Over 60 years – Mosolf history

A MOVING HISTORY

60

OVER YEARS MOSOLF AUTOMOTIVE LOGISTICS

‘Chronicles are written only by people for whom the present is important.’ (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

CONTENTS

1 MOVEMENT IN OUR BLOOD THE MOSOLF FAMILY’S ROOTS page 9

2 HORST AND MARIANNE MOSOLF HIT THE GROUND RUNNING A NEW COMPANY IN KIRCHHEIM UNTER TECK page 22

3 HIGHER, FASTER, FURTHER

MOSOLF ON COURSE FOR EXPANSION page 35

4 NEW SUBSIDIARIES AND THE STEP TO SOUTHERN EUROPE MOSOLF EXPANDS ITS NETWORK page 50

5 STARTING OFF FOR THE EAST

MOSOLF OPENS UP NEW MARKETS page 75

6 FOR A WORLD IN MOTION

MOSOLF OPTIMIZES ITS INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS STREAMS page 95

3

MOSOLF & MOBILITY Mosolf stands for mobility. The family from the town of Wittstock/ Dosse in Brandenburg has movement flowing through its veins.

Even back at the beginning of the 20th century, the Mosolfs relied on engine power. As more and more Germans were able to fulfill their dream of an automobile of their own in the years of the Wirtschaftswunder, the visionary Horst Mosolf recognised the signs of the times in Kirchheim unter Teck in the Swabian region of Baden-WĂźrttemberg, teaming up with his wife Marianne in 1955 to found the company Horst Mosolf Spedition und Transporte for the transport of vehicles and for technical services.

This was the beginning of a suc­cess story that has lasted for over 60 years, impacted by Germany’s postwar history of flight and division up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification, as well as the integration of Europe and the globalization of the economy.

What started with a used lorry now comprises a fleet of around 1,000 special transporters, 500 car transport wagons and two barges. The company has evolved from a pure carrier into a technical, logistical system services provider for the automobile industry, for distributors and for fleet operators, with a network of over 30 facilities throughout Europe and a staff of more than 2,000.

Yet despite all of this change, Mosolf has remained true to its ideals, proving that tradition and innovation can belong together no less than tyres and rims: As from the very beginning, the philosophy and activity of the Mosolf brand are defined by absolute reliability, top-of-the-line quality and a consistent customer orientation. Combined with courage and a willingness to take risks, this system of values has brought the company to the top of its sector. But staying in the lead has never been enough: no matter how proud the Mosolf family, management and staff are about what they have achieved, they never lose sight of future opportunities and challenges. For even the best can always get better.

4

5

GREETING

Mayor of Kirchheim unter Teck

Dear Mosolf family,

make for a secure existence in our region. Junior staff and re­

dear Mosolf staff and employees,

cruits find attractive development opportunities here, be­ cause the company invests in training and collaborates with

In the history of our town there are a number of personalities

educational institutions like the Deutsche Außenhandels-

who have earned special distinction as entrepreneurs. Among

und Verkehrs-Akademie (DAV) and the ECG Academy. And let

these are the founders of your company. Whenever success­

us not neglect to mention the company’s social commitment:

ful companies in Kirchheim unter Teck are mentioned, the

Horst Mosolf GmbH & Co. KG has always supported sports

name Horst Mosolf GmbH & Co. KG is sure to be included.

clubs as well as local social projects for children and youth.

On the occasion of the company’s 60th anniversary, I would

Entrepreneurial courage, innovative thinking and action, an

like to offer my warmest congratulations to the Mosolf fam­

orientation on customers and a never-tiring focus on prog­

ily and to everyone who works for the Mosolf group. The

ress and technical change­– this is what makes the Mosolf

company has remained family-owned to this day. After the

group so special. Horst Mosolf GmbH & Co. KG is the leading

death of Horst Mosolf in August 2015, Dr. Jörg Mosolf, mem­

provider of logistics and technical services for the automobile

ber of the board since 2002, has taken over management of

industry. I am pleased that this innovative drive has a posi­

the company and continued to lead it in keeping with its

tive impact on our town as well, and wish the company con­

founder’s wishes.

tinued business success and a positive future

A single family directing operations over generations leaves its mark on a company in a very special way. Despite its in­ ternational orientation with 30 facilities in Europe and over 2,000 employees, your company headquarters have remained in Kirchheim unter Teck since 1955. In these times of global competition, such loyalty to a company’s original location and sustained entrepreneurial success cannot be taken for granted.

The Mosolfs and their company are part of our town. They have proven themselves to be true companions of our com­ munity. Your company has not only provided workplaces to

Angelika Matt-Heidecker

6

GREETING

Parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Dear Mosolf family,

success story, and the confidence and aplomb to master

dear Mosolf staff and employees,

any future challenges as well as you have always done in the past.

Your choice to settle at the foot of the Swabian Alb in 1955 was a foresighted one. You decided on a region whose stron­ gest mainspring are the automobile, and everything that has to do with the automotive sector. Thus Prussian disci­ pline and Swabian diligence entered into a fruitful symbio­

Dorothee Bär, MdB

sis. From its origins as a classic automobile transportation company, in 60 years the Mosolf company has become an innovative service provider for the automobile industry.

More than any other country in the world, Germany stands for successful mid-class enterprises. Most of these compa­ nies are family-run and make up the backbone of our econ­ omy. Family companies do not think in terms of quarters, but in generations, which are steadfast enough to survive even turbulent and stormy periods. Every day, family com­ panies prove that tradition and innovation are no contra­ diction, and their attachment to their headquarters and employees at home demonstrates a high degree of social re­ sponsibility.

Of course, even the most successful companies always face new challenges. Today’s entrepreneurial families must prove themselves in the face of globalization, digitalization, demographic change and increasingly dynamic markets.

For the future I wish you, dear family Mosolf, and the entire workforce, God’s richest blessings, a continuation of your

7

FOREWORD

Dr. Jörg Mosolf and Peter Mosolf

Dear customers and business partners,

We have often asked ourselves how to keep our company

dear staff and employees,

successful in the future. Of course, our business is close to all of our hearts. One could practically say that we have petrol –

Our company chronicle is entitled “A Moving History”, and

or, better yet, diesel – in our blood. However, every decade

in our opinion this describes every aspect of our family. In

brings great new challenges: globalization, for instance, or

reading our company history, many passages will illustrate

the current major topic, digitalization, which we have to face

how the path our parents’ lives took, especially, moved

and which we and our employees will master.

through exciting facets and changes. And movement is also at the core of our business: service for the automobile, rang­

The story of our success is inseparable from the success

ing from transport to recycling.

story of our valued employees. Workers and staff who are happy and identify with the company are motivated and

What motivated our parents most of all was their will to cre­

perform better. It has to do with the way we treat each other:

ate something that would last. After the turbulent times of

ideas and suggestions are welcome, and implemented when­

flight and a new start in a strange place, their wish for secu­

ever possible.

rity for the family and their children became increasingly im­

8

portant. And this all the more over the years, since our family

Dear readers, we hope our story makes for exciting and

is so closely bound to the company, not only financially, but

interesting reading. Please join us on a little stroll down

above all emotionally.

memory lane.

Since the death of our father in August 2015, the second

With the warmest greetings

generation is now responsible for carrying the Mosolf group forward successfully. The company has been entrusted to us for a time, and this entails obligations for the family, the employees, and the property it has acquired. What is more,

Dr. Jörg Mosolf

the ground must be prepared for the next generation. In our

Chairman of the Board (CEO)

view, entrepreneurship consists of freedom and property, competition and responsibility, risk and liability. These prin­ ciples are the basis of doing business responsibly and suc­ cessfully. Every new generation must be guided toward these

Peter Mosolf

values with great care.

(Partner)

1 MOVEMENT IN OUR BLOOD – THE MOSOLF FAMILY’S ROOTS

9

‘Only he who knows his roots can grow.’

(Anselm Grün)

10

Always in motion: Richard Mosolf senior in front of his hippodrome

1871

1876

1880

1886

1900

1903

1906

Founding of the German Empire

Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for the telephone

Thomas Alva Edison receives a patent for the electric light bulb

Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach build the first fourwheeled automobiles

Maiden voyage of the first Zeppelin airship at Lake Constance

First engine-powered flight by the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, NC (US)

World Exposition in Milan on the theme of transportation

THE FASCINATION OF PROGRESS

about the ‘petrol coach’. Thanks to extremely positive reporting in the press, the sales num­ bers soon rose sharply. The triumphant advance

In the year 1900, almost 50 million people mar­

of the automobile began. It was to become the

velled at the many technical innovations dis­

means of transport in the 20th century and make

played at the World Exposition in Paris. The face

mobility the hallmark of modern life.

of the world was changing. Hand in hand, scien­ tific research and the ingenious spirit of inven­

After the first International Motor Show (IAA)

tion provided for ever more new inventions.

took place in Berlin in 1897, the city rapidly de­

Among these were not only the “talkies” and the

veloped into a centre for car enthusiasts in all

escalator, but also the diesel engine. With his

of Europe. Soon private automobiles were joined

construction, Rudolf Diesel had developed an

by the first ‘engine hackney’, which offered com­

alternative to Nicolaus Otto’s petrol-powered

petition for the traditional horse-drawn hackney

engine. As early as 1886, Carl Benz and Gottlieb

cabs. In 1923, for the first time there were over

Daimler – independently of each other – had

100,000 automobiles in the German Reich. At

each built petrol-driven motor vehicles of their

the IAA one year later, Benz, Daimler and MAN

own: a milestone in the history of transport.

presented the first trucks with diesel engines,

But initially, they did not find commercial suc­

which featured considerably reduced fuel con­

cess. Fascination with the innovative vehicle

sumption. By 1928 nearly 500,000 motor vehicles

was tempered by a good portion of scepticism

were driving on German roads.

about its road capability. ‘I believe in the horse.

The automobile is merely a temporary phenom­ enon’, commented German Kaiser Wilhelm II. Seldom was a prognosis so off the mark. One of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time helped the automobile achieve a breakthrough in Germany: In 1888 Benz’s wife The means of transport of the future: Bertha Benz with husband Carl Benz in a Benz-Viktoria, 1894

Bertha – without her husband’s knowledge – set off on the first overland trip from Mannheim to Pforzheim, for the purpose of dispelling doubts

1910

1913

1914 – 1918

1918

1923

First motor vehicles law in the German Empire: Speed limit inside towns set to 15 km/h

Henry Ford introduces assembly-line production to his factory

The First World War

Founding of the Weimar Republic

Hyperinflation in the German Reich: A loaf of bread costs over 400 billion Reichsmark

11

MOSOLF FOCUSES ON ENGINE POWER The growing mobility was not only concentrat­ed in large cities. In the countryside, too, re­ sourceful entrepreneurs recognized the sign of the times. One of these was the carrier Richard Mosolf in Wittstock/Dosse, a small town in northwest Brandenburg surrounded by farms, forests and heathland. Because of its location, Wittstock is also known as the ‘gate to the Mecklenburg Lake District’, a favourite tourist region then as now. The Mosolf family had movement in its blood. Richard Mosolf’s father,

Potsdamer Platz, Berlin around 1930

for instance, ran a hippodrome in Wittstock, a kind of circus in which children and grown-ups were carried through the arena by horses. While his father was still using animal muscle power for transport, Richard was an early convert to engine power. Because the young entrepreneur was extremely thrifty and would do anything to avoid debts, he hit on the idea of offering an omnibus both to transport furniture and for ex­ cursions into the countryside. ‘My father’s first omnibus was an all-purpose truck. On Saturday and Sunday he used it to bring weekend tourists to the seaside resort in Warnemünde, to the horse market in Havelberg, or to the Blossom Festival in Werder. During the week he would re­ move the seats and lay down mats so that the

Automobile factory in Berlin, 1927

1925

1926

Speed limit inside towns of the German Empire set to 30 km/h

Daimler-Benz AG forms in Stuttgart

12

With lots of hard work and business acumen, the Mosolfs managed to get their company through the Weimar Republic’s woes of hyperinflation and global economic crisis. Yet many families were completely destitute. In 1932, mass employment in Germany rose to over 5 million­– a perfect breeding ground for the propaganda of the Nazi Party, which took power after the parliamentary elections in 1933. The National Socialist regime soon set about rearming the German military.

Wittstock/Dosse, too, was transformed into a garrison town. Starting in 1938 the local glider airfield was expanded into a military airport, and Enterprising: The Mosolf family with their omnibus, around 1937

one of the main things it was used for was para­ trooper training. Residences were built especially for the air force officers posted in Wittstock and omnibus could be used to transport furniture.

Richard Mosolf’s wife Margarete ran a fruit and

their families. As supplies were needed for hun­

His advertising slogan was: ‘Ihr lieben Leute

vegetable shop in Wittstock/Dosse, which also

dreds of soldiers, the garrison boosted the local

lasst Euch sagen, beim Umzug braucht Ihr Euch

offered exotic fruits like bananas. The Mosolf

economy. Richard Mosolf worked for the Luft­

nicht plagen. Mosolf lädt ein, Mosolf lädt aus,

family used their trucks for this line of business

waffe as well: With his omnibusses, he not only

im Nu seid Ihr im neuen Haus!’ (‘Dear people,

as well: Since even back then asparagus from

transported the soldiers arriving at the Wittstock

listen when I say, with us your moving troubles

Beetz or Beelitz was considered a delicatessen

train station to their barracks, he also delivered

will pall. Mosolf loads up, Mosolf unloads; you’ll

by the well-to-do in Berlin, the Mosolfs trans­

food and equipment to the air base. But the tide

be in your new home in no time at all!’), Horst

ported the exquisite vegetable from the Bran­

turned once the Second World War began. When

Mosolf recounted on the occasion of the compa­

denburg hinterland to the capital a good 100 ki­

Adolf Hitler ordered the attack on Poland on 1

ny’s 60 anniversary. As the company prospered,

lometers away. ‘On the way back the trucks were

September 1939, the Mosolfs experienced the

Richard Mosolf was soon able to buy more

then loaded with fruit and vegetables, which our

same thing as most companies in the transpor­

transport vehicles. In addition to models from

family delivered to shops in Brandenburg and

tation sector: Their vehicles were military confis­

Hansa-Lloyd and Saurer, by 1928 he also bought

Mecklenburg’, as Horst Mosolf recalled the fami­

cated for military use. Richard Mosolf was expro­

a Mercedes- Benz lorry.

ly’s account.

priated. It was not to be the last time, either …

th

25 October 1929

1932

30 January 1933

28 February 1933

1937

‘Black Friday’: The New York stock market crashes, causing a global economic crisis and the Great Depression

Over 5.6 million Germans are un­ employed. Industrial production has dropped by 40 percent

Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor

German citizens’ fundamental rights suspended by the ‘Decree on the Protection of the Nation and the People’

Germany’s first pedestrian traffic light erected at the Kleiner Stern in Berlin

13

Impressions of Wittstock/Dosse

14

Aerial view of Wittstock/Dosse (above), city hall (below), St. Mary’s church (right)

15

Municipal tower (above left), post office with GlintzstraĂ&#x;e (centre left), city impressions (below left), old city wall (above right), market square (below right)

A YOUTH IN WARTIME

headquarters right near Berlin’s most famous avenue, the Kurfürstendamm, and specialized in overseas transports. ‘The company organized a lot of removals for foreign embassies. Everything

Expropriation was a great shock for Margarete

was done very professionally’, summed up Horst

and Richard Mosolf’s family of seven. Their sec­

Mosolf. The young man was not able to finish

ond-oldest son Horst, who was born in Wittstock

his apprenticeship, however; he had to take an

on 25 January 1928, belonged to the age group

emergency exam instead when he was drafted

that was recruited for the Volkssturm Nazi militia

into the Reich Labour Service. From mid-1944

shortly before the end of the war. After finishing

this organization had taken over basic military

school in 1942, Horst Mosolf had decided to ap­

training for future soldiers. At age 17 Horst

prentice as a logistics manager. ‘An uncle of

Mosolf was then recruited to the Volkssturm in

mine was a manager for the moving company

spring 1945, just in time to be taken prisoner by

Franzkowiak & Co. in Berlin. He was such a fore­

the Soviets at the end of the war in the Battle of

sighted and active man that I made him my role

Berlin. First he was sent to a camp in Ketschen­

model. He found me my apprenticeship, too’,

dorf (today part of Fürstenwalde/Spree), one of

recalled Horst Mosolf. The renowned furniture

ten special camps run by the Soviet intelligence

transport company Franzkowiak & Co. had its

service, where sometimes up to 18,000 civilians and prisoners of war were interned until Febru­ ary 1947. Over 4,600 internees died due to the inhuman conditions in the camp, most of them of malnutrition and tuberculosis. Despite his misfortune, Horst Mosolf was lucky: He survived Ketschendorf, but after its dissolution he was sent to another special camp in Fünfeichen on the edge of the city of Neubrandenburg, where he spent another year and a half without being

The look of determination: Horst Mosolf as a child, around 1931

able to let his family even know he was alive.

