Austrian Post acquires a 74.9% shareholding in Scherübl Transport GmbH

Scherübl (www.scheruebl.com) is an Austrian SME with annual revenues of about EUR 3.5m. The firm has earned an excellent reputation in the industry as a specialist for the temperature-controlled delivery of pharmaceutical products, featuring advanced technical know-how and the highest standards. Almost all prominent pharmaceutical companies are customers of Scherübl. One important service it offers is the cooled transport of pharmaceuticals, i.e. ensuring a continuous cold chain ranging between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, with uninterrupted temperature monitoring and recording throughout the entire delivery process.

Through its acquisition of a majority shareholding of Scherübl, and the takeover of Thermomed by the trans-o-flex Group, Austrian Post is now represented in the specialised pharmaceutical logistics market in Germany, Austria and the Benelux countries, a niche market with high growth potential.

Austrian Post will strengthen the good market position of Scherübl by newly establishing a network consisting of four pharmaceutical distribution centres in Austria featuring the required infrastructure (e.g. temperature-controlled storage, special cooled containers and temperature documentation). The distribution centres will be set up in Regau (Upper Austria), Hall (Tyrol), Kalsdorf (Styria) and in Vienna by the end of this year.

The acquisition of Scherübl is another logical move on the part of Austrian Post, following its takeover of the German trans-o-flex Group, which also includes the specialist pharmaceutical logistics provider Thermomed. Many pharmaceutical companies are already internationally positioned. Similarly, the pharmaceutical logistics providers serving these firms must also expand their operations.