On April 23, 2024, HHLA announced the acquisition of 51% of the shares of Roland Spedition, with the remaining 49% staying in the hands of the current shareholders, Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall, who will continue to lead the company as managing directors. The business model and management structure will remain unchanged.
Founded in 1982 as a joint venture between Austrian logistics specialist Heinz Gutjahr and Roland Spedition from Bremen, Roland Spedition now handles approximately 130,000 TEU annually. The company operates container trains connecting several major European ports including Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, and Antwerp, as well as Koper and Trieste in Italy, where HHLA operates a port terminal. Roland Spedition employs around fifty people across two locations in Austria.
HHLA stated that it "will integrate Roland's service portfolio into its extensive European network of maritime port terminals in Hamburg, Tallinn, Trieste, and Odessa, as well as intermodal links to the hinterland and inland terminals." Angela Titzrath, CEO of HHLA, commented that "Roland represents an exceptional addition to our existing service portfolio in the European intermodal market and significantly strengthens the connection between the Port of Hamburg and the crucial Austrian market. We are committed to continuing this success story together."