‘When I was finally released, I was so emaciated that I weighed only 53 kilos’, he remembers.

1938

1 September 1939

22 June 1944

A total of 1.2 million automobiles, 1.6 million motorcycles and 400,000 lorries are licensed in Germany

The Second World War begins

German invasion of the Soviet Union

16

Things weren’t much better at home, either. As the young man discovered upon his return, in the course of dismantling German industry, the Soviet occupiers had also confiscated his fa­ ther’s vehicles, so the family had to start all over from nothing once more. But a man like Horst Mosolf does not readily accept defeat. Despite the hard years in the camp, his vigour was un­ broken. With his characteristic optimism, he fo­ cused on the future and took charge of his life again. Because his emergency examination during the war was not recognized by the new authorities, at age 20 he still had to complete an apprenticeship. When Horst Mosolf inquired at his old employer in Berlin, he was welcomed back immediately. In 1951 he was then able, at long last, to pass his examination as a logistics manager. With a completed apprenticeship in his pocket, it was time for him to start building himself a future.

Recruited to the Volkssturm: Horst Mosolf as a young soldier

7/9 May 1945

3 April 1948

The German Wehrmacht surrenders

The Marshall Plan entered into force: By 1952, West Germany has received 1.5 billion US dollars

17

A WOMAN WITH A HEAD FOR NUMBERS

value on their daughter receiving a good edu­

ed of his son. ‘We have to divide up the busi­

cation, they sent her to the Lette School in Ber­

ness – otherwise they will expropriate it be­

lin. This prominent private girls’ school located

cause we have grown too large.’ So Horst Mosolf

His plans were no longer just for himself, though:

at Viktoria-Luise-Platz in Berlin Schöneberg of­

gave his notice and returned to Wittstock. There

After his return from prison camp he had suc­

fered young women apprenticeships in a num­

his father divided up among himself and his

ceeded in winning the heart of a young woman

ber of modern professions. Because Marianne

two oldest sons the vehicles that belonged to

named Marianne Ahrens. And this had been no

Mosolf was good with numbers, she opted for

the family’s trucking company. But not even

easy task, as Marianne Mosolf remembers today:

a business apprenticeship – an excellent in­

this was enough to alter the course of events: A

‘We met in a little dance café. I had caught my

vestment in the future, as she would soon see.

short time later Richard Mosolf was threatened

husband’s eye, so he asked me to dance. I had

‘When I came to Berlin the city was still a heap

with not only expropriation, but also arrest!

always loved dancing, but it was not one of his

of rubble’, she recalls. ‘Everything was in short

strengths. Yet, he was persistent and tried every­

supply! And then came the Berlin Blockade.

thing to win me over. After a while I finally

Without the American airlift, which supplied

agreed and we became a couple.’

the West Berliners with the necessities like coal, potatoes and flour, many people would

Marianne Mosolf also came from an entrepre­

have starved and frozen to death.’ From June

neurial family in Wittstock. She was born there

1948 to May 1949, around 1.5 million tons of

in 1933 as the only child of Erika and Werner

essential goods were brought into the trapped

Ahrens. Her father was a master automobile

city by the supply planes the Berliners called

mechanic and ran a motorcycle store with its

‘raisin bombers’. After three years Marianne

own repair workshop. ‘My parents were both

Mosolf took her final examinations in summer

very industrious and knew that businesspeople

1951. ‘I always loved going to school and en­

must always accommodate their customers.

joyed learning’, she remembers fondly. And she

Unfortunately, my father was drafted right away

proved successful: Her examination grades

in 1939 and did not return from captivity until

were outstanding.

18

1947’, Marianne Mosolf relates. So she – like many relatives of her generation – had to mas­-

At this time Horst Mosolf was working for the

ter those difficult years alone with her mother.

Mützlitz forwarding agency in West Berlin,

Shortly after her father’s return, Marianne Mo­

when he received a call from his father. ‘You

solf finished school. Since her parents put great

must come home straight away!’, he demand­

20 June 1948

June 1948 – May 1949

23 May 1949

15 September 1949

Currency reform in West Germany: Introduction of the Deutsche Mark (DM)

Berlin Blockade, the first peak of the Cold War

Founding of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). The German Basic Law comes into force

Konrad Adenauer (CDU) becomes the first Federal Chancellor

A model student: Marianne Mosolf’s leaving certificate, 1951

19

Excellent education: pupils at the Lette School in 1941

FLIGHT TO THE WEST

Mosolf received a letter from a friend named Jo­ hannes Kaul, a former officer of the Wehrmacht who had since found work as senior accountant

The ‘Cold War’ between the Western powers led

for the municipal depots. The content of this let­

by America and the Eastern Bloc under the con­

ter was explosive! Kaul reported to Richard Mo­

trol of the Soviet Union was well under way.

solf that on 20 December he had participated in

While the two Blocs engaged in a nuclear arms

a meeting with the district party secretary, the

race on the political and military level, on the

directors of the district police and criminal in­

economic level the competition was between

vestigation department, and the director of the

a market economy and a planned economy. Be­

tax authority. There he was assigned the ‘sad

hind the ‘Iron Curtain’, the Soviet Union consis­

task’ of implementing ‘an audit of transport

tently pushed ahead with the elimination of pri­

companies still under private ownership with

vate property in its sphere of influence. For the

the goal of arresting the owners’ after Christ­

zone of Soviet occupation, which was later to

mas, ‘in order to achieve a faster warrant for

become East Germany, the USSR’s course of ac­

liquidating private entrepreneurship.’ Among

tion was especially hard, because it actually ex­

the businessmen to be arrested were not only

perienced two forms of expropriation. First, as

Richard Mosolf, but also Werner Ahrens, Mari­

part of the reparation payments agreed upon

anne Mosolf’s father. Everyone present was

at the end of the war, the Soviet Union disman­

warned ‘to maintain strictest confidentiality’

tled nearly 3,500 businesses by 1952 – nearly

or risk being taken into police custody. In order

one third of the region’s industrial capacity in

to evade this task, and presumably to avoid

1944 – and brought these technical goods to the

his own arrest, a few days after the meeting

USSR. At the same time, the Soviets were also

Kaul had fled to the West with his family.

implementing the large-scale forced national­ ization of private enterprises. In Wittstock, too,

Richard Mosolf had barely read the final line

East German Communist Party headquarters

before he realized that the clock was already

demanded the final elimination of private prop­

ticking. He had to act immediately! If he wanted

erty in 1952. In this unfortunate situation the

to save his freedom, he, too would have to risk

Mosolf family had a stroke of luck: Immediately

fleeing to the West. Extreme caution would be

after Christmas, on 27 December 1952 Richard

necessary to keep anyone from finding out

7 October 1949

11 October 1949

20 – 24 July 1950

Founding of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)

Wilhelm Pieck becomes the first President of the GDR

The East German Communist Party (SED) passes a five-year plan to set up ‘planned socialism’

20

New zest for life: West Berlin in the 1950s

21

about his plans. Without delay he informed

three adult sons each fled alone. The most dra­

a place to stay and did not have to go to a refu­

Werner Ahrens and discussed with his family

matic flight by far was experienced by 25-year-

gee camp. And that was worth a great deal.’ Her

how best to proceed. They decided that Richard

old Horst Mosolf: In the middle of the night he

fiancé’s family was spared this as well, as the

Mosolf should flee alone first. He set off with

broke through an East Berlin border gate with a

Mosolfs found accommodation with an uncle of

just a briefcase containing the most important

Saurer truck. ‘The border guards shot immedi­

Margarete Mosolf’s who lived alone. They had

documents, a couple of sandwiches and under­

ately, but – thank God!­– sthey missed me. Then

saved their freedom, but had lost their business

wear for one night. In case he was stopped and

I was in West Berlin. I knew nothing about the

and their home. The Socialist regime carried out

checked, he wanted to be able to claim that he

West, but I figured, “At least I have the truck for

its plan and nationalized the family transport

was on his way to Falkensee to settle accounts

a start”’, he remembers. Marianne Mosolf and

company along with its real estate. Thus the

with a customer. After arriving in Falkensee,

her parents also succeeded in fleeing. ‘It was a

Mosolf family had no choice but to roll up their

Richard Mosolf made his way via Potsdam to

crazy time!’, she says looking back. ‘Fortunately,

sleeves and start over!

West Berlin. His wife Margarete followed shortly

my father had kept the small apartment I had

thereafter with the two youngest children. The

lived in while I was at school, so at least we had

15 December 1952

24 April 1953

17 June 1953

East Germany restricts individual free travel to a radius of 100 km

The prices for rationed foodstuffs rise in East Germany

Popular uprising in East Germany: Around one million people protest against the political and economic conditions

2 HORST AND MARIANNE MOSOLF HIT THE GROUND RUNNING – A NEW COMPANY IN KIRCHHEIM UNTER TECK

22

‘Only he who dares may hope.’

(Friedrich Schiller)

23

New freedom of mobility: Mosolf unloads a Borgward Isabella

4 January 1954

4 July 1954

mid-1950s

West Germany’s first parking meters are erected in Duisburg

The ‘Miracle of Bern’: The German national football team wins the World Cup

Bill Haley and Elvis Presley raise rock’n’roll to its pop culture breakthrough

WIRTSCHAFTSWUNDERZEIT THE WIRTSCHAFTS­ WUNDER ERA

In one German city, however, this mobility had

so he sent his fiancée a telegram with the words:

its limits in the true sense of the word: Berlin.

‘We can get married! I have a job!’ His future

Through its situation as an island surrounded by

father-in-law didn’t see things the same way,

In the 1950s things finally started improving in

East Germany, its citizens’ freedom of movement

however. ‘When I told my father that Horst and

West Germany. The economy grew by 10.5 per

was severely restricted. Horst Mosolf soon recog­

I wanted to marry, he said “As if! First he has to

cent in 1955, and in the same year real wages

nized that the city was about the worst possible

prove to me that he can do something!”’, Mari­

rose 10 per cent, with full employment achieved

location for a transportation business. This is

anne Mosolf relates. ‘I responded: “I won’t go

in 1957. Ludwig Erhard’s concept of ‘prosperity

why he joined his fiancée and her family in 1954

along with that! I’m going with him! We don’t

for all’ seemed to have worked. After the years

in Meldorf, a small town in Schleswig-Holstein

want to wait to marry!”’ And she got her way. ‘It

of war and hunger, people now wanted one

where the Ahrens family had relatives. There

was a small ceremony in my parents’ flat. My in-

thing above all else: to enjoy life. Good butter,

Horst Mosolf worked for a year as a sales agent

laws made the trip from West Berlin. We didn’t

cream cakes and soups with beads of grease

for sewing machines, but the logistics manager

have the money for a white wedding dress. The

on top came on the table, and the ‘prosperity

was drawn back to the transport business. He

pastor came into the apartment and married us,

paunch’ was considered a sign of success. The

gave his notice, published a job-wanted notice

and the very next day we took the train down

dream of having a car came true for ever more

and got lucky: Several transport companies con­

south.’ Kirchheim unter Teck, with its beautiful

Germans. In no time at all, the VW beetle with

tacted him right away, all of whom were looking

historical centre intact, appealed to Marianne

rear-mounted engine and ‘pretzel windows’ be­

for personnel due to the shortage of labour in

Mosolf immediately. Yet in order to truly arrive

came the symbol of the German economic mira­

the era of the Wirtschaftswunder. So it came

in her new home town, she had a challenge to

cle. In 1955 the millionth beetle, a gold-plated

about that Horst Mosolf hitchhiked through

master first: ‘I needed a good year before I could

special model, ran off the assembly line in the

West Germany, working briefly in Hamburg,

understand Swabian dialect’, she chuckles. ‘Back

VW factory in Wolfsburg.

Dortmund and Wiesbaden on the search for the

then people were not as open to outsiders as

right company for an ambitious young man. One

they are today, now that one can travel all over

Between 1950 and 1960 the German automotive

day he received an offer from the Bez haulage

the world and become acquainted with other

industry was able to quintuple its production.

company in Kirchheim unter Teck, which was

cultures.’ Everyone familiar with Marianne Mo­

Other models like the Lloyd Alexander and the

looking for a dispatcher. ‘Since my oldest brother

solf knows that she accomplishes everything

Borgward Isabella also gave people a new kind

was working in Stuttgart at the time, I thought

she sets out to do with hard work and ambition.

of mobile freedom and inspired them to travel.

to myself: “That’s where I’ll head now too!” After

She managed this hurdle as well.

Thus over time the weekend outing to the coun­

winning 56 marks in football-lotto, this time I

tryside was extended into a real holiday trip to

was able to buy a train ticket for 53 marks’,

the Adriatic.

Horst Mosolf recalled. He liked the company,

1955

mid-1950s

1 May 1956

The millionth Volkswagen Beetle comes off the assembly line in Wolfsburg

'Bella Italia' becomes the dream destination for German travellers

100,000 people demonstrate for German reunification in West Berlin

24

Courtship, engagement, marriage: Marianne and Horst Mosolf take their vows in Meldorf (SchleswigHolstein) in 1945

25

IT ALL STARTED WITH A SINGLE TRUCK

while the average worker’s yearly wage amount­

tried to clear up the problems he was suddenly

ed to around 4,500 marks. So Horst Mosolf set

told: ‘What are you, a refugee, actually trying to

off to search for a good used vehicle. He found

do? You can’t become anything here in Swabia

a used Mercedes Benz L 6600 complete with a

no matter what!’ That was too much for him!

Ambition and creative energy were also charac­

three-axle trailer, which he had converted into

Determined to go his own way, Horst Mosolf

teristic for Horst Mosolf, who was happy only

a fully enclosed car transporter by Kässbohrer

took up the gauntlet thrown down by his em­

when he was moving. With vigilant eyes and

Fahrzeugwerke in Ulm. This was the first step

ployer. Hailing from a family of businessmen

open ears, always keeping abreast of the times,

toward making his business idea come true.

himself, the idea of standing on his own two feet

he had an excellent instinct for new business

Horst Mosolf quickly reached an agreement with

appealed to him anyway. When he arrived back

opportunities. Back then the Bez haulage com­

his boss: In return for a share of the turnover,

home, he asked his wife: ‘Would you do your

pany was transporting stamped automobile

the car transporter would initially run over the

part if we set up our own business?’ ‘Of course!

body parts from the Allgaier works in Uhingen

Bez books. This arrangement did not last long,

Right away!’, Marianne Mosolf answered. So the

to the Borgward automobile factory in Bremen.

however. A short time later, when Horst Mosolf

young couple took the plunge and set up their

When Horst Mosolf noticed how much time

spent some time at the spa in Bad Wörishofen,

own company. After receiving their first licence

and money drivers had to spend in order to pick

the accounts showed irregularities. When he

for long-distance hauling, on 15 March 1955

up their new cars in Bremen, he got an idea: ‘Customers collecting their own cars not only

26

had to take days off in order to take the train to Bremen, but they also had to get a temporary li­ cence plate and have their new car inspected af­ ter 400 kilometers on the way back – otherwise they would lose their guarantee. So I thought to myself: “With a car transporter I can do that much more economically!”’ No sooner said than done. Right away, Horst Mosolf began looking for a suitable transport vehicle. He decided on a Mercedes Benz L 6600, which had a 145-hp die­

Special transporter: In 1959 Mosolf acquired a Büssing LU77 capped with an innovative struc­ ture for transporting passenger cars

sel engine that could run for around 200,000 ki­ lometers. Such quality had its price, however. A new L 6600 cost around 35,000 marks in 1955,

1 October 1956

25 March 1957

15 September 1957

German television begins broadcasting the Tagesschau daily evening news program

Founding of the European Economic Community (EEC), the precursor of the European Union (EU)

With the campaign slogan ‘No Experiments!’, the CDU/CSU headed by Konrad Adenauer wins an absolute majority of 50.2%

27

Number one: Horst Mosolf’s first MercedesBenz car transporter from 1954

they founded ‘Horst Mosolf Spedition und Trans­ porte’ for vehicle transportation and technical services. Shortly thereafter, Horst and Marianne Mosolf bought a Mercedes-Benz LPS 322 as well, also with a trailer installed by Kässbohrer. From the beginning, Horst Mosolf set great store on the highest quality and the latest technology; he was often the first to find and implement inno­ vative solutions. In order to increase the compa­ ny’s loading capacity, in 1959 it acquired another special transporter, which was the first of its kind in Germany. This vehicle was a two-axle Büssing LU 77 capped with a structure on which a sort of intermediate floor could be mounted to cross-beams attached halfway up the roof bows of the loading area. This created a double-decker that could transport four vehicles at the same time. A matching trailer offered space for anoth­ er four cars. Every new transporter meant a huge investment for the young couple. ‘In the early years we were up to our ears in debt, Mari­ anne Mosolf recalls. ‘But we also had the firm intention to make it.’

