarkable achievements in logistics and customer service.
Here we present testimonies of leading EMO Trans officials that we spoke to during the Cologne meeting.
Marco Rohrer, CEO and President EMO Trans Inc.
“There is nothing we cannot do as well as the big shots in air and ocean freight, as far as performance, pricing and technological support is concerned. Despite our rapid growth we are still a
mid-sized company where customers have a name and are not just a number. We have a very lean structure, we guarantee short decision-making channels and a very personalized service including
consultancy activities to support our customers the best possible way. Those are, in a nutshell, our main strongpoints.”
Manuel Espina Ortiz; General Manager EMO Trans Chile
EMO Trans established an office four years ago in Santiago, today, we run five stations: Iquique, Antofagasta, Talca and at Santiago Airport. The import-export ratio is 80/20, but exports will
improve because Talca is a hotspot of the Chilean mining industry, generating many exports to the EU and the United States. Mas o menos 60 percent of our transports is ocean freight, while 40
percent is air cargo related. For goods we sent to the USA we mainly utilize lower deck capacity of American Airlines, Delta and United that serve Santiago daily. For freight traveling to
Europe we prefer using KLM. Our home carrier LATAM Cargo we also use but their service has deteriorated after the former LAN Chile and TAM Brazil joined forces. If a business issue comes up, an
urgent business case etc. you have to get in touch with a call center which is very impersonal.”
Thomas Klinkhammer, Managing Director EMO Trans Germany
We are very happy with the way the business is running this year. The figures are encouraging, and we expect the positive trend to continue at least until the end of this year. We benefit very
much from our global network that enables us direct access to Australia, Chile, Vietnam, New Zealand or the South Korean and Japanese markets. Running EMO offices in a growing number of places
benefits our customers and gives us additional strength.”
Alex Tan, MD EMO Trans Singapore and Malaysia
In both countries we see a huge number of opportunities, particularly in air freight where Singapore has developed into a center of aviation, including maintenance and overhaul. We started doing
business there only in 2016 but have captured a large number of the parts and spares business imported to Singapore but also exported from there. Particularly dealing with time sensitive cargo is
our core competency. We operate 24/7, because time is money and we cannot waste neither time nor cash.”
Heiner Siegmund
Speech of Cologne Mayor Hans-Werner Bartsch - 9 Sep. (excerpts)
Dear Mr. Frigger,
I am very glad that you found the way back to your old hometown today for this official occasion. Let me therefore welcome you personally very warmly and with all my heart.
Welcome back home!
You managed to build up a company over the years which acts worldwide successfully. This success is also based especially on your very positive personal attributes.
You were described to me as foresighted and a visionary but who always keeps an eye on what is realizable and what is not. Above all, you were described as a team player who values employees and
business partners and knows how to express it.
In a company which is a global player it is of particular interest to harmonize and adapt the mentalities and characteristics of the employees in the different countries.
Dear Mr. Frigger,
your employees described this international team spirit as a perfect existing integration. One feels to be in a big family. I believe one cannot think of a bigger compliment for you.
Therefore, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you and your family from my side and in the name of Cologne for your special commitment.
Your hometown never slipped from your thoughts, while you are at the same time working internationally and this is also very honorable for us here in Cologne. And as you also carried the name of
our town in a very positive way out into the world you are also a Cologne ambassador for which we are very grateful.
Dear Mr. Frigger,
I would like therefore to thank you for your earnings but also for your home solidarity and would like to give you this certificate and this picture of the Cologne city hall tower.
As you know, Cologne has more than 2,000 years of history.
Today, people of more than 180 nationalities are living peacefully here together and contribute to this colorful mixture, so of course it is worth discovering Cologne.
Above all, the numerous breweries and our Cologne beer “Koelsch” because as you may know: “Koelsch” is the only language worldwide which is also drinkable. Enjoy it!
compiled by hs
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