SDA Express Courier becomes Eurodis network shareholder

Poste Italiane’s parcel and express subsidiary SDA Express Courier S.p.A. has become an official shareholder of the Eurodis transcontinental distribution network. The company has taken a 12.4% share of the holding company Eurodis GmbH from the main shareholders Austrian Post and its international subsidiary trans-o-flex.

The move cements the membership of SDA within the network of 10 parcel and pallet logistics companies operating in 34 European countries, after SDA initially joined Eurodis as a partner last October.

SDA has been expanding its international offering through its RoadEurope product since April thanks to its membership of Eurodis.

SDA chief executive Valter Catoni said; “We are pleasantly surprised by the high demand and the dynamic volume development of our RoadEurope offer.”

Peter Umundum, Austrian Post’s board member responsible for parcels and logistics, and chairman of the Eurodis board, said: “By transferring shares of Eurodis GmbH, the integration of SDA into the Eurodis network was completed within a short time.

“This opens up new business possibilities in Italy, the fourth biggest European logistics market, for all Eurodis partners and their customers.

Network

The Eurodis network can handle parcels and palletised goods from 1kg up to 800kg in weight, including hazardous goods and express shipments.

As well as Austrian Post and trans-o-flex, network partners include Sarajevo-based 24 VIP Logistics Services, Birmingham-based UK Mail Group, Croatian firm Overseas Express, Swiss firm Bonafide, Spanish company REDUR Group, Slovenian company In Time and Montenegro-based City Express.

The network boasts partner revenues of around EUR 1.9bn, handling about 140m shipments each year with 30,500 vehicles and 40,000 employees.

SDA Express Courier brings the network a presence throughout Italy with 89 terminals, 11 hubs and two gateway facilities, a workforce of more than 3,100 employees and contractors, and about 3,500 vehicles.

The company has been operating as an express courier since 1984, joining the Poste Italiane Group in 1998, and had a turnover in 2010 of EUR 440m.

Carsten Siebe, the general manager for Weinheim-based Eurodis GmbH, said: “Due to the positive volume development and the good quality, the partnership with SDA gives a good impulse for all Eurodis members and customers already after a short time of operational collaboration.”