Mosolf relies on the star: A Mercedes-Benz LPS 322 was also part of the fleet

4 October 1957

1 September 1959

The USSR inaugurates the Space Age with the launch of its Sputnik satellite

US President Dwight D. Eisenhower visits West Germany and affirms that Berlin will be protected

28

factories in Sindelfingen and Untertürkheim northward. On the occasion of the company’s 60th anniversary, he looked back at the first steps of this cooperation, which has now lasted over half a century: ‘At first Daimler put us to the test. You see, the new vehicles had to be picked up from the factory yard by seven o’clock in the morning. Otherwise the load was given to another carrier. But we were always on time, without exception. Daimler was very satisfied and gave us deliveries to more and more locations.’

It quickly became clear that the young business couple was a perfect team: While Horst Mosolf took care of new contracts, customer service

A perfect team: Marianne and Horst Mosolf combined financial acumen with visionary foresight

and logistics, his wife kept an eye on the financ­ es. And not only that: ‘I was the telephone oper­ ator, the secretary, the bookkeeper and the chief financial officer, all in one’, Marianne Mosolf re­ And make it they did! The visionary Horst Mo­

stand for quality all over the world. Marianne

members. ‘My business training was a great

solf had recognized the signs of the times, with

and Horst Mosolf enjoyed full order books. In

help for me. My father used to tell my husband

his car transports filling a gap in the market

the early years the company mostly drove for

with a wink, “I should actually make you com­

with enormous potential for growth. The auto­

the Borgward automobile factories in Bremen.

pensate me for the cost of Marianne’s education

motive industry became the locomotive of the

While they transported stamped body parts or

– thanks to her, you don’t have to pay any other

German Wirtschaftswunder. Year for year, the

replacement parts on their way north, on their

employees.”’ Her heavy workload for the compa­

production figures continued to climb. And yet

way back they brought Borgward and Lloyd

ny was not all Marianne Mosolf had to carry,

the automobile boom in West Germany was just

vehicles like the Isabella and the Arabella to

however. By this time the young couple had

getting started in 1960. The export market was

Swabia. From the very beginning, Horst Mosolf

three sons, Peter, Jörg and Michael, so she also

thriving as well. ‘Made in Germany’ came to

also transported cars from the Mercedes-Benz

had her hands full as a mother.

31 March 1960

13 August 1961

27 October 1961

Germany’s first drive-in movie theatre opens in Frankfurt/Main

Armed East German police and soldiers seal off East Berlin. Construction of the Berlin Wall begins

US and Soviet tanks face off for the first time at Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie between the Western and Eastern sectors

29

The partners were a dream couple not only in terms of their business abilities­– they were also a great team in terms of character: While Horst Mosolf, the spirited, full-blooded businessman, was a classic mover and shaker who would have implemented every new idea immediately if he could, Marianne Mosolf’s deliberate manner brought the calm needed to carefully consider the pros and cons of any upcoming decisions.

‘My husband had the habit of telling me his new ideas every night before we went to sleep. He always wanted to hear my reaction right away, but I had to think about them first. As he drifted off to sleep, I spent a sleepless night thinking through whether his idea was good, and – above all – how we could pay for it. On the next morn­ ing my husband would then ask: “So what do you think?” and I’d answer: “I didn’t sleep a wink last night! But the idea is good! And I figured out how we can realize it.” That’s how we comple­ mented each other’, Marianne Mosolf explains.

Family holidays on the North Sea island of Sylt

22 January 1963

1 April 1963

23 – 26 March 1963

Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle sign the Elysée Treaty, heralding comprehensive cooperation between their countries

West Germany’s second national television station (ZDF) begins broadcasting

President John F. Kennedy visits West Germany and ends his speech in West Berlin with the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’

30

ONE BIG FAMILY As they say, opening a business is easy. What’s hard is keeping it open. For that you need not only a convincing concept, but, above all, excel­ lent personnel. Thus it is hardly a surprise that their truck drivers have been one of the main pillars of Mosolf’s success from day one. The first was Horst Mosolf’s younger brother Wolf­ gang, about whom the owner still raved enthusi­ astically even 60 years later: ‘Wolfgang was the best! In a single week he drove to Bremen and back three times.’

Horst Mosolf always had a very special relation­ ship with his drivers. On the one hand, he de­ manded a lot: ‘A Mosolf driver has to be honest, hard-working and reliable, must identify with his work and be true to the company’. His mes­ sage got through. One of the first drivers, Horst Gajowy, who worked for Mosolf for around 50 years until retirement, recalls: ‘We never left a route unfinished! That didn’t happen! That was the boss’s highest priority. The customers could always count on Mosolf. Reliability and quality were our trademark from the outset.’ On the other hand, Horst Mosolf always had a sympa­ thetic ear for his drivers’ worries and wishes.

Former sales manager Konrad Lehner relates: An old Mercedes-Benz car trans­ porter and a new LPS 322

16 October 1963

22 November 1963

14 October 1964

Ludwig Erhard (CDU) becomes Federal Chancellor

President John F. Kennedy is assassinated

Soviet Communist Party Chairman and Premier Nikita Krushchev is removed from office. Leonid Brezhnev becomes the new party chairman.

31

‘Fridays the senior director always sat in the

prise that most of his drivers stayed with the

break room next to the workshop and waited for

company for their entire careers: once a Mosolf

his drivers. He chatted with each of them and

driver, always a Mosolf driver. Ernst Stümpfle,

asked how the week had gone. If of them said:

who covered around 6,000,000 kilometers with a

“It was crap! The logistics people sent me the

Mosolf car transporter over a period of 43 years,

wrong way around!”, there was hell to pay. The

put it best: ‘We were a big family. Everyone took

boss would go to the logistics department first

care of everyone else. And it’s just a coincidence

thing Monday morning and read them the riot

that I ended up at Mosolf. I had just arrived

act. His drivers were very, very important to him.

when I heard: “Get up! There’s the three-axle.

And he was in their good books as well.’

Get going!” I always enjoyed it. As fate had it, I ended up working there from 1967 to 2010.’

Personal contact and a family atmosphere were

‘Kilometre millionaire’: Daimler congratulates Mosolf driver Horst Schallock on completing his 1,000,000th kilometre

extremely important to Horst Mosolf. And in ad­

And fate was kind to the Mosolf transport com­

dition to the work, having fun was key, as Holger

pany. The fleet and the number of employees

Schallock, another one of the first truck drivers,

grew constantly. But that was no reason for

is happy to tell: ‘Saturdays, when we were sitting

Horst Mosolf to rest on his laurels. On the con­

in the washroom after washing our vehicles, the

trary! In keeping with the principle ‘Standing

boss always came by and played cards with us.

still is a step backwards’, the aspiring business­

His favourite game was called Zwanzig ab. We

man already had a bunch of new ideas in mind

only played for pennies, but he cashed them all

for how to react to the constant increase in mo­

in! “The money has to stay in the company”, he

bility and the consequent wishes of his custom­

used to say. Often he’d send someone off to his

ers. As soon as his ‘chief financial officer’ gave

father-in-law’s restaurant in the afternoon to

her OK, he was off again in 1963 – this time tak­

bring roast chicken for everyone. And he paid

ing the plunge across the border.

for it all! He was never stingy.’ Anyone who talks to old Mosolf drivers hears the same things: ‘A promise is a promise!’, ‘Straightforward and nev­ er holds a grudge!’, ‘He was a role model!’. Obvi­ ously, the chemistry between ‘the boss’ and his ‘kilometer millionaires’ was great. So it’s no sur­

27 January 1965

1966

23 June 1966

The West German parliament (Bundestag) passes a law enacting measures to assist refugees from East Germany

Start of the Cultural Revolution in China under Mao Tse-tung

The British rock band The Beatles begin their first tour through Germany

32

33

Once a Mosolf driver…

The ‘boss’ and his drivers in the mid-1970s

34

‌always a Mosolf driver.

Horst Mosolf in 2015 with some of his very first drivers

3 HIGHER, FASTER, FURTHER MOSOLF ON COURSE FOR EXPANSION

35

‘Paths are made by walking.’

(Franz Kafka)

36

Expansion: Dr. Jörg Mosolf (centre) during construction of the Saarlouis subsidiary, 1978

21 July 1969

21 October 1969

1971

The American astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first man on the moon

Willy Brandt (SPD) becomes Federal Chancellor

In the US, the first e-mail message is sent

Kurfürstendamm, Berlin, 1966

37

MOBILIZED SOCIETY

In West Germany, increasing affluence and

West Germany had become a society of auto­

leisure time – the 40-hour week was intro­

mobiles. And the number of cars continued to

duced in 1965 – allowed people to spend more

climb, for soon more and more households

Growing prosperity and new technologies

money for consumption. For many Germans,

bought a second car. In terms of exports, too,

changed the way of life in the 1960s and 1970s.

‘freedom on four wheels’ was at the top of

the automobile industry continued to be one

In 1967 the era of colour television began in

their wish list, so that the number of licenced

of the driving forces of the German economy.

West Germany. In 1969 the first man walked on

passenger cars increased strongly. From a good

the moon. The first e-mail was sent in the US

four million in 1960, by 1970 there were around

in 1971. In 1975 Bill Gates founded Microsoft,

14 million passenger cars on German roads. In

and in 1976 Steve Jobs started Apple, with just

1978, a full 62 per cent of German households

1,500 US dollars from the sale of his VW bus.

had a car.

1 March 1971

31 March 1971

3 May 1971

New traffic regulations take effect in West Germany, adapting the rules to provisions valid internationally

Telephone traffic resumes between East and West Berlin, having been discontinued since 1952

Erich Honecker becomes First Secretary of the Central Committee of the SED in East Germany

ANTWERP

Even today, the Antwerp subsidiary is associated with the name of Fritz Luz, who likes to remi­

Recognizing the signs of the time, Horst Mosolf

nisce about his time with Mosolf: ‘If you were

got into the export business as well: In 1963 he

honest and ambitious with Mosolf, you could

founded his first subsidiary in the Belgian port of

always count on his understanding and support.

Antwerp, in order to ship German-manufactured

I had a good, even friendly relationship with

cars overseas. Marianne Mosolf looks back at the

Horst Mosolf for many years on this basis. Nev­

company’s early years in Antwerp: ‘Our first

ertheless, there was never a visit without a com­

branch manager was Fritz Luz, a very able man

ment along the lines of, “We have to save money

who had previously worked for us as a driver.

so that we can finance upcoming new projects!”

He was willing to move abroad with his family,

My response was always: “We’re already at the

which was hardly something you could take for

limit of economy­– we can’t save any more than

granted back then. Mr Luz did the difficult work

we do already.” Mr Mosolf’s response: “Alright

of setting up the office. He was someone we

then!”’ Looking back, the office in Antwerp can

could always rely on one hundred per cent. Busi­

be regarded as one of the milestones in the com­

ness there started with Ford tractors from En­

pany’s success story, with which Mosolf man­

gland, which our company unloaded and distrib­

aged the first transport and logistic chains for

uted throughout southern Germany.’ Thanks to

importing and exporting from harbours, and

the development of lowerable loading platforms

from the Belgian Opel and Ford factories to

in the mid-1960s, there was no more need for

Germany and Switzerland.

the laborious task of manoeuvring up to the ramps. Now the drivers could load and unload their cargo in the middle of the stockyard.

A milestone: Mosolf starts off in the export business with its subsidiary in Antwerp

27 August 1971

3 September 1971

The first Internationale Funkausstellung for television and broadcasting opens on Berlin’s exhibition grounds

Representatives of the US, Great Britain, France and the USSR sign the Four-Power Agreement on Berlin

38

39

Well-stocked: A Mosolf transporter with Ford tractors from Great Britain in 1971

ILLINGEN The transport business was in full swing, so that the company’s fleet of vehicles had already grown to around 50 car transporters by 1970.

But a visionary like Horst Mosolf could not be content with that. He had always seen himself as a problem-solver for his customers. As his characteristic ability to put himself in the shoes of his customers let him recognize their needs, he believed that the constant increase in pro­ duction numbers would present a new problem for automobile manufacturers: Where should the new cars be stored for the time between rolling off the assembly line and delivery to the car dealerships? The automobile manufacturers could not take care of this as well. But Horst

40

Mosolf could! Thus in 1972 he opened his first distribution centre for the Stuttgart region in Illingen, covering an area of tens of thousands of square metres and equipped with its own railway connection. ‘The decisive point for Il­ lingen was the support from the community and the mayor at the time, Ewald Veigel. So I de­ cided to purchase land there and build on it’, Horst Mosolf later recalled. Everything was well planned and soundly financed, but the develop­ ment of the overall economy thwarted his suc­ cess. ‘When we secured the financing for con­ struction the interest rate was 7.5 per cent.

10 December 1971

10 May 1972

Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his Ostpolitik

The Bundestag passes a law on waste disposal emphasizing the recycling of waste materials

Its very own railway connection: The Mosolf subsidiary in Illingen

amount of money! But there was no way we could lose the contract. So Horst Mosolf decided: “We’ll do it!” No sooner said than done. The ce­ ment wasn’t quite dry yet when the Ford cars arrived, so after they were unloaded from the ramp they looked pretty dirty. Without further ado, we rented the clubhouse of hare breeders’ association across the way which had its own water supply. Car after car was then washed be­ fore loading. A devil of a job. But we had done the job properly and the customer was satisfied.

That was always the top priority for Mosolf.’

Besides interim storage, from the outset Mosolf offered an additional service in Illingen, which Illingen: Mosolf’s first delivery centre for the Stuttgart region

showed how the company reacted to the deal­ ers’ needs: the removal of transit protection coatings. Automobile manufacturers shipped Suddenly it rose to 14 per cent! How were we

winter delayed the asphalting. It was simply too

their new vehicles covered with a kind of wax

supposed to pay that? So I went to Stuttgart

cold. This was extremely inconvenient, as a Ford

film to protect the vehicle during transport. Be­

with Mayor Veigel to speak with the bank. For

contract for Switzerland was pending. I was

fore a new vehicle could go to a car dealer’s

naught. There was nothing they could do. A fine

surprised by a call from a Ford employee who

showroom, this coating had to be washed off

mess! And my wife complained. But somehow

inquired about the situation. A competitor had

with hot water and a solvent. Marianne Mosolf

we managed after all.’

aerial photographs of the facility made, which

relates: ‘At that time we were the first in south­

showed that the lot was still all gravel. What

ern Germany to have a fully automated de-wax­

When the distribution centre was practically

now? We couldn’t put the cars there under

ing system, which collected the water and the

finished, the next challenge reared its head.

these conditions. The only option we saw was

wax in large tanks so that they could be reused.

