ETH Zurich’s aCentauri Solar Racing Team finished the World Solar Challenge in Australia in 11th place out of a total of 28 teams in the “Challenger” class. The students covered the approximately 3,000-kilometre route from Darwin to Adelaide in six days, facing consistently challenging weather and road conditions during the Australian winter. Once again, Gebrüder Weiss served as the team’s official logistics partner. 

“Placing 11th shows how well the team handled the challenges of this year’s race – a great achievement,” says Tracy van Arend, Branch Manager Gebrüder Weiss Adelaide. She welcomed the ETH team at the finish line together with Sharon Young, Customer Service and Process Manager at Gebrüder Weiss Australia. “It was exciting to follow the race and cheer for the team. While we as the logistics partner don’t directly influence the competition itself, we make sure that the vehicle arrives in Australia on time, giving the students sufficient opportunity to train and prepare. We were able to deliver that again this year,” adds Sharon Young. 

Following the race, Gebrüder Weiss will also handle the return transport of the solar car and its equipment back to Europe. The customized logistics solution includes sea freight, comprehensive customs clearance, and final delivery of the solar vehicle by truck to Technopark Zurich.

Challenging Conditions in the Australian Winter 
For the first time, the race was held during the Australian winter. The students had to adapt to cooler temperatures and different light conditions. This required an adjusted race strategy, particularly with respect to energy management and daily planning. On the third day of the race, the team also faced a technical issue: the cruise control failed, and a gust of wind tore off part of the left wheel cover. Both problems were quickly repaired, and the vehicle was back on the road shortly afterward.  

“This year’s circumstances pushed us but also showed how resilient our team and vehicle are,” says Clara Nörenberg, Team Manager at aCentauri. “We modified our strategy and proved that solar mobility can perform reliably even under difficult circumstances.” 

Looking ahead, the aCentauri Solar Racing Team is already preparing for the next World Solar Challenge in two years. Their goal: to return with an optimized vehicle and secure a spot among the top ten. 

Further background on this and other Gebrüder Weiss projects related to the “Future of Mobility” can be found at: https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility, or via the logistics company's social media channels. 

“We are delighted to be accompanying the aCentauri team from ETH Zurich again this year. Such collaborations are in line with our understanding of partnership: long-term, trusting, and focused on a sustainable future for mobility,” explains Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “The students already demonstrated in 2023 that solar mobility works, and we wish them every success in reaching the top ten.”

The technical equipment was shipped to Australia by sea freight back in May. Now, the vehicle itself is embarking on its journey by air freight, after a live presentation at the Gebrüder Weiss location in Wolfurt. After completing a final test drive in front of press representatives, the vehicle was prepared for air transport at the IATA-certified terminal.

Certification from the IATA (International Air Transport Association) means that the Air & Sea Terminal at Wolfurt is an officially recognized air freight terminal where shipments can be prepared for air transport in accordance with IATA standards – including special packaging, security checks, and all required inspection processes. The flight will then depart for Australia via Frankfurt Airport without any intermediate steps.

Upon arrival in Australia, the logistics experts at the new Gebrüder Weiss location in Adelaide will take charge of the next stage of the process: They will coordinate the import formalities and transport to the University of Adelaide.

The World Solar Challenge starts on August 24, 2025, and covers 3,000 kilometers across the Australian outback. First held in 1987, the race promotes innovation in the areas of sustainable mobility and renewable energies.

As a company with a history spanning over 500 years, Gebrüder Weiss is eager to play an active role in shaping the future of mobility. Since 2021, the company has been involved in relevant projects, working closely with universities, research teams, and start-ups. In addition to logistics, Gebrüder Weiss promotes exchange between project partners and raises the profile of forward-thinking ideas. The aim is to implement new technologies at an early stage.

Further background information on the projects can be found at: https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility, or via the logistics company's social media channels.

Greenland has been the focus of climate research for many years because, as one of the largest ice regions in the world, the island is sensitive to climate change. This means Greenland is a particularly interesting place for scientists. With this in mind, an international team of researchers including two scientists, a medical doctor, and a photographer is setting off on foot on a special mission on April 29 to measure the thickness of its ice sheet at key intervals. Transport modes and equipment for this unique and sustainable expedition is supported by the international logistics company Gebrüder Weiss.

“As one of the world’s leading logistics service providers, we also see it as our duty to support selected research initiatives such as the Greenland Project. The purpose of the expedition is to gain insights into climate change that will help us make smart decisions for our future,” says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss.

Specifically, the research team has set out to cross Greenland roughly following the 70th parallel north, which connects the village of Kangerlussuaq on the west coast with the city of Isortoq on the east coast. The density of the ice sheet will be measured at regular intervals to obtain measurements for comparison with earlier ones taken along this route. The project team will cover a total of 600 kilometers (373 miles) on skis, each with a sled in tow.

