Messe Frankfurt working with logistics partner DSV on a sustainable event future

As Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Messe Frankfurt, explains: “Together with our long-standing partner DSV, we are continuing to work on making trade fair logistics sustainable. We are very happy to take this successful cooperation to the next level and to optimise the complex processes on our site – which will benefit our customers, local people and our environment.”

Bart Peeters, Vice President of DSV Solutions Deutschland, adds: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to further expand our long-standing partnership with Messe Frankfurt and to be its sole official logistics service provider for the next five years, beginning on 1 January 2025. Together, we will look at a wide range of innovative and sustainable ways of meeting the logistics requirements on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds and will find new ways forward in the future as well.”

Globally active transport and logistics provider DSV has been developing customised logistics concepts since 1976 and assists Messe Frankfurt in setting up and dismantling the events held on its exhibition grounds. In future, the main focus will be on the sustainable transformation of the trade fair's diverse logistics processes.  

With 5,300 employees throughout Germany and decades of experience in transport and warehouse logistics, DSV will be exclusively responsible for organising and carrying out the complex set-up and dismantling processes as of next year. This includes an annual total of up to 3,600 orders and 8,000 packages, which will be processed by DSV in Messe Frankfurt’s own Cargo Center. At peak trade fair times, the logistics provider uses up to 200 forklifts and deploys as many as 240 employees on the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds (figures from 2023).

Clearly defined plans for sustainable logistics

Together with its logistics partner, Messe Frankfurt is striving to improve its environmental performance through various strategic measures. For instance, as part of the Last Mile Delivery project, the gas- and diesel-powered forklifts that have been used to date are being gradually replaced by fully electric models. This means that carbon and noise emissions in and near the exhibition grounds will be reduced.

Similarly, the Advanced Warehouse project planned for 2026/2027 lowers the logistics-related carbon emissions by minimising vehicle movements around the exhibition grounds. In future, shipments up to a specific size will be delivered to an external DSV warehouse and transported from there using carbon-neutral trucks. Instead of sending individual packages with different trucks, fully loaded vehicles will deliver a maximum number of shipments at the same time. This will significantly reduce waiting times for the vehicles as well as helping to avoid traffic congestion in front of the entrance gates.

Background information on DSV

DSV A/S is a global transport and logistics service provider based in Hedehusene, Denmark. It offers professional end-to-end solutions for all service providers relating to modern transport and warehouse logistics. The company has three separate divisions: DSV Air & Sea (global network), DSV Road (its own complete network in Europe) and DSV Solutions (contract logistics). Its global network includes more than 75,000 employees worldwide, with branch offices in more than 80 countries, making it one of the Top 3 freight forwarding companies in the world.