Konrad Lehner, who was an authorized repre­

to plough the entire site, spread cement over

We used the wax for heating. With this service

sentative for Mosolf at the time, recalls: ‘Right

it, and then smooth it all out. The cost of this

we acquired more new customers.’ For the deal­

after completion of the construction work,

amounted to over 100,000 marks. An enormous

ers this service was extremely advantageous, as

15 June 1972

1 September 1972

13 December 1972

The first talks about a Basic Treaty between the two German states begin in East Berlin

Protective strips and restricted zones are marked on East Germany’s “Western state border”

Annemarie Renger becomes the first female president of the German Bundestag

41

the vehicles delivered had often been in interim storage for long periods, during which they were exposed to wind and weather. By contrast, every car that came from Mosolf was clean, and thus immediately ready for sale.

One of the first dealers for which Mosolf provid­ ed large-scale interim storage for vehicles was the Schwabengarage, located in Stuttgart. The company – one of the largest Ford dealerships in Europe at the time – was a wholesale and retail dealer of all brands produced by the Ford Motor Company. Even 50 years later, Horst Mosolf still remembers well his first contact with Lothar Pulvermüller, long-standing chairman of the board at the Schwabengarage: ‘I had an appoint­ ment with Mr Pulvermüller, but I couldn’t find a parking space for my car in the lot. After we greeted each other, he asked me: “Well, how do you like our operations here?” I responded: “Mr Pulvermüller, I have to tell you: If I were a cus­ tomer here, I would never come again! And do you know why? I couldn’t find a parking space.

In the end I left my car at the gate and told the gatekeeper: “Do whatever you want with it. I’m due to meet with Director Pulvermüller.” In re­ A proud achievement: Horst Mosolf speaking on the occasion of the arrival of the 15 millionth Volkswagen in Illingen by rail

sponse Mr Pulvermüller said: “Then let’s talk about that right away. How much space could you offer me?” That’s how we got into business with each other.’ It was to be a long, successful

3 July 1973

18 September 1973

17 October 1973

The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) opens in Helsinki

East and West Germany are inducted into the United Nations (UN)

First signs of an oil crisis: Petroleumexporting Arabian countries raise prices for crude oil by 17 percent

42

partnership. Up until his retirement, Lothar Pul­

meant he not only knew all of the procedures,

quite charming when he wanted to.’ Yet Horst

vermüller remained one of Mosolf’s most im­

but he also kept close contact to his team of

Mosolf was not the kind of man who constantly

portant business partners. It was a partnership

around 100 in the divisions for transport, tech­

looked over an employee’s shoulder. On the con­

borne by mutual sympathy, fairness and reli­

nology, and the fleet business. He came first in

trary: ‘His policy was: “You can do whatever you

ability. The now 87-year-old Lothar Pulvermüller

the morning and left last in the evening. ‘It only

want. What’s important is that business runs

does not need to think long when he is asked

works with complete commitment’, he estab­

smoothly and has good results!” So I always had

about working with Horst Mosolf: ‘A promise is

lishes in retrospect. ‘It is a hard, diverse and in­

a great deal of latitude’, Bertram Galm relates.

a promise. You could depend on him. That was

teresting business. You have to have your eyes

what mattered! We didn’t talk much. It worked

everywhere. Every day is different. Every day

With all that work, there was one thing Horst

anyway. Nothing was too much for Horst Mosolf.

there are new challenges to master, creative

Mosolf never missed out on: food. Bertram Gald

I never heard him say the word “No”. He always

solutions to be found for unexpected problems.’

recalls: ‘He loved to eat. When he came to visit

asked: “What do you want? We’ll do it!” There

And this is what always appealed to Bertram

us in Illingen, he liked to drive to a restaurant in

were never any problems, never arguments

Galm – he wanted to make a difference, build,

the next village for a Schlachtplatte of meat and

about prices. And with our stock of new cars

create. ‘We were very successful, among other

sausages. That was his favourite dish. However,

constantly filled with 2,500-5,000 cars, we were

things, painting for BMW, Audi and for VW for

because he was supposed to watch his weight,

dealing with large amounts. He really came a

over 15 years. And we did that on call from the

at some point I promised his wife that I wouldn’t

long way. Great achievement!’

factory, delivering the painted auto parts direct­

go there with him anymore. And I was deter­

ly to the assembly line every three days. A thing

mined to keep my word. But Horst Mosolf did

Whenever anyone at Mosolf talks about Illingen,

like that works only if everyone in the team con­

not give up so easily. When I reminded him of

one name is always mentioned: Bertram Galm.

tributes one hundred per cent!’

my promise, he grinned at me and said, ‘So let’s

As branch manager for three decades, the mas­

have the platter delivered instead!’

ter mechanic determined the fate of the Illingen

Soon business in Illingen was so good that many

office. Horst Mosolf himself brought him to Il­

negotiations about new deals were conducted

Did the idea of going somewhere else to estab­

lingen in 1987, for ‘a little short-term clean-up’,

from the office there. ‘It was like a classic ripple

lish a new business never appeal to a man as

but Galm did his job so well that it turned into

effect’, Bertram Galm recalls. ‘In the early years

dynamic as Betram Galm? Without hesitating,

27 years. His recipe for success? ‘I always did

it was incredibly good fun to run the Illingen

he answers: ‘I had offers. But there was this spe­

everything myself. There was nothing I was too

office together with Horst Mosolf. He came by

cial bond with Horst Mosolf. In all those years of

good for. I did not shy away from operating the

at least once a week. Horst Mosolf was a good

working together there was not a single written

de-waxing system myself, nor from unloading

teacher, from whom I learned, above all, how

agreement. There was tremendous mutual trust.

the vehicles from the trucks’, Galm relates. This

to get somewhere with people – for he could be

A partnership like this is not easy to find.’

14 March 1974

22 March 1974

24 April 1974

2 May 1974

East and West Germany agree to set up permanent diplomatic representations in each other’s capitals

The age of majority in West Germany is reduced from 21 to 18 years

Günter Guillaume, personal assistant to Chancellor Brandt, is arrested on suspicion of spying for East Germany

The permanent diplomatic representations of the two German states open their doors in Bonn and East Berlin

43

Certainly, the Illingen subsidiary, now a good 200,000 square metres in size, corresponding to 28 football fields, with the capacity to store 5,000 vehicles, can be regarded as a further milestone in the company’s history. For the first time, Mosolf offered a spectrum of services that went beyond pure transport, thus laying the foundation for its development into a service provider for technical and logistic systems.

In the face of constantly increasing production numbers in the automotive sector, in those years storage space was worth its weight in gold.

As a consequence, in 1976 Mosolf established its Saarland locations in Saarlouis and Überherrn, the latter of which was 450,000 square metres in size and offered storage capacity for 14,000

44

vehicles.

Two subsidiaries in Saarland: Saarlouis (above) and Überherrn (below)

6 May 1974

16 May 1974

Chancellor Willy Brandt steps down as a consequence of the scandal concerning East German spy Günter Guillaume

Helmut Schmidt (SPD) becomes Federal Chancellor

Full steam ahead: Dr. Jรถrg Mosolf opens the railway connection in ร berherrn in 2003

45

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

ued helping out at Mosolf occasionally in the afternoons. I enjoyed the work, and also liked having my own money. While Horst Mosolf kept

With the spatial expansion in the 1970s, the

at me at work, things at school didn’t go as well

time had also come to invest in the future of the

as expected. So after a while I announced to

company by training young talent. It is not com­

him: “Time to start! I’ll do the apprenticeship!”

mon to find that a company’s first trainee still

Back then I was less than particular about writ­

working there after 45 years. This is the case at

ing my reports. When Marianne Mosolf found

Mosolf: Georg Mekle, one of the company’s man­

that out, she called me into her office. From

aging directors today, was its first apprentice in

then on I had to write and submit one report

1971. Originally he had very different plans: ‘Be­

after the other. For six weeks! After I passed

tween phases of school at age 16, I was looking

the examination I had to do my military service.

for a job. “Why don’t you go to Mosolf? I’m sure

Upon my return, Horst Mosolf said to me: “Son,

he’s looking for someone to wash cars”, my fa­

can you take care of the disposition for two

ther suggested. I followed his suggestion and

weeks?” That was something I knew, since I had

was actually able to start right away. It was my

spent most of my time as an apprentice there.

job to de-wax the cars with a steam jet. But the

Fourteen days turned into eight years; in the

best part came when I was allowed to drive the

end I was granted power of attorney as quite

cars I had finished from the garage to the lot,

a young man.’

46

because I had always loved driving. I often ar­ gued vehemently with Horst Mosolf. Snotty teenager that I was, I wasn’t going to take just anything, even from an established business­ man. Fortunately he didn’t hold a grudge. And what could happen to me anyway? After all, I was going to quit in the autumn and continue with my schooling. When I told Horst Mosolf of The company’s first apprentice: Georg Mekle, managing director of Mosolf GmbH, has been with Mosolf for 45 years

my plans, he said: “Don’t do that! Come and do an apprenticeship with us as a logistics manag­ er!” I stuck with my decision anyway, but contin­

7 July 1974

9 August 1974

1 August 1975

West Germany’s national football team becomes world champions after beating the Netherlands 2:1

US President Richard Nixon resigns because of the Watergate affair

The Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) is signed in Helsinki

Challenge and encourage – this is the way the

when you speak with me.” And if anyone was

Mosolfs have always treated their junior staff.

running around in short pants, she did not

And this is what Heinz Burk experienced, who

mince words. Old school, through and through.’

came to Mosolf as personnel manager straight out of college in 1978: ‘When I interviewed here,

By now the list of former apprentices at Mosolf

I had already received a contract to work for a

has grown to around 1,500 names! Many of the

large automobile manufacturer. But the senior

apprentices ended up employed by the company

director told me: “Son, you’re just a number

for years, and many of them have already cele­

there. With us you’ll be someone from the very

brated their 25th or 30th anniversary with the

first day and can work your way up!” That ap­

Mosolf group. This is also true for the company’s

pealed to me. And that’s how it really was. At

executives, fully confirming the forward-looking

Mosolf I had the freedom to help shape the busi­

perspective of Horst and Marianne Mosolf.

ness. The paths to decision-making were short, and there were always new challenges so that I could prove what I was capable of.’

Marianne Mosolf, especially, set great store not

47

only in performance, but also in outward ap­ pearance and good manners. Wolfgang Göbel, who started at the company as an apprentice in 1979 and is managing director and chief sales officer of the Mosolf Group today, remembers:

Values ‘old school’ manners and traditions: Wolfgang Göbel, managing director and chief sales officer of the Mosolf Group

‘Frau Mosolf took very good care of the appren­ tices. She was an impressive personality, and everyone respected her. If anyone displayed bad manners, she made sure they learned them here. For me it was normal to stand up and give a report whenever Frau Mosolf entered the room. But not everyone was brought up that way. Once I heard her say: “Feel free to stand up

7 October 1975

28 October – 2 November 1975

15 – 17 November 1975

The 26th anniversary of the founding of East Germany is celebrated as a holiday for the first time

Helmut Schmidt is the first chancellor to visit the People’s Republic of China

The first World Economic Summit takes place in France

BITS AND BYTES

tions. Heinz Burk, who was in charge of this am­

The organization and conception were based on

bitious project at the time, relates: ‘The senior

our own developments and were set up using

The personnel policy of Marianne and Horst

director came to me one morning six weeks af­

our own employee base.’

Mosolf was not the only thing oriented toward

ter I started at Mosolf as personnel director.

the future; the company was also a step ahead

Since he knew that I had studied EDP for four

After two years Burk and his team had convert­

with its introduction of electronic data process­

semesters for my degree in business and logis­

ed the organizational processes at headquarters,

ing. While many German companies did not

tics, he said to me ‘Do some EDP!’ He stopped by

like the financial accounting and the freight de­

start with digital data collection until sometime

again in the afternoon and asked; ‘So how far

partment. The subsidiaries were next. As so of­

during the 1980s, Mosolf switched over back in

have you got with the EDP?’ Such impatience!

ten in business life, it was a race against the

1978. This technological leap not only consider­

But that’s just the way he was. There wasn’t any

clock: ‘Our contracts came in faster and faster,

ably increased efficiency, it also opened up an

standard software like SAP back then, so creativ­

and the volume of business rose so tremendous­

entirely new dimension of networked opera­

ity and talent for improvisation were required.

ly that we could barely keep up with the trend.

In Illingen, for example, we had only six months development time. Then we made a complete break and converted all of the procedures and processes to EDP within a week. It was a risk, but with the necessary commitment and ambi­ tion everything went smoothly. Mosolf was also the first company in the industry to implement a space management system. The competition warned us at the time: “That will never work!”

But it certainly did!’

Soon all of the important subsidiaries were con­ nected with each other, so that employees could exchange data, make workflows more efficient, and not least, communicate with each other in a

With Mosolf for nearly 40 years: Heinz Burk values the creative freedom at the company

network. What’s more, dial-up data communica­ tion was set up with customers in the form of RDT connections. A step like this would never

1 January 1976

18 May 1976

1 July 1976

Wearing seat belts in the front seat becomes obligatory in West Germany

Erich Honecker becomes General Secretary of the East German SED

According to the new name law in West Germany, married couples are now allowed to use the husband’s surname, the wife’s surname, or take on a double, hyphenated name combining them both

48

have been possible without entrepreneurial spir­ it and the willingness to take risks. After all, the consequent digitalization of all work processes required considerable investments. Heinz Burk recalls: ‘The first EDP installations we needed required seven-digit investments at the time.

I hardly dared to go to the senior director with the bid. But he signed it without flinching and said simply. “Do it!” Horst Mosolf was always game for innovations.’

Soon word of the innovative spirit at Mosolf spread throughout the industry, with the result that the company was often the first contact for pilot projects by automotive manufacturers.

Increased efficiency: Networked operations at Mosolf

They liked to get the company from Kirchheim on board even in the conceptualization phase to benefit from its know-how. ‘In those days even Daimler came to us, because they wanted to

services provider with manifold service activi­

lenges. Yet Marianne and Horst Mosolf no longer

set up a space management system in Bremer­

ties – while always staying true to its roots: From

had to face these alone, for in the meantime

haven, too, and wanted to build on our experi­

the very beginning, the Mosolf brand stood for

their three sons Peter, Jörg and Michael had tak­

ence’, Heinz Burk relates with pride.

absolute reliability, top quality, a consistent cus­

en on active roles in the family business. With

tomer orientation and innovative solutions.

the second generation on board, Mosolf contin­

Indeed, Marianne and Horst Mosolf and their

Firmly anchored in this value system, the Kirch­

ued along its visionary path, opening new mar­

staff had every reason to be proud of what they

heim business stood on the threshold to a new

kets and offering new services to further expand

had achieved so far. The company had not only

decade. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, German

its international network.

grown continuously since its founding, it had

reunification and a globalization proceeding

also expanded its spectrum of services signifi­

ever faster after the end of the Cold War, the

cantly. Mosolf had transformed itself from a

1980s offered new possibilities, but also present­

classic carrying company into an automotive

ed the entrepreneurs with considerable chal­

15 November 1976

6 January 1977

19 January 1978

West Germany’s postal service introduces the first push-button telephones

The European Commission, the organ of the European Economic Community, begins its work in Brussels

The last VW beetle produced in West Germany rolls off the line in Emden

49

4 NEW SUBSIDIARIES AND THE STEP TO SOUTHERN EUROPE – MOSOLF EXPANDS ITS NETWORK

50

‘The younger generation is the arrow, the older is the bow.’

(John Steinbeck)

51

Shaking a leg: Marianne and Horst Mosolf at the company’s 25th anniversary

30 April 1980

1981

1 October 1982

Central European Daily Savings Time is introduced in Germany for the first time

Microsoft founder Bill Gates develops the operating system MS-DOS

Helmut Kohl (CDU) becomes Federal Chancellor

REUNIFICATION AND CHANGE

so that the number of cars increased continu­ ously: While there had been nearly 14 million in 1970, in 1980 there were already a good 23 mil­

The 1980s were of historical importance not

lion passenger cars on the road in Germany. By

only for Germany. Fundamental changes on var­

the end of the decade the numbers would rise to

ious levels gave the whole world a whole new

30 million, amounting to a doubling within a pe­

face. Advances in computer technology effected

riod of 20 years.

the transition from the industrial to the infor­ mation age. The personal computer (PC) by IBM

On the political level the 1980s brought epochal

with the Microsoft operating system MS-DOS

change, culminating in the reunification of Ger­

moved into business offices. Within people’s

many and the end of the Cold War. After Mikhail

own four walls, home computers like the Com­

Gorbachev was appointed general secretary of

modore 64 (C64) caused a wave of enthusiasm

the Soviet Union in 1985, even people in the

for the digital world, at the same popularizing

West learned two words of Russian: ‘glasnost’

information technology.

and ‘perestroika’ – openness and restructuring.