“As our research essentially focuses on the climate and glacier melt, we feel it is important for it to be as climate-neutral as possible. Conducting an expedition on foot into this fragile ecosystem enables the measurements to be taken in a much more environmentally friendly way than would be possible by helicopter, and with a greater degree of accuracy than would be possible by satellite,” emphasizes Niklas Marc Heinecke, photographer, and co-founder of ’The Greenland Project.’. “We can rely on dependable equipment in this inhospitable environment thanks to the support of Gebrüder Weiss.”

The results of the expedition, which will be analyzed in more detail at the University of Sunshine Coast in Australia, hold global significance. They will be shared with researchers from all over the world, contributing to our collective understanding of climate change. The aim of the month-long expedition is to gain valuable insights into the connections between the temperature fluctuations in Greenland in recent decades and the further effects on the global climate.

Gebrüder Weiss will use its social media channels in the coming months to provide ongoing updates about the project, from impressive pictures from Greenland to exciting research findings. These channels also provide information on all the other innovative mobility projects supported by the logistics company. Most recently, Gebrüder Weiss transported the equipment for the Mars Analog Mission AMADEE-24 of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) to Armenia.

Bavaria’s Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder opened the new branch of GW in Straubing on April 18. On “Logistics Day” (“Tag der Logistik”), when the nationwide industry opens its doors every year, the Minister-President described the 14 million euro investment by Gebrüder Weiss in Straubing as "excellent news at a time when the Federal Government is massively jeopardizing truck logistics in Germany. CO₂ prices are up, tolls have doubled, e-mobility funding has been cut. This is damaging to such a systemically relevant industry, and once again fueling inflation. It can’t be overstated: we need forward-looking entrepreneurs and motivated employees more than ever."

Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, made a clear commitment to Bavaria as a place of business: “The Free State of Bavaria offers us a good set of conditions on which we can base our plans for expansion in Germany. Over the past five years, we have invested 120 million euros in Bavaria with the aim of giving Bavarian industrial and commercial enterprises access to markets both in Germany and around the world.” At the same time, Senger-Weiss was critical of the obstacles facing e-mobility. “E-trucks cost three times as much as diesel-powered vehicles, which is why we need a clear roadmap in Germany on the future of e-truck subsidies.” Nevertheless, his company is taking advantage of every opportunity available to transport freight in a climate-friendly way, eschewing no technology, with the aim of operating its own facilities and vehicle fleet in a climate-neutral manner by 2030. An e-truck is already stationed in Straubing for short-distance transport of general cargo.

During his visit, Minister-President Söder was briefed on operating processes and procedures. Incoming goods are prepared in Straubing over an area of 3,700 square meters for forwarding in Germany, for onward transport to European countries and for air and sea freight overseas. The terminal also serves as a distribution center for the economic regions of Eastern Bavaria, Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate. “Our new location brings us even closer to our customers in Bavaria, to whom we offer reliable transport and logistics solutions, digital services and a direct connection to our global network. We guarantee efficient land transport from a single source with our close-knit network of locations, particularly to Austria and South-Eastern Europe,” said Wolfram Senger-Weiss.

There are already plans in the works to expand the location in the coming years to include additional warehouses and handling facilities. The company is investing an eight-figure amount in expanding the Straubing location.

In recent years, Gebrüder Weiss has built up a dense network of locations in southern Germany and, in addition to Straubing, has its own branches and subsidiaries in Aldingen, Altensteig, Bayreuth, Esslingen, Konradsreuth, Memmingen, Nuremberg, Passau and Waldkraiburg.

“This is the second time that we are supporting the Austrian Space Forum with our transport and logistics expertise. We consider it important to participate in shaping the future of mobility and to also enable our employees to experience the same up close. As the world’s oldest transport and logistics company, we feel a commitment in this respect,” says Jürgen Bauer, member of the Management Board of Gebrüder Weiss.

AMADEE-24 is the most complex Mars Analog Mission to date. During the dress rehearsal, the OeWF tests to ensure that both the astronauts and equipment are fit for a one-month mission in complete isolation. Last weekend, visitors enjoyed a live experience, watching how scientists work, seeing how difficult it is to put on a spacesuit, and what an astronaut’s watch needs to be like to withstand the extreme conditions prevailing in outer space.

“This dress rehearsal is very important to us. It shows us where we stand at the moment, and what still needs to be done before we start the actual simulation in Armenia early in March. The high interest on the part of visitors and the support provided by Gebrüder Weiss offer us some tailwind for the most complex mission that we have carried out so far,” Gernot Grömer, Director of the OeWF, comments on AMADEE-24.

The one-month Mars simulation will take place in the desert region around Armash, Armenia, in March. Logistics plays an important role in implementing the project. Gebrüder Weiss will bring the sensitive equipment from Maria Lanzendorf to Armenia, taking care of safely packing spacesuits, rovers and drones, as well as managing customs clearance and delivery of the goods. This challenging Mission highlights the logistics company’s expertise in the field of special transports, as well as its extensive know-how in the Caucasus region. Gebrüder Weiss has its own locations in Georgia and Armenia that cooperate closely with Viennese colleagues on the AMADEE-24 Mission.

