Author: Kloepfel
Takeover of Captrain Netherlands The ÖBB Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is expanding its network to the Benelux countries. The Austrian logistics group acquired the Dutch railway company Captrain Netherlands B.V. as of May 31, 2024. RCG highlights that this move continues their consistent internationalization strategy Andreas Matthä, CEO of ÖBB, states: “The expansion of the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group continues: After establishing operations in China and Serbia, RCG’s international network is now extended to the Netherlands.” Together, they aim to connect Europe’s economic centers with European ports and thereby with the whole world. About Captrain Netherlands B.V. According to RCG,…
Uncovering savings potential in purchasing holistically Interview with Lana Al-Haidary, Senior Consultant at Kloepfel Consulting, Lina Terhardt, Consultant at Kloepfel Consulting, and Sandra Blanco, Consultant at Kloepfel Consulting. When should a potential analysis of indirect and direct costs be carried out? And what are typical indications that money is being spent unnecessarily in indirect or direct purchasing? There are several signs that optimization is required in the purchasing area. The main indicators are high purchasing costs in relation to turnover. If purchasing costs make up a significant proportion of turnover, this indicates that there is potential for improvement. The inadequate…
Uncover savings with benchmarks Author: Michael Peiffer, Senior Logistic Consultant at Kloepfel Consulting Why is a potential analysis of freight costs important? As part of the potential analysis, we provide the customer with a neutral compass. By means of periodic and objective benchmarks, we show them their savings potential in concrete terms. The aim is to provide the customer with clear guidance, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding possible optimizations and savings in the area of freight costs. What savings are possible? On average, the projects achieve savings of around 15.1%. The results vary depending on the sector, with…
Interview with: Frank Schönrath, Managing Director European Beverage Sourcing Alliance (EBSA), the interview was conducted by Alexander Hornikel, Country Manager Kloepfel Consulting and Dr. Stephan Hofstetter, Partner Kloepfel Consulting. An insight into the innovative purchasing community for the beverage industry and its purchasing optimization EBSA is pursuing an exciting business model. Could you pick it up for the reader? The European Beverage Sourcing Alliance (EBSA) is a purchasing group that focuses on procurement and supplier management for beverage producers. We negotiate framework purchasing agreements with suppliers that enable our limited partners to purchase goods and services under fixed conditions.…
How a Trainee grows through practical projects at Kloepfel Engineering Interview with Konstantin Rudel, Trainee at Kloepfel Consulting. Can you tell us about your time as a trainee at Kloepfel Engineering and describe your specific tasks and role? During my time as a trainee, I went through various departments, including two weeks at Kloepfel Engineering. Initially, the focus was on introducing me to engineering in general. I was introduced to the tool by Manfred Esser, which allows for creating cost calculations from various complex constructions. Additionally, the tool enables an international comparison of labor costs. This enables precise pricing of…
Changes to the AGVO make classical grants significantly less attractive For the longest time, Germany has pursued a strategy of subsidies in its funding landscape. While tax incentives and tax credits dominated funding in the rest of Europe, with grant funding only available for specialized, highly innovative projects, grants were the sole funding option in Germany until 2020. And for good reason: an analysis conducted for the Ministry of Finance prior to the introduction of tax incentives (Research Allowance) found that grant projects had a return on investment of about 5, while tax incentives in the rest of Europe only…
Specialist consultants have arrived in the industry: Kloepfel Group named “Best Consultants” for the ninth year in a row Düsseldorf, 14.03.2024 – Since 2014, the “Best Consultants” award from brand eins and Statista has highlighted how important specialist consultancies are for the economy. Management consultancies with a special focus and outstanding expertise for special cases are increasingly being considered by consulting clients in the selection process and are receiving greater recognition. This is also reflected in the Kloepfel Group’s award for “Best Consultants” – for the ninth time in a row. In the “Purchasing / Supply Chain Management” category, the…
Senior Procurement Consultant (f/m/d) www.kloepfel-karriere.com Procurement Consultant (f/m/d) www.kloepfel-karriere.com Junior Procurement Consultant (f/m/d) www.kloepfel-karriere.com
Decline mainly due to intermediate goods According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), import prices fell by 3.6% in March 2024 compared to March 2023. In contrast, import prices rose by 0.4% compared to the previous month of February 2024. Imported intermediate goods were 5.9% cheaper compared to March 2023. Compared to February 2024, however, they rose by 0.6%. According to the data, intermediate goods thus had the greatest influence on the overall development of import prices. Energy prices and other goods classes Energy import prices fell by 15.1% in March 2024 compared to March 2023. Compared to February 2024,…
