History
1987 to 1995: Expansion within Europe
The late 1980s are an exciting time, both politically and economically. For TALKE, the road to Europe begins in 1987: with TALKE Forwarding NV, we establish our first foreign subsidiary in Antwerp. We also take over the Belgian transport company Louis De Jongh.
Just two years later, the strategic decision leads to an absolute innovation in the industry. In 1989, we took over the planning, construction and operation of the first on-site logistics facility, including elevated silos, for the then Statoil in Antwerp. In the same year, the inner-German border falls on November 9th. Soon afterwards, the reunified Federal Republic of Germany faces long-term challenges, but there are also numerous new opportunities, especially for logistics.
The end of an era for TALKE
The period of transformation also brings fundamental changes for TALKE. Company founder Alfred Talke Sr. dies in 1990. He was active in the company until the end and played a key role in shaping it. His sons Armin and Norbert Talke immediately took over the reins of the family business. In the coming years, they will position TALKE in a rapidly changing Europe.
In 1992, SpeziTrans, based in Grimmen in the district of Vorpommern-Rügen in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and still independent, became part of the TALKE Group. Today, the company has more than 150 employees and, in addition to its successful core business, is strongly committed to alternative drive technologies and other future solutions for sustainable logistics.
A single European market is emerging
But it is not only Germany that is growing together into a single entity. Cross-border trade will also become easier for companies in 1993 thanks to the new single European market. It will take until 2004 for numerous former Eastern Bloc countries to join the EU. Nevertheless, we open up at an early stage and look eastwards from 1995: with TALKE Polska Sp.zo.o. in Wroclaw, Poland, we establish our first branch in Eastern Europe.