“We have assembled a team of experts from all three countries for this pioneering mission. They are going to treat the two sea freight containers like spaceships, bringing them safely to the mission site and back,” says Franco Ravazzolo, Department Manager Projects & Break Bulk at Gebrüder Weiss.

The trip from Austria via Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Georgia to the final destination in the Armenian desert of Armash is starting this week. The transport back in May will also be handled by Gebrüder Weiss. 

You can find video footage of the event in the sidebar on the right. Information about the Mars Analog Mission AMADEE-24 will be posted on the logistics expert’s social media channels regularly.

Logistics partner and main sponsor Gebrüder Weiss has been on board since the very beginning. Not only did the company ensure the vehicle arrived safely in South America, but it also co-financed the innovative venture. “As the oldest transport and logistics company, we are committed to the future of mobility,” says Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “This success underlines our ongoing support for sustainable mobility projects and innovative technologies. We are delighted for the team and will now bring the record-breaking vehicle safely back to Switzerland.”

The impressive undertaking began two months ago: Gebrüder Weiss transported the e-truck from Switzerland via Rotterdam and then by sea freight to Chile. Another overland transport took the solar truck to the Atacama region. The Peak Evolution team started at the Maricunga salt lake with the first exploratory tours and acclimatization on the mountain, at an elevation of 3,400 meters. The extreme terrain and environmental conditions of the world’s highest volcano not only put the high-tech vehicle to the test, but also put the team under extreme physical and mental strain. 

“Despite these extreme conditions, our specially developed vehicle managed to drive higher than any other e-vehicle – let alone a solar-powered one,” says Patrik Koller, CEO, and developer at Peak Evolution, summarizing the success. “We have been training for this moment for four years, so giving up was never an option.” The three adventurers reached the first milestone at the end of November, breaking the record for e-vehicles by surpassing the 6,000-meter barrier. One week later, they reached 6,500 meters above sea level – the record height of their mission. They reached the western ridge of Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on earth, using nothing but solar power. With the world record in the bag, the Peak Evolution team is now heading back to Switzerland, with Gebrüder Weiss ensuring that the record-breaking vehicle also makes it safely back to Europe.

The logistics company will continue to support such forward-looking projects. January will see a dress rehearsal of the Austrian Space Forum’s Mars mission take place at the Gebrüder Weiss site in Maria Lanzendorf near Vienna. The company will also test an autonomous truck next year and send an international research team to Greenland to gain important insights into climate change.

For the second time already, Gebrüder Weiss is supporting the Mars Analog Mission of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF). As official partner, the international logistics expert will ensure the safe transport of sensitive equipment from Innsbruck to the mission site in Armenia. According to Gernot Grömer, Director of the OeWF, the technologies involved “stretch the limits of what is feasible” and are the result of many years of research. This is why he has selected all AMADEE-24 partners with great care: “Everyone needs to know exactly what they are doing, and to do it to the highest level,” the scientist says. After all, in addition to expertise and precision, it takes passion and vision to transport a piece of the future.

The team of Gebrüder Weiss is aware that this is about more than transporting containers from A to B. "We have regular transports to the region and are represented in Armenia with our own location. The route leads through countries with GW locations, but such a complex project requires additional specialists to permanently monitor the transport," says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Gebrüder Weiss, about the repeated partnership. "In projects like these, we see ourselves not only as a logistics partner, but also as responsible for shaping the future of mobility."

For this reason, apart from transport services, Gebrüder Weiss also provides a test site at the Maria Lanzendorf location near Vienna. At the end of January, this is where the OeWF will run through all their routines one final time, prior to departing for the actual mission site in Armenia. “This is the “dress rehearsal” for the team and the hardware. Experiments, rovers, and spacesuits will all be put into operation and tested one last time before the mission,” Gernot Grömer explains. “The days in Vienna make a significant contribution to the success of the mission, and we appreciate the extended support and the valuable partnership provided by Gebrüder Weiss.”

The “dress rehearsal” is a unique opportunity to observe the astronauts and their exciting experiments from up close. Journalists and employees are also welcome to explore the world of space travel on the last weekend of January. After that, the sensitive equipment will be loaded and dispatched. Franco Ravazzolo, Head of Projects & Break Bulk at Gebrüder Weiss, will see the goods off on their journey to Armenia by truck. The colleagues from Yerevan will be standing by to take delivery of this valuable piece of the future. The mission itself starts on March 7, 2024.

Space Talk – Immerse yourself in the world of space travel
The Mars Mission is a departure for new horizons, a fresh start. At the same time, space technologies are already an integral part of our lives, found in cash machines and gas pumps, in every weather forecast or in cancer screenings. “The first person to set their foot on Mars is already of school age,” Gernot Grömer said in a recent interview with Gebrüder Weiss Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications Frank Haas. If you want to know more about the secrets of the red planet and our journey to get there, you should definitely watch the “Space Talk” on ATLAS Digital (https://gw-atlas.com/en/).

