Volker Sim

Volker Sim was born in Detmold, Germany, in 1965, but due to his father's military career he moved eight times within Northern Germany before age 16 – the ever-new cities and opportunities put their mark on him. The constant changes provided for the very flexibility which is characteristic of him to this day. In the environment of British military schools and with a lot of discipline, Volker Sim graduated school with very high marks and completed his vocational training as forwarding agent with excellent qualifications. In 1988, he started to work at a local company in the air and sea freight area, where he became Head of Sales and Associate. Due to extensive worldwide travelling Volker Sim is significantly involved in establishing worldwide partnerships.

Anne Sim

Anne Sim, at the age of 18 was already drawn from the little village of Lage, Germany, to Berlin, where she early on gave independence a try. An interesting job opening as a secretary brought her back home. Her own store for gift items subsequently was her entry into entrepreneurship – and an exciting period with lots of challenges. In 1988 and after the birth of her first child, Anne Sim accepts a job – at the same company as her husband. In 1993 they got married and in 1994 and 1996 the two younger children of the family were born.

Business idea

From 1988 on Anne and Volker Sim have been successfully working in international business (air and sea cargo). They acquired, particularly in sales, many national and international customers and many contacts were built on trust and established to agents abroad. Their dream was being self-employed! Despite the considerable risk, Anne and Volker Sim, chose to start from scratch once more.

On April 1st, 2000, Skyline Express was founded, back then still "Skyline Cargo GmbH" in offices rented from the former materials depot of the city of Detmold. In the first year, with just a single employee a "black zero" was made in profits. The first future forwarding merchant already started her training in the founding year.

In 2001, revenues were increased by 300 %. Important agents were added little by little. The number of customers and turnover rose accordingly.

In 2002, the first investments were made. Our first forklift, our first cargo own van and our first trailer were purchased. Skyline Express received its IATA agency license. Our own consolidated container business with a weekly departure to the US was gaining shape and the company became the sole agent of the GOAL Group in Germany. Revenues increased by 150 %, the number of employees to 9. Our first trainee starts working full-time in the sea freight department.

In 2003, the company increased its office space to 200 sqm. Toyota was won as an important reference customer for the US market. For a local company in Detmold we offered, for the first time, a full service, including import, warehousing, order picking and distribution. Because of our advice in the area of customs, the company was able to save approx. 80.000 Euro per year. Revenues increased by 25 %, the number of employees to 11. The company "Cargo GmbH" was renamed "Skyline Express International GmbH". Tne first inhouse "company party" underscored the personal relationship between Skyline Express and its customers.

In 2004, a separate truck was procured to be able to take over a fixed route as part of outsourcing for a customer. The courier business was expanded and the first large third party vehicles were decked out with advertising. For import we established our own program for the first time. Revenues, which this year increased by 28 %, were generated with 12 employees. 2 highly motivated trainees are hired!

In 2004, the company moved to its own property at "Seelenkamp". Skyline Express acquired its first "Consulting" customer, a US company. The goal of the consulting: To establish a European subsidiary with all import licenses. The consulting goal was achieved exclusively by Skyline employees. Joining the WNA Group provided for additional important relationships with partners world-wide. Skyline Express also received the license for Atlas customs clearance. And not least due to the acquisition of important customers, revenue was increased by another 25 % with 14 employees. 2 trainees are hired after having successfully passed their exams!

In 2006, Skyline Express received the license for Atlas exports with first trial runs. Due to the requirements of the German Federal Office of Civil Aviation (LBA - Luftfahrt-Bundesamt), a security officer is appointed and within the warehouse a specially locked security area is created. Revenue increase climbs to 23%, generated with 18 employees. In the same year, the "Skyline Brazil Party" was celebrated for and with customers at the Lage-site. With dancers from Brazil this event became a glittering fete with Caipirinha and a great atmosphere!

In 2007, ISO certification is tackled. The completion of the measures is anticipated for the summer of 2008. In the hazardous materials area, Mr. Frank Schürstedt has been contracted as the person responsible for hazardous goods, who has provided Skyline Express with many tips and suggestions and who competently set up and quickly established the area of the "'no headache' all-included service package" for hazardous goods. We invested in a completely new software by TA-Logistic which in particular contains an order management system which is made to measure in cooperation with important customers. And what is particularly pleasing: We were able to hire all three trainees. As a result, Skyline now has 22 employees. 2007 will be the strongest year to date in the company's history.

2008 is the year for corporate communications. There are good reasons for working with Skyline. In the future, we want to better communicate our unique range of products and service philosophy. To this end, Skyline Express will appear with a new public image as of April 1, 2008: fresher, more self-confident, more openly emotional. Compare the difference yourself!

2003 - März 2008

since April 2008

2009 begun with our sucessfull registration for the AEO initiative of the EU. Being under the first 500 applicants once again proved our leading role in the industry.
The economic crisis was difficult for nearly all our clients, especially in the automobile industry. Some exports were down by around 40% !! Different to most competitors in our industry we did NOT let any of our people go and did NOT ask for goverment help to subsidise our work force.
To underline our social responsibility we actually took on a total of 3 trainees in 2009, another factor to assure well qualified personell in the future. We are very proud to end the "crises" year with a profit still although we too were hard hit by the drop in overall volumes.

2010 begun a little weak just as 2009 did. On march 17th we were confirmed to be a zertified AEO provider. The AEO program (authorised economic operator, similar to the US CTPAT) being the highest standard of security in the supply chain. In our local region we were the first company our size to be awarded - tremendous job!
With again growing business volumes we added two employees in May and with all our employees went work on our "VISION 2015": This vision will lead us forward for the company years with good focus into the future. In September we installed solar energy cells onto the full scale of our roof with a total of 53 KW/P capacity. In November we were perhaps the very first forwarder to use a battery driven electric pick up van. Both projects were completed with the help of clients and once again, we are pioneers for our enviroment.