Study by the VDMA Competence Center Future Business The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) sees carbon management as a pioneer for a climate-neutral future. This is according to a press release on the presentation of a new study on the subject by the VDMA Competence Center Future Business. The industry association conducts trend research for its members via the VDMA Competence Center Future Business. The VDMA’s new future study is entitled “Carbon Management 2035”. According to the association, it examines the role of mechanical engineering and possible development paths. Transition to a green economy According to the VDMA, carbon management technologies…
Rising revenue with simultaneous decline in EBIT Lufthansa Technik, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, generates a profit in the three-digit million range in the first quarter of 2024. The company was already able to achieve such an amount in 2023, making it the global market leader in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). Dr. William Willms, CFO of Lufthansa Technik, emphasizes: “Of course, we are pleased to have earned more than 100 million euros again in the first quarter of 2024. Ultimately, however, it should be noted that our adjusted EBIT fell by 14% compared to the same period…
The most important questions about short-term support for medium-sized companies The need for competent and effective purchasing management is essential for companies. In many cases, however, there is a temporary need for experienced managers, whether due to staff shortages or special projects. This is where interim purchasing managers come into play. As interim managers, they offer short-term support and assume responsibility for the purchasing department. In this interview, Sven Schützek, Head of Interim Recruiting at Kloepfel Consulting, answers the most important questions posed by these specialized managers. What are the most important challenges for an interim manager? The typical challenges…
Kloepfel Consulting connects companies with top talent The key figures in the following infographics illustrate the high impact of Kloepfel Consulting’s recruiting services as a specialist in the areas of purchasing, supply chain management and logistics. In the following example, a Category Manager Welding Assemblies was placed for a supplier of commercial vehicle manufacturers in the Westphalia region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Case study 1: Placement of a Commodity Manager in the automotive industry A total of 133 potential candidates were identified and 108 of these were approached, resulting in 58 responses. The response rate was 53%. After 20 interviews, 5…
Achieve potential savings of up to 15% or more with a professional tender! Author: Heiko Steinmetz, Manager Kloepfel Consulting Exhibition stand construction and the associated services are diverse, complex and usually associated with high costs. Especially if you rely on a customized solution with few to hardly any standard/system elements when implementing your concept. The decision on implementation usually depends on the budget and the environment in which you present yourself as an exhibiting company. The size and importance of the trade fair (e.g. a leading international trade fair), your own market position and the appearance of your competitors are…
Steep learning curve and diverse insights Interview with Konstantin Rudel, trainee at Kloepfel Consulting. What made you decide to apply for the trainee position at the Kloepfel Group? After I graduated in business psychology in 2022, I traveled through Thailand and Vietnam and did a work and travel program in Australia. When I came back, I wanted to decide on a professional direction. Since the consulting industry is considered high-level, I chose this field and started my trainee program at Kloepfel in July 2023. I chose the trainee program because it gives me a higher learning curve through training in…
In a world that is constantly changing and where innovation is the key to success, the German Federal Council took a decisive step at its meeting on March 22, 2024. As part of the Growth Opportunities Act, innovations were adopted for the research allowance that could not only revolutionize the research and development (R&D) landscape in Germany, but also send a shining signal to companies: The future belongs to the brave, the inventors, the pioneers. Are you ready to be a pioneer? Discover your opportunities now. An age of innovation: The growth opportunity law Imagine standing on the threshold of…
Senior Procurement Consultant (f/m/d) www.kloepfel-karriere.com Procurement Consultant (f/m/d) www.kloepfel-karriere.com Junior Procurement Consultant (f/m/d) www.kloepfel-karriere.com
Intermediate goods become more expensive, capital and consumer goods more expensive According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), import prices fell by 4.9% in February 2024 compared to February 2023. Compared to the previous month of January 2024, import prices fell by 0.2%. Decline due to lower energy prices Energy import prices fell by 20.7% in February 2024 compared to February 2023. Compared to January 2024, prices fell by 2.6%. Natural gas had the greatest impact on this development, with prices reportedly falling by 40.4% compared to the same month last year. Compared to January 2024, natural gas was 12.2%…