On October 27, the innovative solar car of ETH Zurich’s aCentauri Solar Racing Team was driven across the finish line in Adelaide. In just six days, the students covered the distance of 3,000 km across the Australian outback using nothing but solar power. The Swiss team – supported by the international logistics company Gebrüder Weiss – ranked twelfth in the “Challenger” category. “The entire aCentauri Solar Racing Team is more than satisfied with this result,” commented team manager Alexandr Ebnöther. “With our Sun Challenger, we managed to brave the difficult conditions in the outback and prove that sustainable mobility is possible.”

On the 3,000 km route from Darwin to Adelaide, the students had to compete with 31 other teams in their category and to overcome numerous obstacles. On the very first day, the team struggled with a flat tire and with the technology of their solar car. For a short time, it looked as if the Swiss team would not stay in the race for long. A night shift by the engineers prevented the team from having to quit and brought the solar car back to a speed of up to 85 km/h. In this way, the students managed to cover an average of 500 km per day and came in twelfth at the finish line in Adelaide.

The team was welcomed by Martin Fernandes, Country Manager Gebrüder Weiss in Australia, and Sharon Young, Customer Service & Process Manager Gebrüder Weiss in Melbourne: “We were very impressed by the young researchers’ enthusiasm for alternative drive technologies. Solar mobility is capable of much more than is generally assumed. We are pleased to be the official logistics partner and sponsor of this project. We are happy about the great result and will continue to support aCentauri’s journey.”

The team of ETH Zurich would like to go back to Australia in two years’ time to compete in the race again. Aaron Griesser, expert in drive and control technology, evaluates the race from an engineer’s point of view: “We have learned a lot about our development in this race. Now we know that we still have potential in terms of efficiency and aerodynamics, and we will use that knowledge to build version 2.0 of our car. Our motivation for 2025 is huge, and we will do our best to advance our vision of an eco-friendly future.”

It is now time for the ETH Zurich team to start their homeward journey. Gebrüder Weiss will make sure that the innovative solar car including racing equipment returns safely to Technopark Zurich. The tailor-made logistics mix includes transport by sea freight, comprehensive customs clearance measures, and last-mile delivery by truck.

When the shipment arrived at the airport in Adelaide, the Australian logistics experts from Gebrüder Weiss were called for. After all, the solar powered car is no “standard product”, but was designed, built, and tested by the ETH Zurich students themselves. Special regulations apply to the import of used goods to Australia: “In order to protect Australia’s unique flora and fauna from pests and diseases, the import of used goods is subject to strict quarantine and customs regulations,” explains Martin Fernandes, Country Manager Australia at Gebrüder Weiss. “We had already prepared extensive documentation and certificates for the import of the solar powered car and all related equipment in advance. This way, we ensured that the team could start on time for the race.”

Team Manager Alexandr Ebnöther is already in the starting blocks with his aCentauri Solar Racing Team and is relieved to have a specialist with local knowledge at his side in Gebrüder Weiss: “We are fortunate to have gained an internationally operating logistics partner. The experts at Gebrüder Weiss know the local regulations and have taken care of all the formalities for us, so that we can concentrate fully on preparing for the race.” To be perfectly prepared for the start of the race on October 22 in Darwin, the aCentauri Solar Racing Team will also road test its Solar Challenger on some sections of the track.

Gebrüder Weiss sees such ambitious research and innovation as the basis for new mobility concepts, and as an asset for a state-of-the-art infrastructure in logistics. That is why Gebrüder Weiss cooperates with young scientists to jointly shape the mobility of the future. In doing so, the logistics experts contribute their extensive knowledge and many years of experience, be it for the punctual start of the World Solar Challenge, or for a Mars or space mission.

Gebrüder Weiss regularly reports on the preparations and progress of the cooperation on a dedicated landing page and via various social media channels.

“Due to its limited payload capacity, this solar-powered vehicle cannot yet replace a conventional truck, but it shows a completely new direction in which we will be able to move with alternative drives in the future,” says Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. The solar-powered multi-purpose vehicle has more traction capacity than an average 40-ton semi-truck and could be used especially in rough terrain. Gebrüder Weiss has already sponsored a number of projects of this kind. “Being the oldest logistics company in the world, we feel committed to helping shape the future of mobility,” explains Frank Haas the motives behind this cooperation.

For nearly four years, the three Swiss developers, David Pröschel, Patrik and David Koller, have been working on putting the multi-purpose truck into practice. By embarking on an expedition to a place that no vehicle has ever reached, they want to prove the efficiency of alternative drive technologies. “Our vehicle makes it possible to perform even the most demanding transport tasks, whether in mining or when erecting high-altitude solar power plants, in an environmentally compatible and economically efficient manner. The expedition is going to show the commercial viability of the product we developed,” says Patrik Koller, Head of Finance and co-developer of the Peak Evolution Team. “In Gebrüder Weiss, we have gained a partner who shares our vision of sustainable mobility and, as an international transport company, will also be able to benefit from it in practical terms in the future.”