While Gorbachev set out to reform the unwieldy,

Starting in the 1980, classic sectors like the au­

antiquated centralized system in the Soviet

tomobile industry increasingly deployed new

Union, his efforts toward reform were not wel­

technologies. For instance, as a reaction to grow­

comed by the East German regime. As Erich

ing environmental awareness, the first cars with

Honecker celebrated the 40th birthday of the

regulated catalytic converters were introduced

GDR with a huge military parade on 7 October

to the German market in 1985. Furthermore,

1989, just a few streets away East German citi­

computer-designed car bodies improved aerody­

zens were demonstrating against the conditions

namics so much that fuel consumption could be

in their country. Chanting ‘Wir sind das Volk’

reduced. After Mercedes-Benz offered its S-Class

(We are the people), hundreds of thousands

W116 with anti-lock brakes (ABS), the 1985 Ford

marched against Communist Party rule every

Scorpio was the first passenger car on the Euro­

week. On 23 October 1989 the mass demonstra­

pean market to have ABS as standard equip­

tions peaked, with over 300,000 participating in

ment. This whole time the Germans’ wish for

Leipzig. The pressure on the East German lead­

mobile freedom on four wheels grew unabated,

ership grew. On the evening of 9 November,

52

14 February 1983

6 March 1983

6 June 1983

100,000 demonstrate for peace in Dresden

With 5.6 percent of the popular vote, the Green Party wins its first seats in the Bundestag

The “Hitler Diaries” are exposed as a forgery

Günter Schabowski, a member of the Politburo,

border crossings were open shortly after mid­

pany’s founding. Anyone familiar with Horst

announced live on television: ‘…we have decid­

night. Twenty-eight years after the Berlin Wall

Mosolf knows that he was not only a tireless en­

ed today to implement a regulation that allows

was built, tens of thousands of East German

trepreneur, but also a generous and gallant host.

every citizen of the German Democratic Repub­

citizens were able to enter the western part of

True to his belief that ‘Those who work hard de­

lic to leave East Germany through any of the

the city for the first time. ‘Now what belongs

serve to celebrate’, he and his family took the

border crossings to West Germany and to West

together will grow together’, former Federal

opportunity to mark the anniversary copiously

Berlin, respectively.’ Now there was no holding

Chancellor Willy Brandt commented on this

with a major commemoration at Hotel Fuchsen,

back. A constantly growing crowd of people as­

historical moment. The peaceful revolution had

complete with delicacies like ‘larded Esterhazy

sembled at the Bornholmer Straße border cross­

won! After 40 years of forced division, truly a

roast beef’ and ‘peach ice cream canapés’. The

ing and demanded that the gates be opened. As

reason to celebrate.

famous Swabian parsimony was conspicuously

the situation continued to escalate, the border

absent on this evening.

guards were completely overwhelmed and final­

The reason to celebrate at Mosolf had already

ly opened the barriers. Their colleagues at the

come at the beginning of the decade: 15 March

In 1982, Mosolf rose to an exceptional challenge,

other barrier stations did the same, so that all

1980 marked the 25 anniversary of the com­

fuelled in no small part by the spirit of adven­

th

1 September 1983

5 October 1983

7 November 1983

The German postal service begins introducing Btx video text service nationwide

Erich Honecker, premier and party secretary of East Germany, announces that the automatic spring-gun systems on the inner German border will be dismantled

The first public pump for unleaded petrol opens in Munich

53

A reason to celebrate: Mosolf turns 25

ture. In keeping with the motto ‘As far as the

Mosolf Group at the press conference. The route

was a real challenge, both for the drivers and

wheels will roll’, the journey led to Africa. Head­

led from Munich through France and Spain to

the transporters! We went through everything

ed up by the seasoned Mosolf driver Horst Ga­

Gibraltar, where the team took its transporters

along the way: intense heat of over 40 degrees

jowy, a convoy of six transports loaded with the

on the ferry to Tangier, and then continued driv­

on most of the stretch, extreme sandstorms

new BMW 5 series set off to Morocco. ‘The new

ing via Casablanca to Marrakech at the foot of

with very poor visibility, and not least of all,

BMW model was to be presented to the press in

the Atlas Mountains. The most hazardous part

crossing the Atlas Mountains. Still, thanks to

Morocco. BMW had journalists flown in especial­

of the tour began here, for those mountains,

our experience and the reliable Mercedes-Benz

ly for the event’, recalls Georg Mekle, who was

which the Greek poet Homer had marked as the

transporters, we conquered this adventure and,

there to help load the cars in Munich. Michael

western end of the world, were by no means the

with around 13,000 kilometres more on the odo­

Mosolf accompanied the convoy for the entire

end for the Mosolf drivers. On serpentine moun­

meter, returned to Kirchheim safe and sound a

journey. Thanks to his knowledge of French, he

tain roads, they continued their trip through

month later.’

was able to help the drivers clear customs, and

barren landscapes to Ouarzazate, a city at an

also gave them a hand during the drive through

elevation of 1,500 metres located in the south of

Morocco. Michael Mosolf also represented the

Morocco. Horst Gajowy remembers: ‘This trip

1 January 1984

24 January 1984

23 February 1984

West Germany’s first cable television project begins operations in Ludwigshafen

East German refugees who fled to the permanent diplomatic representation of West Germany in East Berlin are permitted to emigrate

The VW factory in Wolfsburg introduces to the public its first fully automated assembly line for producing the Golf

54

As far as the wheels will roll: Mosolf in Morocco

55

56

KIPPENHEIM An area of around 140 football fields, space for 30,000 cars, capacity to handle 500,000 vehicles per year – no doubt, ‘the largest parking lot in the Ortenau’, as the Mosolf subsidiary in Kip­ penheim, in the region of Baden, is called, is a place of superlatives. The gigantic areal even has its own rail connection with five doubledecker ramps for loading. Seven whole freight trains can be accommodated on the premises!

On average, two to three trains from Italy load­ed with new vehicles from Fiat, Alfa Romeo or Lancia arrive each day. This is no coincidence:

Service provided in Kippenheim: Modification of special vehicles for public authorities

After all, the history of the Mosolf Technology and Logistics Centre in Kippenheim is closely linked with the car manufacturer in Turin. Fiat erected its delivery centre for the German mar­ ket here in 1971. At that time Mosolf was work­ ing for Fiat as a transport company. In the early 1980s Fiat changed its business plan, making the company in Kirchheim a surprising offer in 1983: ‘One day the technical director of Fiat Ger­ many visited us in Illingen to take a look at our branch office’, remembers the authorized repre­ sentative at the time, Konrad Lehner. ‘When he was finished, he proposed having dinner togeth­ er. As we sat down together for a meal, he sud­ denly asked me: “Would you consider taking over the operations in Kippenheim?” I certainly

Work at one of the six painting lines in Kippenheim

26 June 1984

1 August 1984

Due to the onslaught of refugees, West Germany’s permanent diplomatic representation in East Berlin temporarily closes its doors to public visitors

Seat belts become mandatory in West Germany for back seat passengers

57

hadn’t figured on that! When I got home, I im­

became a huge success.’ Hancke was brought

mediately informed Horst Mosolf about the un­

into the business by Horst Mosolf personally,

expected offer. All he had to say was: “All right.

quasi directly from the lecture hall, in order to

Let’s do it!” So I accepted. Then Fiat really

take over the position of operations manager for

picked up the pace, so that we had to manage

the Fahrzeugtransport und Übernahme (FTÜ)

the takeover from one week to the next. Our

GmbH (Vehicle Transport and Interim Storage)

talent for improvisation was in demand, for we

in Kippenheim. ‘That was quite a funny story’,

didn’t even have an office in Kippenheim. Fortu­

he chuckles. ‘After I had become acquainted

nately, it occurred to me that one of the women

with several of the departments as a trainee in

I worked with lived close by and had a caravan.

1991, the personnel director at the time asked

So that became our makeshift office. Later we

whether I could assist him in compiling a statis­

took over the technology area as well, with over

tical report with Excel. “No problem. I’ll come by

300 employees. That was a great deal of respon­

at the weekend”, I replied. When I entered his

sibility.’ ‘And all of this at a time of economic

office, he was not alone. A man in his early 60s

crisis’, adds his colleague Heinz Burk. ‘From the

who made a very dynamic impression was there

business perspective, we really should have

as well. “This is Mr Horst Mosolf”, the personnel

turned it down. But our senior director followed

director said. We had barely met before he asked

his entrepreneurial instinct once again.’ And

me: “So what are you planning to do after gradu­

once again, he turned out to be right.

ation?” Completely surprised, I shrugged my

Brought into Mosolf fresh from the lecture hall: Gregory Hancke, managing director and chief operating officer of the Mosolf Group

shoulders and responded: “No idea.” “I have a In 1994 the entire areal in Kippenheim was sup­

job for you here as operations manager”, Horst

posed to become the property of Mosolf. ‘Kip­

Mosolf continued, and explained roughly what

penheim was certainly one of the milestones in

the job would entail. I could barely believe my

the history of the company’, confirms Gregory

ears! I was only in my second practical semester.

Hancke, managing director and chief operating

And now I was supposed to take on a manage­

officer of the Mosolf Group. ‘With this decision

ment position over 140 employees right after my

Horst Mosolf took a high business risk. It could

exams?! That was quite a big deal. But I faced

have gone terribly wrong. But thanks to his vi­

up to the challenge and started working in Kip­

sion, which he followed unwaveringly, with a

penheim exactly one day after passing my ex­

clear creative drive and tremendous energy, it

ams. Without a doubt, Horst Mosolf was the

A place of superlatives: Kippenheim has its own railway connection with five double-decker ramps

18 September 1984

4 October 1984

16 October 1984

West Germany’s government passes regulation requiring all new automobiles to be equipped with catalytic converters starting in 1989

The West German embassy in Prague, where over 150 East Germans have fled in hopes of emigrating, is temporarily closed due to overcrowding

According to a forest health survey, every second tree in West Germany is sick

58

59

The banked curve of the test track in Kippenheim

30 November 1984

1985

11 March 1985

East Germany dismantles the last automatic spring-gun systems on the inner German border

The first serially produced automobiles with regulated catalytic converters are launched on the market

Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party

most Swabian Prussian, or the most Prussian

ting-edge technology: The facility includes ten

Swabian, I ever met. Since Swabians and Prus­

production lines that can be configured for vary­

sians share the same basic values, he fit perfect­

ing applications, seven automatic washing lines,

ly into the region here. Hard work, discipline,

and six painting lines.

thrift, and a sense of tradition, but at the same time curiosity and openness – those were his

With a concept just as holistic as it is sustain­

values. I learned not only the business from

able, Mosolf went another step further in Kip­

him – he also left his mark in that regard.’

penheim: Anyone who wants to accompany a vehicle throughout its entire life cycle must of­

Over the years, the Kippenheim subsidiary and

fer not only services for new and used cars, but

its 400 or so employees developed into a service

also scrap vehicles. For this purpose the compa­

centre for the professional modification of spe­

ny developed reverse logistics in the form of

cial vehicles for authorities like the police, the

comprehensive recycling. Today it is performed

fire department and the federal aid organization

by the Mosolf subsidiary Resotec, which has the

Technisches Hilfswerk, as well as for craftsmen

capacity to scrap 15,000 vehicles per year,

with special requests. In the special vehicle

whereby the portfolio of services offered in­

manufacturing segment, too, the proven part­

cludes not only material recycling, but also the

nership with Mercedes-Benz came into play: For

sale of used replacement parts and packages of

instance, all of the Federal Police’s Daimler

vehicle parts.

Sprinter vans were fitted out in Kippenheim.

Moreover, the Kippenheim branch has become one of the country’s largest providers of services for fleet and leasing vehicles. In accordance with each client’s specifications, Mosolf employees prepare cars for their return to the market. The spectrum of services offered ranges from clean­ ing vehicles, removing company logos, or a new paint job, all the way to comprehensive apprais­ als. As always, the company relies on cut­

11 June 1985

15 January 1986

In an exchange of secret agents over the Glienicker Bridge, the most spies cross the bridge since 1945

Mikhail Gorbachev proposes dismantling all nuclear weapons by the year 2000

60

View into the workshops in Kippenheim

61

62

63

64

SOUTHERN EUROPE

cate with them, go out socially every now and then, is extremely important. By taking enough time for personal contact, I was able to build re­

In the 1980s, the number of Mosolf technology

lationships that opened up doors. The conversa­

and logistics centres grew not only within Ger­

tions that resulted allowed us to define shared

many. By expanding into southern Europe, the

goals, and with a little luck, to close contracts.

company proceeded with the internationaliza­

That was the secret of our success. Finally, of

tion of its network. The initiative to expand the

course, you must also prove that you are able to

company’s business activities to the promising

deliver the highest quality. The balance sheet

growth markets of France, Italy, Portugal and

must be positive. But it can’t work without per­

Spain came from Dr. Jörg Mosolf, managing part­

sonal commitment, respect and openness for

ner and chief executive officer of the Mosolf

other cultures. And this is just as true today as it

Group. This process entailed not only setting up

was back then.’

subsidiaries and support bases in southern Eu­ rope, but also the founding of the Tramosa

His brother Peter Mosolf, managing director of

Group, a joint venture with the Spanish logistics

the Auto-Service-Center GmbH in Überherrn,

operator Tradisa. ‘That was true pioneering at

points out the personal benefit of international

the time. Since I was going into young markets,

experiences: ‘When I think about all of the plac­

I had to start from scratch. In this situation it

es I’ve been and all I’ve been able to experience,

was important, of course, to develop an idea of

it’s just great! And in the process I also soon re­

the chances and risks there first. Yet what was

alized that no matter what the prejudices say,

crucial in this work was an attitude of openness,

there are hard workers and lazy people every­

understanding for other cultures, and mutual

where. And it became clear to me how import­

respect. When we were going to start out in

ant a united Europe is. For young people today it

France, the first thing I did was take an intensive

is a matter of course to travel around the world.

language course for ten weeks in Spa, Belgian

In my generation that was not the case. That’s

Wallonia. For I knew that I would only have a

why I am thankful that I had this opportunity.’

65

chance in France if were able to speak directly with the persons who make the necessary deci­ sions. Being able to approach people, communi­

20 January 1986

25 February 1986

26 April 1986

French Premier Mitterand and British Prime Minister Thatcher announce the construction of a railway tunnel under the English Channel

At the 27 Convention of the Soviet Communist Party, Chairman Gorbachev announces ‘radical economic reforms’

The reactor core of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant melts, causing a nuclear catastrophe

th

66

MOVING TO DETTINGER STRASSE In view of the sustained growth, and thus also increasing numbers of employees, in 1986 the time came when the premises spread across multiple buildings at the headquarters on Faber­ weg were simply too small. So Mosolf decided to have a spacious new headquarters erected on nearby Dettinger Straße. The new building is distinguished not only by the light rooms that correspond with its transparent workflows, equipped with the latest computer technology.

The clocks in the entrance area showing times around the world make employees and users aware of the company’s international orienta­ tion as soon as they enter the building. The move took place in November 1987. As can be expected from a logistics company, there was a precisely planned schedule, so that relo­ cation – with the vigorous support of the em­ ployees – was completed within a single week.

