Scarbrough Celebrates 25 years with German Partner
Scarbrough and Alfons Celebrate.
Scarbrough International, Ltd. and Alfons Köster & Co. GmbH celebrate working together for 25 years next week at the annual Worldwide United Shipping Conference. Both companies have been part of United Shipping, which is a worldwide network of independently owned and locally operated freight forwarders and customs brokers for nearly three decades. United Shipping was established in 1988 and offers importers and exporters the advantages of multinational corporations with the expertise that can be found only in a locally owned and operated business. United Shipping’s partners pride themselves on local people and local trust, encompassing the importance of customer service, customized solutions, and providing a contact in nearly every major city and port in the world.
Scarbrough and Alfons both joined United Shipping in 1992.
Soon, our like-minded companies saw how we could change shipping between Germany and the United States by focusing on customer service and customized solutions unlike our competitors. Our companies together work daily with one another and have serviced many of our clients for over 15 years. Some of the industries we serve include automotive and forklift parts, high technology machinery and their parts, construction material, chemicals, heavy lifting airport equipment, aerospace, and foodstuffs, among many others. Through the years, Scarbrough and Alfons have worked on a myriad of projects together including break-bulk, special projects, and large equipment cargo. In fact, Alfons is one of the top forwarders in Europe known for its large equipment and was just recently recognized in the Port of Hamburg Magazine. Moreover, Alfons Koester, known for its break-bulk cargo is one of the top 5 forwarders in Germany servicing this market. Scarbough and Alfons are one in the same when it comes to finding solutions and thinking outside of the box, and we have had a lot of fun doing it, as well. Here are just a couple of photos of our projects through the years:
Customizing Solutions
In fact, over the years, the two partners have been able to provide local companies with a niche consolidation service built to satisfy the needs of many of our mutual clients. The consolidation service allows our clients to consolidate their freight from multi vendors and/or simply share the cost of a full container with other local companies. Our consolidation service works between Hamburg and Chicago, both import and export, including air and ocean service. Actually, one of the benefits of our import LCL consolidation from Hamburg to Chicago includes exemption from the Harbor Maintenance Fee and Importer Security Filing, because the box comes in over the Port of Halifax and those fees are not required. The boxes are loaded and break down in our own bonded warehouses on both sides of the Atlantic.
Olaf Wessel and Roger Scarbrough, along with teammates and family, will be celebrating their anniversary next week.
Stay tuned for a fun interview between the founders of Alfons and Scarbrough next week!
Free Training: Doing Business with Germany
Following the celebration, Scarbrough’s Transatlantic Trade Lane Manager and Vice President will be participating in a webinar with Alfons’ North American Trade Lane Manager. To sign up for this free webinar, click here. if you are interested in learning more about shipping to or from Germany, contact Patrick Colligan at pcolligan@scarbrough-intl.com.