The transport requires comprehensive expertise and flexibility: since electrically powered vehicles are considered hazardous goods, the specialists of the international transport company developed a double container floor that secures the expedition equipment and allows to disconnect the battery. In addition, extensive documentation must meet the strict safety and customs requirements while at sea and in the country of destination.

The daring mission will be accompanied by a documentary film team headed by award-winning Swiss filmmaker Claudio von Planta.

All information at a glance

Katharina Zimmerling, Branch Manager Air & Sea Zurich is inspired by the innovation drivers at ETH Zurich: “I was deeply impressed by the determination shown by the solar team in the work on developing mobility solutions of tomorrow. The alternative drive technology is also a good fit for Gebrüder Weiss. This motivates me all the more to ensure that aCentauri gets off to a good start in the race.

The participants of the unique World Solar Challenge have to cover the 3,000 kilometers across the Australian outback, from Darwin to Adelaide, using only solar power. aCentauri is one of 31 teams in the “Challenger” category.

“Over 8,000 hours of research, development, along with lots of blood, sweat and tears have gone into our solar car, pushing the boundaries of what is currently technically possible and showing how much potential there is in young people. The dedicated transport solution developed by Gebrüder Weiss demonstrates our supporters’ appreciation for our work,” says Aaron Griesser, Drivetrain & Controls, aCentauri. The aCentauri team is particularly pleased that, with the hydrogen truck, two alternative drive systems are coming together to prove their work on the first transport leg: sustainable mobility is possible.

As a driver of intelligent transport solutions, Gebrüder Weiss helps young scientists to shape the mobility of the future together. The logistics experts showcases their extensive know-how and many years of experience, be it to start on time at the World Solar Challenge, or for a Mars or space mission.

To ensure that the high-tech vehicle can be on its marks on time at the other end of the world, Gebrüder Weiss delivers a customized mix of logistics covering land transport, sea and air freight.

“Our position as a global logistics company means we are a driver of intelligent transport solutions, actively shaping the mobility of tomorrow,” says Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “aCentauri’s solar car is a trendsetter with the potential to revolutionize the transport sector, which is why we are supporting the team on their journey to Australia.”

The students have been working on the development and implementation of this solar car for nearly a year. Designed for durability and maximum energy efficiency, it is emblematic of a future in which the environment takes center stage. “Of course, we would like to win the race. But what is equally important to us is taking an active role in developing efficient, environmentally sound solutions,” explains Alexandr Ebnöther, team manager at aCentauri. “With the support of Gebrüder Weiss, we can demonstrate that solar-powered cars and, by extension, sustainable mobility, are possible.”

There is particular focus at the moment on alternative drives at Gebrüder Weiss. For example, aCentauri’s solar car is covering the first leg of its journey on the logistic company’s zero-emission hydrogen truck.

Gebrüder Weiss regularly reports on the preparations and the progress of the cooperation via a dedicated landing page (http://www.gw-world.com/solarracing) and the various social media channels.

“It is important to maintain the islands’ authenticity and uniqueness. By using our electric tricycles to provide delivery services we help the island oases retain their charming character. And our customers will receive the goods they ordered online in an eco-friendly manner,” says Barbara Bujačić, Country Manager Croatia at Gebrüder Weiss. The vehicle can transport consignments with a total weight of up to 500 kilograms and cover 50 kilometers per day on one battery charge.

Electric vans in urban areas
In addition to electric tricycles, Gebrüder Weiss Croatia has recently started to use electric vans for deliveries to final customers in Zagreb as well. Whether furniture, washing machines, fridges and freezers or sports equipment – Gebrüder Weiss delivers the products wherever the customers need them. An electric van is able to cover 170 kilometers on one battery charge, allowing up to 35 eco-friendly deliveries per day. These vehicles are perfectly suited for transport in urban areas, and even reduce the roar of traffic thanks to their low-noise electric motor. Their batteries are charged via the company’s own Photovoltaic system recently put into operation at the company’s main location near Zagreb. The solar panels installed on the roof of the logistics facility boast an annual total peak performance of 500 kilowatts and contribute to saving about 107 tons of CO₂ per year.

Gebrüder Weiss implemented these sustainable measures in Croatia to take another step towards achieving the climate neutrality targets by 2030. For several years, the company has invested in alternative drives for heavy load transport, developing ecologically compatible solutions for the last mile. Thus, for instance in the Greater Vienna metropolitan area, electric trucks are used for local transport and for deliveries to final customers in Austria and Hungary. Moreover, one of the first hydrogen trucks worldwide has been in use in Switzerland since 2021. The acquisition of additional hydrogen and electric trucks in Germany is scheduled for 2024.