3 June 1986

1 July 1986

Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl announces the establishment of a Federal Ministry of the Environment

Occupants of cars in West Germany must pay a fine of 40 DM for failing to buckle their seat belts in the back seat

67

68

Party on the company premises

69

Employees congratulate Marianne and Horst Mosolf on the occasions of her 55th and his 60th birthday in 1988

70

Party at the SI-Centrum Stuttgart

Horst and Marianne Mosolf celebrate with family and friends

71

72

A NEW LOGO

an appointment to show him our sample trans­ porter. I set off for Sindelfingen together with

Just as the architecture of a building reflects the

the Mosolf family. When the designer caught

self-image of a company, its corporate design

sight of our new transporter, his instinctive reac­

conveys a certain message. The logo, especially,

tion was an enthusiastic “Wow!”. He found the

plays a key role – both externally for customers

shade of blue fresh and striking, but not garish.

and partners, and internally for the employees.

His verdict was positive through and through.

Once again, it was the versatile Georg Mekle

With that, the decision was made!’

who took the initiative in 1986 to have a logo created for Mosolf that was both modern and

In the meantime, turquoise, blue and red have

distinctive. Here, too, tradition and innovation

been the corporate colours of Mosolf for nearly

went hand in hand. Georg Mekle relates: ‘When

30 years, gracing not only the transporters, but

I heard that our main competitor at the time

all the company’s products. In the long term, the

was modernizing its colour scheme, I thought to

three distinctive stripes to the right and left of

myself: “We can do that too! And even faster!”.

the name have proved to be a sustainable distin­

So I went to work and contracted a designer. The

guishing feature with a unique character. And

specifications were that it had to keep the shade

the desired internal identification with the logo

of blue we had been using on the Mosolf trans­

has also succeeded: Mosolf employees always

porters for years, as well as the three stripes the

refer to ‘our stripes’.

senior director set such store in. The designer

Modern and distinctive: Drafts for the new Mosolf logo

submitted seven sketches, from which the new

When Mosolf acquired its 500th transporter

logo was finally developed with its distinctive,

capped with a special structure built by Käss­

almost turquoise lagoon blue. Then I wanted

bohrer in Ulm in 1988, naturally, it bore the new

to have a sample transporter painted with the

logo as well. That anniversary vehicle was the

new design. When I told this to Horst Mosolf,

first to feature an innovative loading technology,

right away he said: “We’ll do that!”. As every

which allowed all passenger cars to be driven

time something new is introduced, there was

into the lower loading level, from where a hy­

praise but also critique. Therefore we decided to

draulic stacking device put them into the de­

get an expert opinion. I contacted one of the re­

sired position. This considerably reduced the

nowned designers at Mercedes-Benz and made

risk of damage during transit. In keeping with

1 February 1988

12 June 1987 In his speech at the 750 anniversary celebrations in West Berlin, US President Ronald Reagan demands that Party Chairman Gorbachev ‘Tear down this wall!’ th

No regular, leaded petrol may be sold at West German petrol stations

73

MORE

The epochal year of 1989 brought special con­ tentment for the founding couple Marianne and

‘Use this company magazine to write us your

Horst Mosolf, who had once fled from the repri­

concerns, suggestions for improvement, or affir­

sals of the GDR regime: The fall of the Berlin

mations, opinions (positive and negative) about

Wall. Like most people in East and West, the

all areas of this company.’ So read the appeal in

family Mosolf, too, followed the course of events.

the first issue of MORE (MOSOLF REPORT), the

But it was impossible for Horst Mosolf to merely

magazine for employees, launched in 1989. From

follow from afar. ‘The Wall had just fallen, when

the very outset, the company made clear that

he called me and said: “This calls for a celebra­

MORE was not to be an organ of upper manage­

tion! Buy some bubbly! Everyone gets a glass of

ment, but a medium designed to depict the au­

bubbly!”’, Bertram Galm remembers. ‘I wanted

thentic, unfiltered reality of all facets of employ­

to fulfill his wish, but we didn’t have enough

ees’ work. The workers and staff were not only

glasses in the building. So first we set out to buy

the target audience, but at the same time the

more glasses, and, of course, the corresponding

providers of topics, the interview partners, and

amount of sparkling wine. You could hear the

the goal of consistent customer orientation,

also the authors. As the constantly growing

joy in Horst Mosolf’s voice. He could finally go

Mosolf had optimized its service once more.

number of employees were spread across many

back to his old home.’ And that’s what Horst Mo­

subsidiaries, many of which were far removed

solf did! With the fall of the Wall he was able to

Also in 1988, the company enjoyed a taste of

from headquarters, by introducing MORE man­

realize his most heartfelt wish: Nearly four de­

Hollywood: A Mosolf transporter played one of

agement took an important step toward opti­

cades after fleeing, at age 61 he was finally able

the main roles in a BMW spot filmed in southern

mizing internal communication and encourag­

to open a business in his home of Brandenburg.

Spain, with a script that required some real

ing an open corporate culture. With MORE it

So he and his sons headed to the East.

driving skills. But this special ‘driving test’ was

created a mutual base of knowledge, which not

no problem for Mosolf drivers.

only included the latest information relevant to the sector, but also brought transparency to de­

Finally, in the same year an extraordinary hon­

cisions by the company’s leadership, printing

our was bestowed upon the company’s founder,

them black on white, in order to foster under­

Horst Mosolf: For his special services to the

standing for changes – a crucial aspect for em­

economy of Baden-Württemberg, he was award­

ployees to identify with their company, especial­

ed the state’s ‘Enterprise Medal’.

ly in times of accelerated change.

MORE: Title page of the first issue in 1989

1989

9 November 1989

The computer engineer Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web (WWW)

The Berlin Wall falls and the East German border is opened

74

5 STARTING OFF FOR THE EAST – MOSOLF OPENS UP NEW MARKETS

75

‘Do not wait for the wind, take the helm yourself.’ (Charles Lindbergh)

76

Taking to the water: In 2014 Mosolf launches operation of its second barge, the Terra2

3 October 1990

11 January 1991

15 February 1991

German reunification

The first all-Berlin state parliament assembles

The Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH near Zwickau begins production of the VW Golf

GLOBALIZATION AND NETWORK DIVERSIFICATION

nomic sphere as well. Even in outer space the age of the Cold War came to a close with the first Russian cosmonaut blasting off to the In­ ternational Space Station on board the Ameri­

On 3 October 1990 the Unification Treaty final­

can space shuttle Discovery in 1994.

ized German reunification. For many Germans a long-held dream had come true. Yet a unified

On Earth, the digitalization of practically every

state presented the country with tremendous

sphere of life proceeded apace. One digital inno­

challenges. Among them, restructuring the East

vation was followed by another, whereby the de­

German economy with its crumbling nationally

velopment of the Internet, especially, can be

owned enterprises, and modernizing the road,

compared with the invention of the printing

rail and communications networks proved to be

press for its far-reaching effects on all areas of

truly Herculean tasks. And the people socialized

life. The Internet led to a profound change not

in two different systems in East and West could

only in our communication and media be­

come together only after surmounting the ‘walls

haviour: with e-commerce it even produced a

in their minds’. Fitting for Germany as an auto­

completely new economic sector with high

motive stronghold, reunification soon became

growth rates. Ever more versatile electronic net­

symbolized by a vehicle: the ‘Trabi’ (Trabant). Af­

works transformed the world into a ‘global vil­

ter the political revolution, the distinct rattle of

lage’, in which people everywhere could come

this little East German car, affectionately nick­

into contact without ever changing their loca­

named the ‘plastic bomber’ or ‘racing cardboard’

tion. Mobile telephones spread throughout both

in the GDR, could be heard on the roads of Ger­

the private and the professional sphere, and

many East and West.

communication by text (SMS) became fashion­ able. From the mid-1990s on, e-mail increasingly

On the European level, the introduction of the

superseded the fax, and quiet inkjets replaced

euro as the common currency – for banks in

the loud dot matrix in printers. After the com­

1999, and for cash payments in 2002 – meant an

pact disc (CD) had replaced the diskette, in 1996

important step toward a unified Europe. In par­

the digital versatile disc (DVD) hit the market.

allel, the process of globalization after the end

And just two years later, the light, compact and

of the East-West conflict continued in the eco­

extremely robust USB flash drive appeared,

4 March 1991

10 April 1991

As the final treaty partner, the USSR ratifies the Two-Plus-Four Treaty on the complete sovereignty of the new German state

The final Wartburg automobile rolls off the assembly line of the Eisenach factory

Driving with radio navigation: GPS ‘navi’ calculates the route

A common currency for a united Europe: The euro

77

which soon made it possible to transfer large

was ahead of the game in those transitional

amounts of data from one computer to the oth­

years: Looking ahead, management had already

er at lightning speed.

started thinking about opening up new markets in spring 1989, as the first hole in the ‘Iron Cur­

Electronics were deployed ever more in the au­

tain’ appeared when Hungary dismantled its

tomotive sector as well: In the 1990s, satel­

border controls. And thinking was followed by

lite-based navigation systems made the study of

actions: the company erected a logistics and ser­

roadmaps superfluous. At the same time the

vices centre in Glauchau, Saxony, before the

diesel motor was booming, as new technologies

year was out! ‘The fall of the Berlin Wall came

made it possible to drastically reduce fuel con­

as a surprise to us, too, of course’, Dr. Jörg Mosolf

sumption. While family-friendly vans became

reminisces. ‘Nevertheless we had already been

increasingly popular on one end of the spectrum

dealing with the subject of Eastern Europe since

each other in the car and compare our impres­

of passenger cars, on the other end compact

the events in Hungary. For lack of available data

sions. I was so glad to be able to go along every­

cars were becoming an ever more important

we were not able to conduct a concrete market

where. It was a tremendously exciting time for

segment in the global automobile market. In

analysis, but we were starting to think about the

me, during which I learned a great deal from Dr.

1999 the German automobile industry was able

opportunities and ready to take action. Then we

Mosolf. And I really enjoyed that the conversa­

to sell 9.2 million vehicles, increasing its global

decided to take the risk of taking a step forward.

tions we had in the process were so open and in­

market share to 17 per cent. And the Germans’

And because our fast decision-making processes

formal’, recalls Volker Neth, managing director

love affair with the automobile continued un­

made the project succeed so quickly, we enjoy a

of the sales & marketing sector at Mosolf Ser­

abated: The most important means of transport

very high market share in East Germany today.’

vice Factory.

Experienced the 1990s as an exciting time: Volker Neth, managing director of the sales & marketing sector at Mosolf Service Factory

remained a car of one’s own. In reunified Ger­ many the number of passenger vehicles rose

The 1990s was a moving decade in the truest

from a good 30 million in 1990 to nearly 43 mil­

sense of the word, during which many a Mosolf

lion in the year 2000.

employee spent lots of time on the road. ‘When the border was opened, I was working as the

After unification many East Germans rushed to

main assistant to the executive board for Dr.

replace their ‘Trabi’ with a West German car. Ac­

Mosolf. We were always travelling in the new

cordingly, there was huge demand in the new

East German states those days, looking at facili­

East German states, first for used cars, and soon

ties and sites, or meeting with representatives of

for new vehicles as well. And once again, Mosolf

cities and towns. Afterward we would sit next to

30 April 1991

14 May 1991

20 June 1991

The last “Trabi” automobile rolls off the line in Zwickau

The German Bundestag passes the ‘solidarity surcharge’ earmarked for the new federal states

With a vote of 338 to 320, the Bundestag chooses Berlin as the future seat of government

78

One step ahead: In 1991 Mosolf founds SAT in Zwickau

With its subsidiary in Glauchau, Mosolf was

Mosolf GmbH und Co. KG, and the Mosolf

an ill stroke of fate, you cannot just stop – you

settling in a territory marked by automotive

Grundstücksgesellschaft GmbH und Co. KG

have to find a way to overcome it somehow. I

history, as the Trabant had been produced right

was founded. At the same time, the Mosolf

was very impressed to see how the family kept

nearby at VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke

family was reminded of how narrow the thresh­

on with such great discipline at that time. I

Zwickau from 1959 to 1991. In autumn 1990 the

old between joy and sorrow can be. Just as the

have adopted this attitude for my own life as

Volkswagenwerk Zwickau began production, for

company was updating its success story by

well’, relates Rose Nägele, a Mosolf employee

which Mosolf has provided both logistical and

launching projects in the East, the family suf­

since 1978.

technical services since 1991. The company is

fered a fateful blow: The youngest son Michael,

now represented by three subsidiaries in Sax­

who was supposed to take over direction of

Thus the Mosolf family continued along its path.

ony and Thuringia, where it also works for the

the financial division from his mother, died at

The search for a suitable site to serve the entire

automobile manufacturers Daimler, BMW and

age 30. With discipline and strength, the family

territory of the new Eastern states took Horst

Porsche.

worked on through those months despite their

Mosolf first to his Brandenburg homeland: ‘The

grief, setting an example for many employees:

very moment the wall fell, I told our employees:

In preparation for the imminent generation

‘The special lesson I learned personally here at

“Now we’ll be going back to where I come from!

change, in 1990 the company previously under

the company is that you have to keep going, no

We have to go there! We have to bring our ideas

family proprietorship was converted into Horst

matter what happens. Even when you are hit by

there, for our path leads eastward.”’

24 August 1991

6 September 1991

19 September 1991

The Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev steps down as General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party

The Soviet Union recognizes the independence of the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The mummified body of a man from the Bronze Age (‘Ötzi’) is discovered in Ötztal, Austria

79

Active in Brandenburg: Mosolf erects a Logistics and Services Centre in Etzin

80

ETZIN

case, the high-speed stretch between Hanover

around 250,000 vehicles each year. If a custom­

and Berlin. Third, there had to be a shunting sta­

er so desires, Mosolf is thus also able to store

‘Another half mile to Etzin… Its shingle-covered

tion, and there are actually two of those in the

large numbers of cars that can be accessed at

church spire lies before us as if we could reach

vicinity. And fourth – the most important condi­

any time. The space is equipped with four rail­

out and touch it … and yet before we have sung

tion – the site had to be located near both a mo­

way lines with unloading ramps for the cars,

through our store of wandering songs a third

torway and a road to Berlin. The A10 motorway

which are first brought to the Wustermark sta­

time, we march merrily and confidently into the

runs to the east of the community, and the fed­

tion on the high-speed Hanover-Berlin railway,

picturesque old village. Everything reveals pros­

eral road B5 leads directly into Berlin. So Etzin

and then transported to Etzin by the Havellän­

perity, but at the same time that sense of humil­

fulfilled all the conditions. And there was also

dische Eisenbahn (‘hvle’). In addition, there are

ity which is expressed in loyalty and devotion to

still enough land available.’

around 70 spaces for trucks to load and unload

tradition.’ With these words the writer Theodor

their cargo. On a further 20,000 square metres

Fontane described the town in 1873 in his fa­

Since Mosolf’s plans involved the creation of

of production space, extensive technical work

mous Wanderungen durch die Mark Branden­

several hundred jobs, they also generated great

is performed and many services performed.

burg (‘Ramblings through Brandenburg’). At the

political interest. As a result, the company was

According to the wish of Horst Mosolf, the Bran­

time Etzin was still a tranquil village in the

ultimately able to purchase a contiguous area

denburg subsidiary was also built in the typical

Havelland region; today it is a district of Ketzin,

of around 2,000,000 square metres for its new

architecture of the region. With a total invest­

a small town located amid an extensive

subsidiary. ‘In terms of area, we were the third

ment of 46.9 million euros, the subsidiary fea­

lake-landscape between Potsdam and Branden­

largest investor in the state of Brandenburg at

tures state-of-the-art workshops, including

burg an der Havel. The once tranquil village has

the time’, says Wolfgang Pfandke. The ground­

painting lines, lifting platforms and an auto­

become a modern rural community that focuses

breaking ceremony took place on 27 May 1993,

mated car wash. Around 3.5 million euros of

on agriculture, but also exploits its tourist po­

with Marianne and Horst Mosolf planting an

this were allocated to precautionary environ­

tential. Why did Mosolf decide to establish his

oak tree as a symbol of the company’s strength

mental measures that protect the sensitive

new logistics and service centre here of all plac­

and responsibility for its employees. Then on 1

water resources in the Havelland region.

es? ‘In the search for a suitable site there were

June 1994 came the grand opening and launch

four criteria that had to be fulfilled’, explains

of the new Logistics and Service Centre Ber­

With this huge investment Mosolf took another

Wolfgang Pfandke, the project’s former chief

lin-Brandenburg – a location of superlatives: On

high business risk, as there were certainly many

representative and site coordinator. ‘First, the

an area of over 1,000,000 square metres, a sub­

imponderabilities with regard to future develop­

site had to be located west of Berlin. Etzin is

sidiary of impressive size had emerged with a

ments in the years immediately after reunifica­

about 20 minutes west of Berlin by car. Second,

multi-facetted range of services: Offering stor­

tion and the opening of Eastern Europe. But this

it had to lie along an efficient railway line; in our

age capacity for 30,000 vehicles, it can handle

time, too, the company’s boldness and entrepre­

14 November 1991

25 January 1993

9 May 1994

The Bundestag passes the Stasi Records Act

The private television channel VOX begins broadcasting in Cologne

Nelson Mandela is elected the first black president of South Africa

81

neurial spirit were rewarded: the Logistics and Services Centre Berlin-Brandenburg soon earned an excellent reputation far beyond the region as a capable, efficient partner. As the premier of Brandenburg at the time, Matthias Platzeck, ex­ pressed it on the occasion of the subsidiary’s tenth anniversary in 2004: ‘When you made the decision over ten years ago to erect another lo­ cation in Etzin, Brandenburg, it was not only strategically motivated, it also came from the heart. … Your entrepreneurial vision has been rewarded. In the past ten years you have per­ formed development work of the best kind: Over the years you created around 350 jobs and con­ tributed to the region’s solid reputation as a business location!’ One year later, Mosolf was awarded the Wirtschaftsförderpreis of the Havelland district for the company’s constant achievements in economic development.

