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From a publisher of trade magazines to a global communications service provider
Germany 1947: Transport connections are mostly still not working. The economy is only slowly picking up. The shipyards have been destroyed or dismantled. The bulk of the freight traffic is carried by the few remaining trucks and locomotives from pre-war years under the strict supervision of the Allies. There are only two objectives in these years: to rebuild the country and to supply the population. These are not the ideal conditions for the foundation of a publishing company dedicated to producing a transport newspaper.
Another bureaucratic obstacle exists: the "Deutsche Verkehrs-Nachrichten" (German Transport News) was published in Hamburg up to the end of the war. But the British military government refuses to grant a publishing licence. So the "Deutsche Verkehrs-Verlag" has to be founded in Heidelberg. But the editorial staff work in Hamburg, despite the fact that the "Gateway to the World" still lies largely in ruins. At last, on July 10, 1947, the first issue of the "DVZ Deutsche Verkehrs-Zeitung" is published. Its subtitle is "Allgemeiner Transport- und Speditionsanzeiger" (General Gazette for Transport and Fr eight Forwarding). The print-run is 10,000 copies. The 8-page newspaper is published every ten days at the price of 1.50 Reichsmarks plus postage.
As the German economy starts to boom (the "Wirtschaftswunder" years), international trade takes off - and the transport industry follows suit. There is much to report on in these years, and advertising volumes rise. Within a few years, the DVZ has developed into a leading international trade publication for transport, and logistics. The publishing company, strengthened by its successful flagship, grows too. In 1982, Dr. Helmut Schachenmayer takes control as managing partner. Under his leadership, the publishing company develops into a group with a European focus. Acquisitions and launches add new publications throughout Europe.
With industries ranging from shipping and shipbuilding ("Maritime Trade Press"), rail transport and technology ("Eurailpress") and tourism, as well as meetings, conferences and trade fairs, through to the area of defence and security, new publishing fields are developed and expanded. From its origins as a publisher of trade magazines, the group
has grown into a global communications service provider. Print media such as newspapers and magazines are complemented by books, online products and specialist events. A "cross-media" portfolio of products of equal value has been created.
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