At the 2023 "Not-A-Boring Competition" in Bastrop, Texas, at the beginning of April, the "Swissloop Tunneling" team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich won the top prize for innovative design. Sponsored by Gebrüder Weiss, the group of more than 40 students retained their title as the team with the most innovative design in this competition hosted by The Boring Company. In advance, the global transport and logistics company ensured the on-time and secure transport of the critical drilling technology from Switzerland to the USA.

"Investment in the future of mobility and in ways to improve sustainability is critical for us and the industry. We participate in projects such as the Hyperloop, the Mars Mission, the SubOrbital Express rocket mission and work to develop alternative drives because it amplifies the values of Gebrüder Weiss and puts them into action,” said Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss.

The final stage of the competition set five of the globe’s most innovative and ambitious engineering teams against each other to be judged in four categories: (1) fastest tunnel completion, (2) innovative design, build and/or test, (3) most accurate tunnel, and (4) tunnel with tightest curve. In addition to 2nd place overall, Swissloop Tunneling won the innovation category. The concept of the Hyperloop project is to transport people and goods at high speed over longer distances through tunnels under or above the earth's surface to their destination. The drilling robots must be as fast, compact, and as automated as possible to make tunneling financially feasible.

"Our team has been very lucky to have Gebrüder Weiss as our logistics partner for the past two competitions. Knowing that they hold similar values and believe in investing in the future of mobility adds to our team’s confidence, said Stefan Kaspar, founder and co-president of Swissloop Tunneling. “Over the past few years, we've all come to appreciate the critical role played by logistics companies in our world. None of this would have been possible without their support."

Gebrüder Weiss on Mars? Not just yet. But the logistics company is indeed helping scientists at the Austrian Space Forum with their maneuvers on Earth so that mankind’s dream of sending a manned expedition to Mars may one day be realized. The aim of these missions is to simulate conditions on the Red Planet as realistically as possible, and to prepare both man and machine for these demanding challenges.

The last undertaking of this kind took place last year in the Israeli Negev desert. Not only was it a resounding success for the scientists involved, but it also resulted in the team of communication experts at Gebrüder Weiss, who were responsible for providing vivid coverage of the mission, being awarded the Austrian State Prize for PR in the category “Product and Service PR” for their outstanding communications work.

The prestigious award was presented in Vienna on the evening of Wednesday, February 22 by the Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Kocher. Frank Haas and Vanessa Hafner from Gebrüder Weiss were there to accept the award: “As the world’s most experienced logistics company, Gebrüder Weiss is committed to the future of mobility. We want to help science find new ways and means. This is something we can achieve both with logistics, of course, but also with communication,” says Frank Haas, the person responsible for international communications and marketing at the logistics company.

Global communication offensive 
Gebrüder Weiss was on hand to provide continuous reporting on the progress of the scientific mission across all communication channels. The company’s magazine published a Mars special edition, which included an in-depth interview with the head of the Austrian Space Forum, Gernot Grömer. The Gebrüder Weiss apprentices involved in providing the logistics for the project reported on their experiences under the hashtag . This also resulted in a dedicated being made about the mission. The international media also responded very positively to the commitment shown by Gebrüder Weiss. Frank Haas: “Supporting a Mars mission is an undertaking that generates a lot of interest around the world, which is why we had press coverage in almost all Gebrüder Weiss markets. Even Chinese and American media were very interested in what we have been doing.”

The Mars campaign has incidentally resulted in a kind of “space competence cluster” being formed at Gebrüder Weiss. This is because the Stockholm-based Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) now also relies on the logistics expertise of the orange logistics company, with Gebrüder Weiss on hand to help the Swedish project engineers in any way it can. The logistics provider also transported the complete set of research equipment to Sweden, in addition to providing logistics consulting services. More about this can be found in the current of ATLAS magazine. 

About the Austrian National PR Awards
Since 1984, the Public Relations Association Austria (PRVA) and the Austrian Federal Ministry / Labour and Economy have been recognizing exceptional communication campaigns with the National PR Awards. From the 140 applications submitted, 25 communications experts select the winners in six categories.

“E-cargo bikes are emission-free, maneuverable, largely independent of traffic density, and can ride right up to the recipients’ front door – even in the pedestrian zone,” explains Stefan Oberhauser, Branch Manager Vorarlberg Land & Logistics at Gebrüder Weiss. Oberhauser expects around 900 consignments a month to be delivered by the Wolfurt-based cargo bike.

The cargo bike is used by employees of Integra Vorarlberg, a social organization and work initiative for the long-term unemployed. For Irena Lang, Managing Director of the social integration company, this cooperation is a success in several respects: “In this way, we offer our clients new perspectives and opportunities for development after a prolonged period of job hunting. This is one of our central concerns. And we can contribute to the conservation of natural resources, which is also very important to us.”

Delivery by e-cargo bike is another measure taken by Gebrüder Weiss to make transport more sustainable. The logistics expert is already using various alternative drive technologies in trucks and is currently testing an e-truck in everyday logistics operations in Vorarlberg.