Responsibility toward its employees has been a high priority in the Mosolf family business since its founding. As a result, there was also a close bond between the employees and ‘their’ com­ pany. This is true in Etzin as well: ‘After 22 years I’ve definitely put a lot of my heart into the company’, says Ines Beyersdorf, managing direc­ tor of Mosolf Vehicle Technology since 2013. ‘Just Extremely success­ ful: The subsidiary in Hambach is an extended workbench supporting produc­ tion of the Smart

like me, many of the very first employees are still with us today. Back then they usually came

7 – 9 May 1995 The end of the Second World War is commemorated all over Europe

82

from agriculture, were trained and encouraged

does he ever think about complete retirement?

other companies, Mosolf succeeded in finding a

by Mosolf, and identify themselves with the

‘At Mosolf I feel at home in so many ways.

long-term foothold in the East European market.

company. From the very beginning, Mosolf was

During my entire career, I never had so much

Asked about the reasons for this success, Wolf­

one of the largest employers here in the Havel­

professional freedom. And I was able to realize

gang Göbel, managing director and chief sales

land district. And in the spirit of Horst Mosolf,

the majority of my ideas. Over the course of the

officer of the Mosolf Group says: ‘Part of this is

this location has always been dedicated to pro­

years the subsidiary has become as dear to me

certainly the fact that we were always open and

moting young talent. We offer training positions

as if I had hammered in every nail myself’, ex­

fair and wanted not just to make money in the

for mechatronic engineers, painters, data pro­

plains Wolfgang Pfandke.

short term, but to build something lasting. Our

cessing and business management. And we offer

local negotiation partners honoured that. What

most of our apprentices a job when they finish

Parallel to its activities in East Germany, in the

is more, we had a clear idea and always offered

training. That has the advantage for us that they

1990s Mosolf also expanded its network in West­

quality.’

already know the business, and for the young

ern and Central Europe. In 1995 the Carcenter in

people the prospect of a stable job is, of course,

Zeebrugge, Belgium, was founded. This gave the

very attractive. For our good work in training the

company another location at an important mar­

state of Brandenburg has even awarded us its

itime port that is still used intensively by the

Training Award.’

automotive industry for handling new vehicles today. In 1998 Mosolf established the MLT (Mo­

In 2008 a multi-purpose hall at the entrance of

solf Centre Logistique et Technique) and MCT

the company premises was added to the sub­

(Mosolf Centre Technique) in Hambach, France,

sidiary. Besides housing offices, it offers an area

where the company has found success as an ex­

where private customers can pick up their vehi­

tended workbench supporting production of the

cles, with the special service of an introduction

Smart ever since it was launched on the market.

to operation offered by Mosolf staff. The building

The same year saw the founding of MAL (Mosolf

also has multi-functional event rooms available

Automobillogistik) in Dobrovice, Czech Repub­

for product presentations or social occasions.

lic, around 60 kilometres northeast of Prague,

For instance, on 26 April 2014, a crowd of 400

and of MOSTVA in Mszczonów, Poland, a good

was invited to celebrate the Etzin subsidiary’s

40 kilometres southwest of Warsaw. Covering

20 anniversary. The invited guests included

an area of 450,000 square metres, the latter has

Wolfgang Pfandke, who still works as a consul­

the capacity to store 12,500 and handle around

tant for Mosolf today. At the age of nearly 80,

150,000 vehicles each year. In contrast to some

th

83

26 – 27 June 1995

11 August 1995

17 August 1995

At the EU summit, the transition to a common currency is slated to start on 1 January 1999

US President Bill Clinton announces a ban on the testing of all American nuclear weapons

The People’s Republic of China tests its second nuclear bomb this year

Mosolf celebrates: The Logistics and Services Centre Berlin-Brandenburg turns 20

84

85

86

Cars as far as the eye can see: MOSTVA can handle 150,000 vehicles per year

87

HIGH & HEAVY In the course of the 1990s, the transport of agri­

sion, so that today our customers include the

much greater’, notes Geisinger. ‘Today our driv­

major manufacturers of agricultural machines

ers deliver machines to Bulgaria, for instance,

and utility vehicles.’

and then load new cargo in Croatia on the way

cultural and construction machinery, and of

back, which they transport to Spain. In no time

utility vehicles and special vehicles as well,

And that’s not all: Thanks to its network, Mosolf

at all, you’ve got a route 5,000 kilometres long.

was a constantly growing business segment for

is able to do business throughout Europe, react­

As a consequence of globalization, conditions

Mosolf. Forklifts, minibuses, trucks, combine

ing quickly and flexibly to the current needs of

have changed. Competition has become much

harvesters, wheel loaders, tractors… With its

any national market. ‘Over the course of my

tougher. And we have to face this challenge day

high-performance fleet of around 100 special

professional life the distances have become

after day.’

vehicles of various models, Mosolf is able to handle challenging special transports anywhere in Europe. ‘Some of these machines weigh up to 25 tons! Those are truly impressive dimensions’, explains Michael Geisinger, who has run the company’s High & Heavy division for about 20 years. Like many of his colleagues on the man­ agement level, Geisinger came into the company

88

as an apprentice in 1977 and gained experience in various fields of activity before taking over di­ rection of the High & Heavy division. ‘Actually, I had always worked in the passenger car division before’, Geisinger relates. ‘When we had one of our strategy meetings with Dr. Mosolf in the mid-1990s, there was a vacancy at the head of the High & Heavy division. Dr. Mosolf looked in my direction and said: ‘That would be some­ thing for you! You’re very versatile, after all.’

That was uncharted territory for me, but I ac­ cepted the challenge. In the years that followed, my team and I completely reorganized the divi­

21 March 1996

13 June 1996

30 June 1996

Toy Story, the first film completely produced on the computer, opens in German cinemas

Belgium joins the rest of the European Union in prohibiting capital punishment

After a 2:1 victory over the team from the Czech Republic, the German national football team wins the European Cup

89

Precision work: Mosolf employees load a special transporter

In recent years Mosolf has focused its High &

a Mosolf transporter comes”, he related enthu­

the prescribed quality requirements are met.

Heavy division on individualized transports

siastically. A true Mosolf fan.’

‘For us, sustainable work at the highest level of quality has always been firmly anchored in

of complete loads and single vehicles for com­ panies and private customers, as well as for

And the future? Despite the intensifying com­

the corporate culture’, relates managing direc­

trade fairs and presentations. The company it­

petition, Michael Geisinger looks ahead with

tor and chief operating officer Gregory Hancke.

self is an exhibitor that shows its service port­

confidence: ‘As far as agricultural technology is

‘In this area we were way ahead from the very

folio at the Agritechnica, the world’s largest

concerned, we are definitely talking about a

beginning. We also applied the high German

trade fair for agricultural technology, held in

market of the future. All forecasts predict that

standards to our foreign subsidiaries. In terms

Hanover every two years. ‘We have introduced

the global population will continue to grow in

of green logistics, too, that is, the creation of

quite a few prototypes there. Once we showed

the coming decades. So even greater crop yields

environmentally compatible, resource-efficient

the first large tractor with caterpillars instead

will be needed in order to feed the increased

logistics processes, we were a pioneer.’ In keep­

of wheels. An impressive vehicle! When our

number of people. At Mosolf we are well pre­

ing with its ambitious objectives, at all of its lo­

driver took a break at a rest stop on the way to

pared to react quickly and efficiently to the in­

gistics and service centres Mosolf implemented

the fair, two coaches full of Japanese tourists

dividual wishes of our customers in the future

quality management systems that integrated

were stopped there as well. Click, click, click – in

as well.’

its suppliers and contract partners as well. This

no time at all, the large tractor was surrounded

way constant optimizations of processes and

by a bunch of Japanese enthusiastically taking

structures can yield ever higher levels of quali­

SUSTAINABILITY

pictures.’

ty – true to the motto of company founder Horst Mosolf: ‘We do not want to be the largest, but

Yet Michael Geisinger can tell stories about do­

For customers in the 1990s, aspects of environ­

mestic fans as well: ‘Another time I was at the

mental protection and quality management

Agritechnica, all of sudden an older gentleman

played an increasingly important role in their

with a photo album appeared at our stand. He

choice of a company. The fact that Mosolf al­

proudly opened his album and paged through

ready received its first certificate of compliance

each page with me. I could barely believe my

with the European ISO 9001 norm back in 1994

eyes! A whole album full of Mosolf transporters!

is proof of the company’s unusually high quality

As it turned out, the gentleman was a pensioner

standards. Through this certification the com­

from the Black Forest, who had been standing

pany was legally bound to document all of its

along the motorway for years in order to take

workflows. Since then external auditors have

pictures of our vehicles. “I’m so glad every time

performed a yearly inspection to ensure that

we have to be the best.’

28 July 1996

29 July 1996

1 November 1996

DF1, Germany’s first digital television channel, starts broadcasting in Munich

China becomes the last official nuclear state to renounce further nuclear weapons testing

In Germany shops are now permitted to be open on Monday through Friday from 6 am to 8 pm

90

TAKING TO THE WATER

Since the capacities of the major contract with Daimler could not be served with a single ship in the long term, we adjusted our inland

Following the company’s concept of integrat­

shipping concept accordingly’, explains Dr. Jörg

ed, environmentally friendly logistics, in 1999

Mosolf. In keeping with the company’s demands

Mosolf took a further step toward utilizing new

for the latest technology, the Terra2 is equipped

routes: At the port of Düsseldorf, an import­

with an innovative hybrid engine, with which

ant reloading point for car transports, Mosolf

Mosolf is a length ahead of the competition

opened a multi-mode logistics and services cen­

in the water as well. And last but not least,

tre, so that it would be able to ship large num­

this step once again demonstrated the vision­

bers of vehicles down the Rhine to the North

ary farsightedness of the company’s founder,

Sea ports, and from there to overseas destina­

as long-time Mosolf employee Rose Nägele

tions. With this the Swabian family company

recalls: ‘Shortly after I started with Mosolf in

had achieved an ecologically and economically

December 1978, I heard about the idea of using

advantageous expansion of its capacities. After

a barge to transport cars. That was one of Horst

all, using the inland waterway as an alternative

Mosolf’s dreams. Shipping cars with a barge?!

to road transport meant not only a reduction

That seemed a bit far-fetched to me at the time.

in CO2 emissions, but also cost optimization,

But then it was actually done! “Look”, I said to

because the water route could also be used on

myself, “if you are convinced that something is

Sundays and holidays. For its activities on the

possible, then you can do it. You just can’t give

water, Mosolf had chartered the RoRo (Roll-on/

up, you have to stay persistent and keep trying

Roll-off) ship Terra from the Dutch shipping line

until you’ve achieved your goal.”’

Elbert, which could transport up to 650 vehi­ cles – about 80 truckloads. Another advantage

seldorf to Rotterdam and Antwerp. Not only did

Taking to the water was not the last diversifi­

of this type of ship over classic container ves­

the new subsidiary prove viable, in 2014 Mosolf

cation of transport routes for Mosolf. In the

sels is the significantly shorter loading and

even expanded its fleet for a further large-scale

new millennium the company was to turn its

unloading times. At this location, too, Mosolf

contract with Daimler by adding a second RoRo

gaze increasingly to another mode of transport:

and Daimler continued their years-long coop­

ship. ‘The barge constitutes an efficient, envi­

the railway.

eration in which Mosolf transported Sprinter

ronmentally friendly alternative to road trans­

vans produced at the Mercedes factory in Düs­

portation.

5 January 1998

27 October 1998

20 November 1998

The star of the Detroit Auto Show is VW’s New Beetle’, the successor of the VW Beetle

Gerhard Schröder (SPD) becomes Federal Chancellor

Construction of the first International Space Station begins

91

92

Also successful on the water: Launching ceremony for the Terra2 in 2014

93

94

6 FOR A WORLD IN MOTION MOSOLF OPTIMIZES ITS INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS STREAMS

95

‘Life is movement.’

(Aristoteles)

96

Looking back at a life’s work: Mosolf’s 50th anniversary, 2005

1 January 1999

26 March 2000

19 May 2000

The European Currency Union comes into force

Vladimir Putin wins the presidential election in Russia

The US space shuttle Atlantis sets course for the International Space Station

VIRTUAL WORLDS AND REAL SPACES

keep the affected member states out of insol­ vency and to safeguard financial stability in the euro area. At the same time, more and more states moved into the European house in the

Everything went smoothly. The computer chaos

new millennium. Through the admission of ten

feared all over the world when the date changed

new countries, most of them from the former

from New Year’s Eve 1999 to New Year’s Day

East Bloc, the European Union grew first to 25

2000 did not materialize. Yet the new millenni­

members, and later to the current membership

um did start off with a lot of turbulence. Share

of 28. In 2005 the Federal Republic of Germany

prices on the new technology exchanges first

elected Angela Merkel, the first female chancel­

soared to dizzying heights, and then fell through

lor in its history.

the floor. When the speculative bubble popped in March 2000, the ‘New Economy’ in many in­

Digital through and through – this is the face of

dustrialized countries collapsed. A short time

the new millennium. Both at work and at play,

later, the terror attacks on the World Trade Cen­

computers have become indispensable in daily

ter caused stock exchanges and financial mar­

life. For many ‘digital natives’, children born into

kets to collapse once more. Then a property

the digital world, a mouse click comes more nat­

bubble popped in the US in late 2007, a conse­

urally than handwriting. The Internet is also

quence of global monetary speculation, leading

playing an ever more important role in everyday

to a global banking and financial crisis. During

life. In 2001 the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia

the administration of the first African American

was founded. Social networks like Facebook and

president, Barack Obama, the US struggled with

Twitter soon gained huge popularity, especially

its worst economic crisis since 1945. Europa’s

among young people, with their number of users

economy was also affected. At the advent of the

and founders’ earnings breaking the billion

second decade, a severe sovereign debt crisis hit

threshold. In 2015 Facebook’s revenue came to

the euro area. Countries like Greece, Italy and

around 18 billion US dollars. In Germany alone

Spain wrestled with grave budget deficits and

around 27 million people used this social net­

high unemployment. With so-called ‘rescue

work in 2016. Within just a few years, the mobile

packages’ consisting of loans, securities and oth­

telephone was transformed into the smartphone

er measures, the European Union attempted to

with a colour display, touchscreen – and, above

31 May 2000

1 June 2000

Opening of the ‘Autostadt’ in Wolfsburg, the world’s largest theme park focusing on mobility

The EXPO 2000 opens in Hanover, the first World’s Fair in Germany, with ‘Man-Nature-Technology’ the motto of the Mobility theme area

97

all, Internet access. Flat screens and DVD re­

important. The goal of the German federal gov­

concept for the coming years.’ The Swabian fam­

corders appeared in the living room, and the age

ernment, at least, is to have one million electric

ily company has a very special relationship with

of digital television began. With Wi-Fi, the wire­

vehicles on German roads by 2020.

