140 years of logistics – KWH Logistics has moved goods longer than most competitors
Few companies can boast such impressive historical roots as KWH Logistics. The company operates in the fields of port and industrial logistics as well as international transports, and what is more, it has been doing so for the last 140 years already.
The company’s predecessor was a port operating company founded by a gentleman named Waldemar Schauman in Vaasa back in 1882. After many turns, the company was bought by family-owned group KWH a couple of decades ago, after which KWH started to make strategic investments in the field of port logistics.
“Although the company is well over a century old, it is in the last twenty years that we have seen considerable growth and expansion. Our roots are on the west coast of Finland, but nowadays we are present in all major ports in the whole country”, says CEO Joakim Laxåback.
This development is the result of big investments made possible by the parent company’s solidity. Another success factor has been the company structure; KWH Logistics consists of several subsidiaries, which have been able to preserve their company culture and close relations to customers. However, when operating together the subsidiaries can offer seamless logistical solutions from the factory door all the way to the port and out in the world.
KWH Logistics has also been a big player in transit traffic from Russia, a business that shrunk considerably in 2022 due to the war.
“Luckily, we have been able to replace a lot of this business with other customers. The war has also presented new opportunities as the goods flows seek new routes in all of Europe.”
Lately, KWH Logistics has also made investments in sustainability. When new machinery is bought, electrical vehicles and cranes are preferred. In addition, buildings have been equipped with solar panels, LED lights and motion sensors.
“Sustainability issues are part of basically all customer negotiations nowadays, as customers expect us to do our share in the battle against climate change. We are of course adapting quickly to these new requirements as we plan to stay in the business in the coming century as well”, says Bernt Björkholm, Managing Director, Blomberg Stevedoring.