On Wednesday, November 23, the rocket lifted off from the Esrange base at 9:25 a.m., shooting into space at a speed of more than 6,500 kilometers per hour. The parabolic trajectory meant that the experiments floated in weightlessness at an altitude of 260 kilometers for six minutes before returning to Earth attached to a parachute. The test subjects then landed in an uninhabited area north of Esrange. A team from the flew them back to base by helicopter, where they are now being evaluated by scientists.

Stefan Krämer, project manager of the mission, is relieved about the successful outcome: “We had been working on this rocket launch for over two years. The tension was palpable. Ultimately, all partners contributed to the success of the mission. Thanks also to Gebrüder Weiss for the logistical support.” The company is a partner of SSC and transported the research equipment. Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at was on site for the launch: “Time and again, we support selected projects that point the way to the future of mobility. This mission carries outstanding scientific significance with the various tests taking place aboard the rocket.”

Twelve research tests from the fields of biomedicine, physics, astronomy and biology flew into space aboard the rocket. Among them was the NeuroBeta experiment from the Faculty of Medicine, Uppsala University, the focus of which is on curing diabetes A. Pancreatic stem cells were flown into space to study the cells and their activation under weightless conditions. “The retrieval operation for this experiment was particularly tricky because the samples had to be back at the lab in Esrange within two hours,” says Alf Vaernéus, the engineer in charge of the project. “We’re glad that it all worked out.”

Also on board were 13 watches from the Swiss watch manufacturer to see how they behaved in space. Jupp Philipp, owner of FORTIS: “We want to build watches that also demonstrably work in space. We have yet to evaluate the detailed results of this stress test, but what we can already say is that all the watches found their way back to Earth intact and are working accurately.” The company aims to develop the first watch that can be worn by astronauts on Mars. Just like Gebrüder Weiss, Fortis is therefore also a cooperation partner of the Austrian Space Forum. Both companies supported the in Israel in 2021. 

About the mission

The Swedish Space Corporation conducted its 15th space mission in northern Sweden from November 14-23. The SubOrbital Express mission involved sending twelve scientific experiments with a rocket into space to study their behavior in a weightless environment. The tests were submitted by research teams from Costa Rica, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein and Sweden, with the purpose of this mission being to gain insights relevant for research work and the work of astronauts in space. The preparations for this mission took two years.

The Gebrüder Weiss container with the research equipment for the space mission has arrived in Kiruna, northern Sweden. Truck driver Rudolf Kiesel was on the road for four days to cover the 2,000 kilometers from Berlin to the Arctic Circle via Stockholm. Gebrüder Weiss is the official logistics partner of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and was responsible for organizing the transport of the equipment for the 15th space mission. Preparations are now beginning there for the rocket launch, which is scheduled for November 22.

Thomas Heger, logistics expert at Gebrüder Weiss in Nuremberg, on the challenges: “The route from Berlin to Kiruna is certainly an unusual one. It is the northernmost point a Gebrüder Weiss truck has ever been.” Yet, despite this fact, at no time was Heger on edge while the journey was being made: “We were able to rely fully on our own resources and logistical expertise along the entire route, which is why I firmly believed from the very beginning that we would be able to handle it well,” says Heger.

About the mission:

The SSC will be conducting the “SubOrbital Express 3 (S1X-3M15)” mission at its Esrange Space Center near Kiruna from November 14 to 24, in which twelve scientific experiments will be sent into space to study their behavior at zero gravity. The tests aboard the rocket have been provided by international research teams covering the fields of biomedicine, physics, astronomy and biology. The purpose of the mission is to gain insights relevant for research work and the work of astronauts in space.

Watch Thomas Heger, logistics expert at Gebrüder Weiss, talk about the challenges involved in this transport in the video interview

Preparations are well underway for the Swedish Space Corporation’s 15th space mission. On November 4, the Gebrüder Weiss container left Berlin for Sweden. During a short stopover in Stockholm, research equipment was loaded that will now be transported to Kiruna in northern Sweden, some 2,000 kilometers away. The base of the Swedish Space Corporation is located there. Gebrüder Weiss is supporting the ‘SubOrbital Express’ mission with its logistical expertise, having already demonstrated last year its transport capabilities in Israel during the simulation of a mission by astronauts to Mars.

About the mission:
The SubOrbital Express mission involves sending twelve scientific experiments with a rocket into space to study their behavior in a weightless environment. The tests on board have been provided by international research teams covering the fields of biomedicine, physics, astronomy and biology. The purpose of this mission is to gain insights relevant for research work and the work of astronauts in space.

The international transport and logistics service provider Gebrüder Weiss has officially become a new sponsor of the German Academy of Foreign Trade and Transport (DAV) in Bremen. Planned for three years to begin with, the partnership was finalized on November 2 at the DAV Campus. As an active sponsoring partner, Gebrüder Weiss is going to contribute practical aspects to the DAV’s teaching program, among others, and support students in their semester and final papers.