Brazil, as Dr. Mosolf’s wife Cristina comes from

less local radio network, the tangle of cables

the largest country in South America. Like her

from multiple electronic devices was a thing of

Mosolf is no stranger to ambitious goals. The

husband, Cristina Mosolf also did her training in

the past. More and more people are constantly

new millennium had barely started when the

logistics management. ‘This profession offers a

online, switching back and forth between virtual

company was once again singled out for its

great deal of variety, because logistics is an ex­

worlds and their real spaces.

commitment: For developing a system that con­

tremely diverse field’, she says. ‘All steps have to

tinuously evaluates logistics services, in 2001

be planned precisely and coordinated with each

In real life, Germans continue to prefer moving

Mosolf was awarded the European Carrier Award

other exactly so that the cargo reaches the cus­

on four wheels in the new millennium as well.

(ECA), an honour Daimler bestows on its part­

tomer on time, even over the greatest distances.

The number of passenger cars on German roads

ners every year.

Once I had the opportunity to accompany one of

increased from nearly 43 million in the year

our drivers, so that I was able to see his every­

2000 to over 45 million at the beginning of 2016.

day work with all of its requirements first-hand.

Measured in terms of revenue, the German au­

BRAZIL

tomobile industry remains the country’s most

That was a very interesting experience. Over all, I find the family’s close relationship with em­

important industrial sector by far. Germany is

In 2002 Mosolf took a further important step

ployees here at Mosolf very positive. Despite its

the third largest manufacturer of cars in the

toward expanding its global network: In order to

success, the Mosolf family has remained down-

world, after China and the US, and has tradition­

optimize its international logistics streams, the

to-earth and has an open ear for the concerns of

ally been oriented toward exports. In 2012 near­

company founded two companies in São Paolo,

its employees. This is truly something special.’

ly every fifth passenger car in the world bore the

Brazil: BMS and the Motoliner Amazonas Ltda.,

brand of a German manufacturer. In 2014 an

which operates distribution centres and is re­

average of ten patents each day was registered

sponsible for transports to dealerships in north­

by the research and development departments

eastern Brazil. ‘As far as the subject of interna­

of automobile manufacturers and their suppli­

tionalization is concerned, we have come a long

ers. Looking toward the future, the German au­

way. It is part of our corporate culture for us to

tomobile industry will be facing new challenges:

deal with the topics of tomorrow today’, estab­

While its success to date has been based on

lishes Dr. Jörg Mosolf. ‘Because we have already

combustion engine technology, the development

tried out so many things, we were finally able to

of electric vehicles is likely to become more

benefit from our experiences to develop a clear

13 February 2001

8 May 2001

11 September 2001

A NASA space probe lands on the asteroid Eros, 316 million kilometers away the Earth

The price of petrol in Germany reaches a new high: 2.23 DM for a liter of premium fuel, 1.69 DM for a liter of diesel

The world is shaken by an unprecedented act of terrorism attacking the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Over 3,000 people are killed

98

99

Internationally successful: The Mosolf subsidiary in Brazil

A success story: Mosolf’s 50th anniversary

100

101

102

MOSOLF’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

so marked by dedication to quality, hard work,

Mosolf we have always believed that services

reliability and the joy of innovation. Looking

are never anonymous, but always performed

back, Horst Mosolf declared: ‘A considerable

by people. Customers simply feel comfortable

factor in our success has been our employees,

with people who do everything they can to

2005 was a very special milestone in the history

whom I thank from the bottom of my heart. It

keep their promise.’ The Mosolf family did so

of the family company from Swabia: Mosolf

was always important to me to cultivate per­

on this evening as well, once again living up to

celebrated its 50 anniversary. Around 300

sonal contact and create a family atmosphere.’

its reputation as a generous host by offering

guests – including many representatives from

And looking toward the future, his son Dr. Jörg

a wonderful mixture of culinary and creative

politics and business – took up the Mosolf

Mosolf affirmed: ‘One of the most important

delicacies.

family’s invitation to a gala evening in the Alte

pillars of success for the Mosolf company has

Reithalle at the Maritim Hotel. In the exquisite

been its belief in uncompromising quality lead­

Two years later, a few months before his 80th

ambience of the steel and glass structure built

ership. One can always do things better in the

birthday, Horst Mosolf received a very spe­

in Italian Renaissance style, the keynote speak­

future. We want to be the best service partner

cial honour: On 3 September 2007, Dr. Hans

ers reflected on the company’s success story

for the automobile industry in all of Europe. At

Freudenberg, head of department at the Minis­

th

try of Economics, awarded him Germany’s Fed­ eral Cross of Merit for his outstanding service to the country and its people. During the ceremony Freudenberg also emphasized the company’s special commitment to Horst Mosolf’s native Brandenburg: ‘With this you have performed “development work” of the best kind and sent an exemplary signal that creating equal living conditions in both halves of Germany is not and cannot remain exclusively the job of the state.’

Honoured for outstanding achievements: Horst Mosolf receives Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit in 2007

22 November 2005 Angela Merkel (CDU) becomes the first female Chancellor of the Federal Republic

103

TRANSPORT

BY RAIL

pand our company’s own wagon stock even fur­ ther’, says Wolfgang Göbel, managing director of MAR. ‘With wagon stock of our own we can not

Car and train? Even today, in the minds of many

only better control the volume of transports, we

a logistics company these two means of trans­

can also offer our customers an optimal trans­

port do not match up. This is not the case for

port chain.’ In order to guarantee the smooth

Mosolf: With the goal of creating a powerful,

rail transport of vehicles, MAR has even taken

multi-modal range of service, the company de­

over the maintenance and regular inspection

cided to expand its rail activities and also carry

of the wagons. ‘This way we can always offer

out its own transports by rail. For this purpose

high-quality, reliable services to our customers.

it founded a separate company in 2007 called

What is more, we are able to implement poten­

MAR (Mosolf Automotive Railway). The compa­

tial improvements to the cars swiftly’, Göbel

ny’s double-decker railway cars are designed to

explains. On the road, on the water and by rail –

transport passenger cars and utility vehicles. A

with its future-oriented diversification of trans­

complete train with 20 wagons can carry up to

port routes, embedded in a resource-efficient,

320 automobiles. The railway cars are deployed

how the railway is becoming more competitive

sustainable overall concept, the company is

throughout the Mosolf Group’s entire Europe­

through intelligent process engineering. Ulti­

well-prepared for globalized competition.

an transport network, which is circumscribed

mately, quality, price and time will ensure that

only by those countries that use a different

trains, as an environmentally friendly means of

The first decade of the new millennium came

track gauge like Spain. Mosolf carries out large-

transport, will prevail against other means of

to close with yet another award for Mosolf: in

scale railway transports for many automobile

transport. In this case economic success helps

2010 the company was selected by Daimler as

manufacturers, above all in Eastern Europe.

the environment and ensures the jobs of every­

the winner of the European Carrier Award in the

For instance, PKP Cargo, the largest rail freight

one involved’, declared Dr. Jörg Mosolf as this

passenger car category. After already winning

company in Poland, has transported around six

collaboration was launched.

this renowned award in 2001, 2003, 2006 and

whole trains each week on Mosolf’s behalf since

2007, the family company thus received it for

2011 on the 400-kilometre stretch between the

In 2015 the company added 100 special open

Fiat production site in Tychy near Kattowice

railway cars to its fleet, increasing the wagon

and Wustermark in Brandenburg. ‘For years we

stock of the MAR to around 500 double-decker

have been taking traffic off the roads and put­

cars. ‘Since we see further potential in railway

ting it on rails. Now we are showing once again

transport, in the coming years we want to ex­

the fifth time within a single decade.

18 January 2007

1 May 2008

20 January 2009

Hurricane Kyrill races across Europe with top wind speeds of 220 km/h

The world’s longest sea-bridge is opened between Shanghai and Ningbo in China

Barack Obama becomes the first African American President of the United States

104

E-MOBILITY

practised with tremendous success for over

ees received a special anniversary edition of the

half a century: At the Daimler European Carri­

employee magazine just in time for the annual

At quite an early date Mosolf had recognized

er Award ceremony in December 2014 he was

company-wide summer party. And last but not

that ecology and economy would be intimately

awarded a special prize for his life’s work. ‘I am

least, a new website was launched. For this me­

linked with each other in the 21st century – and

very proud to receive this prize. Daimler as a

dium, too, Mosolf was guided by its consistent

the company acted accordingly. By expanding

customer and Mercedes-Benz as a brand have

customer orientation: Through responsive web

its range of services to include requirements for

been close companions all these years and are

design the contents are adjusted for optimum

electric mobility, the company was targeting a

especially close to my heart’, declared Horst Mo­

display not only on the PC, but also on other

new growth market. In addition to the neces­

solf. One could almost say that the occasions to

devices like smartphones and tablets. And a

sary technical provisions, comprehensive train­

celebrate were standing in line at Mosolf, for in

concept focused on the essentials makes it easy

ing for employees was also necessary to qualify

March 2015 another great event was imminent:

for the user to find his way around and seek a

a team of specialists for the process of retrofit­

The company’s 60 anniversary.

contact person for every subject – an important

th

ting vehicles. These specialists impressed with

asset in a world in which the Internet is becom­

their know-how, for instance during the conver­ sion of 200 brand-new Fiat 500 models into elec­ tric vehicles for Karabag in 2011. One year later,

ing ever more difficult to navigate.

MOSOLF’S 60 ANNIVERSARY

TH

this technology of the future was put to the test

The company’s current advisory board consists of Dr. Walter Jaeger, chairman (above), Dr. Martin

on the company’s own fleet. ‘We worked inten­

Many different activities by the Mosolf family

Sorg (centre) and Prof. Dr. Michael Wackenhuth

sively on mobility concepts and logistics and

marked this occasion, which, in our econom­

(below).

services tailored to these concepts. But if we

ically uncertain times, when more than a few

want to participate in such growth markets for

companies disappear from the market just a few

the long haul, of course, we must gather expe­

years after they start, is truly an occasion for joy

rience with our own business. By electrifying

and for pride in the stability of its success. For

part of our own fleet we are also setting a strong

instance, a video was made especially for the oc­

signal for environmental protection’, Dr. Jörg

casion, in which Horst and Dr. Jörg Mosolf share

Mosolf explains.

a journey back through time to the most im­ portant stages of the company’s history. Fitting

At the age of 86, a very special honour was

for a company with Mosolf’s history, the video

conferred upon the company’s founder Horst

featured the voices of long-time managers and

Mosolf, for a partnership that had already been

drivers ‘of the first hour’. In addition, all employ­

3 March 2010

11 March 2011

30 June 2011

Crisis in Greece: The EU resolves to support Greece with loans from the EU and the International Monetary Fund

Nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima

Germany is the first industrialized country to announce that it will phase out nuclear power by 2022

105

With unfailing vigour, the 87-year-old company

Although work was his life, Horst Mosolf was

afford to rest on its laurels. On the contrary, in

founder Horst Mosolf declared on the occasion

also a family man through and through. ‘The

the best Mosolf tradition, it must dedicate itself

of the anniversary: ‘I have ideas for another 10

family always came first for him’, says his long-

today to the problems of tomorrow with courage

years! Unfortunately, I will not have time to re­

time secretary Hilde Sigel. ‘If ever I had to take

and market understanding – and do so from the

alize them all. But now as then, I really enjoy

care of an urgent family matter during working

customer’s perspective: ‘As a service provider,

working.’ Horst Mosolf and retirement? Some­

hours, right away it was: “Go on! Your family has

we work together with our customer to develop

how that just doesn’t fit. But in this anniversary

priority!” Horst Mosolf was truly an impressive

ideas about the tomorrow’s market, on the basis

year, too, joy and sorrow were closely linked in

personality. His death is the end of an era.’

of which we can generate promising concepts

the Swabian family enterprise. The consummate

for the future. It is not our way to simply nod

entrepreneur, whose life’s work had contributed

Yet the tracks Horst Mosolf left behind extend

our approval. Working together with Mosolf is a

a chapter to post-war German history, passed

far beyond his business. For instance, in 2016

challenge for our customers as well. Yet that’s

away on 14 August 2015. ‘Horst Mosolf was al­

Horst Mosolf was posthumously voted into the

exactly what they expect of us! In the end the

ways way ahead of his time – and also his com­

Logistics Hall of Fame as a ‘Pioneer of Vehicle

work with Mosolf has to be worthwhile for the

petition’, recalls Peter Brunner, director of the fi­

Logistics’, whose members also include Gottlieb

customer. And, of course, it should also be fun!’

nance department for many years. ‘As soon as

Daimler.

explains Dr. Jörg Mosolf.

Jörg and Peter Mosolf are continuing to run the

Anyone who knows Mosolf has no doubt that

family company in their father’s spirit. Today

the family company will adhere to its system of

the brand Mosolf is deeply rooted in the minds

values of complete reliability, first-class quality

of automobile manufacturers, producers of agri­

and distinct innovativeness in the future, while

cultural and construction machinery, and car

remaining open to and curious about new chal­

rental and vehicle fleet operators. With its di­

lenges. As they say: ‘Everything is ready when

verse spectrum of services, the Swabian system

you’re ready to think about what’s around the

service provider with an international network

corner.’

he had implemented one idea, he started work­ ing on the next one.’

is able to cover the entire technical-logistical chain from the production of a vehicle and its customer-specific outfitting, through delivery to dealerships, all the way to environmental­ ly-compatible recycling. Yet in a world marked by rapid change, not even a market leader can Horst Mosolf: ‘A vision in life worth striving for is motivation enough to realize it with all one’s strength.’

6 August 2012

13 July 2014

23 June 2016

NASA robot ‘Curiosity’ lands on Mars

The German national football team beats Argentina 1:0 to take the World Cup

In a referendum about Great Britain’s remaining in the EU, 51.9 per cent of Britons vote for ‘Brexit’

106

107

Mosolf makes it possible: The employees

Rackwitz

Saarlouis

109

ร berherrn

Wolfsburg

Brazil

Mszczonรณw / Poland

Czech Republic

Zeebrugge

IMPRINT PUBLISHER MOSOLF SE & Co. KG, Kirchheim unter Teck PROJECT COORDINATION Monika Hommel CONCEPT, RESEARCH AND TEXT Dr. Elke Jahnke, LEBENSLINIEN, Stuttgart GRAPHIC DESIGN AND TYPESETTING Jutta Herden, Design, Concepts, Art, Stuttgart IMAGE EDITING Dr. Elke Jahnke, LEBENSLINIEN, Stuttgart PHOTO CREDITIS p. 11: Bertha Benz and husband Carl Benz © Wikimedia Commons; p. 12: Potsdamer Platz © ullstein bild – Imagno; Autoindustrie © ullstein bild - ullstein bild; p. 14, 15: Markus Hennen, Archiv Bruckbauer & Hennen GmbH; p. 19: Lette-Verein © timeline classics/Timeline Images; p. 20: Brandenburger Tor © leicar6/Timeline Images; p. 21: Berlin, Kurfürstendamm © Suedberlin/Timeline Images; Berlin, Jazzlokal Bade­wanne © Suedberlin/Timeline Images; p. 24: Berlin, VW Käfer © Juergen/Timeline Images; Ludwig Erhard © Bundesarchiv, Adrian, Doris; p. 37: Berlin, Verkehr © Juergen/Time­ line Images; p. 52: Brandenburger Tor © Bundesregierung, Lehnartz, Klaus; Chip © MEV; Computer © Shutterstock, Fer Gregory; p. 77: Navigationsgerät © Bäckersjunge – Fotolia; Euro © Claudio Divizia – Fotolia; p. 95 photo on the right side, p. 96: Benno Leinen; p. 97: Digitale Welt © Victoria – Fotolia; Digitale Welt © sdecoret – Fotolia; p. 100, 101, 102: Benno Leinen. All other pictures: MOSOLF SE & Co. KG PRINT Offizin Scheufele, Stuttgart

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60

OVER YEARS MOSOLF AUTOMOTIVE LOGISTICS