Simon Hegele

The story of Simon Hegele begins not in a garage, but with a wagon and two horses in 1920. Founder Simon Hegele started a furniture transport company in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company faced early adversity when its vehicle fleet was requisitioned during World War II, and the founder passed away in 1945. His widow, Helene, and their children rebuilt the business, initially handling removals and delivering dairy products. A pivotal shift began in the 1960s as the company ventured into its first high-tech transports. The entry of Dieter Hegele, a second-generation family member, in 1964 accelerated the transformation from a simple transport firm into a specialized logistics service provider. This set the stage for decades of expansion, focusing on complex services for the healthcare, industrial, and retail sectors. The company grew by establishing and acquiring subsidiaries, eventually operating on a global scale with a specialization in the complex logistics of large medical equipment. A significant transition occurred in 2021 when private equity firm EMZ Partners acquired a majority stake as part of a management buyout, setting the stage for future growth while the Hegele family remained involved. This chapter culminated in early 2025, when the entire Simon Hegele Group was acquired by Nippon Express Holdings (NX Group), a major Japanese logistics provider. This acquisition integrated Simon Hegele into a larger global network, aiming to expand its specialized healthcare logistics services worldwide.