As part of the sponsorship, experts from Gebrüder Weiss will get in touch with young people who have gained professional experience already before starting their studies and want to enhance their knowledge in the field of logistics. “It is precisely these people that we want to address, inspiring them to join our company by giving them practical tasks to demonstrate how versatile the logistics business can be,” explains Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss. For example, he mentioned core topics of Gebrüder Weiss such as supply chain management, digitalization of supply chains and sustainability in logistics.

“We cordially welcome Gebrüder Weiss among the DAV’s sponsors. Thanks to our partner companies, our teaching content will continue to keep abreast of the latest developments, so that our students will be optimally prepared for their future careers,” says Thomas Zink, Director of Studies at the DAV.

Top-ranking company representatives had come to Bremen for the kick-off event held in a lecture hall designed by Gebrüder Weiss on the topic of “Mobility of the Future”, among them Lothar Thoma, Johannes Trautmann, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany, and Werner Dettenthaler, Regional Manager Land Transport Germany. For Gebrüder Weiss, the sponsoring partnership is also a home game. In the company’s worldwide Air & Sea network, the Bremen location with a staff of 68 plays an important role.

The international transport company Gebrüder Weiss is the official logistics partner for the SubOrbital Express rocket mission of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and is transporting twelve scientific experiments to Kiruna in northern Sweden for this project. The SSC will be conducting the “SubOrbital Express 3 (S1X-3M15)” mission at its Esrange Space Center near Kiruna from November 14 to 24, in which the experiments will be flown in space and their behavior in a weightless environment studied. The purpose is to gain insights relevant to research and the work of astronauts in space.

“As Swedish Space Corporation, we enable universities, research teams and start-ups to conduct research in space. Many of the experiments have direct consequences for science and thus can impact the entire world,” says Stefan Krämer, Program Manager for SubOrbital Express, Swedish Space Corporation. Logistics also has an important role to play in implementing the project: “It is essential that the equipment is delivered to the rocket range on time and, most importantly, safely. Gebrüder Weiss is a logistics partner that we can really trust,” says Krämer.

Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss: “We support the Swedish Space Corporation with our logistics expertise and would like to contribute to the further development of space travel. Future-oriented mobility projects such as the rocket mission play an important role for Gebrüder Weiss.” Just last year, Gebrüder Weiss demonstrated its capability in logistics in Israel during the simulation of a mission by astronauts to Mars.

About the “SubOrbital Express 3” mission

Will clocks withstand the forces and vibrations of a rocket launch? How can the health of astronauts in space be better monitored? How do cells in the body behave when they are no longer exposed to the effects of gravity? These tests in weightlessness, along with a range of others, will be the focus of the research teams from Australia, Costa Rica, Portugal, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Sweden in the SSC’s 15th rocket mission.

Gebrüder Weiss is organizing the transport of the experiments from SSC’s head office in Solna near Stockholm to Kiruna in northern Sweden, 1,200 kilometers away. The tests will be sent into space from the Esrange Space Center on November 22. The parabolic trajectory will result in six minutes of weightlessness. The experiments will then land in an uninhabited area north of Esrange, from where they will be brought back to the base by helicopter and then evaluated by the researchers.

Stefan Krämer (Swedish Space Corporation) on the significance of the mission

After one year, the transport and logistics service provider Gebrüder Weiss awards the first hydrogen truck in its fleet a good interim report. The Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell stationed in Altenrhein (Switzerland) is used on a daily basis in short-distance general cargo transport and has proven itself there in all seasons. Even on uphill stretches, the electric motor, which draws power from a fuel cell, retained full performance. The utility vehicle saves around 80 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Since taking delivery of the 36-ton truck in January 2021, the vehicle has covered around 70,000 kilometers. Consumption was even lower than the value specified by the manufacturer, and in one year, there was only a single visit to the workshop for the technical inspection. “The purchase was a worthwhile investment in resource-saving road freight transport. The truck is well received by the drivers and, above all, by the customers,” says Peter Waldenberger, Head of Quality and Environmental Management at Gebrüder Weiss.

Gebrüder Weiss plans to use hydrogen trucks in Austria and southern Germany as well in the future, since subsidy programs in Germany make their use north of the Alps attractive. A limiting factor is the availability of hydrogen filling stations, of which nine already exist in Switzerland. In addition to the fuel cell truck, the logistics provider already has several gas trucks on the road in Austria, Germany and Serbia, as well as electrically powered trucks and vans in the greater Vienna area – among others for its client IKEA in the home delivery sector.

Experience the hydrogen truck in motion

For further footage of the hydrogen truck, see this . (Source: Gebrüder Weiss / Medienzoo)

The 13th International Mars Analog Mission Amadee-20, supported by Gebrüder Weiss as the official logistics partner, was successfully completed in Israel at the end of October. A team of trainees from the international transport and logistics service provider had organized the transport of the mission equipment from Innsbruck to the test site in the Negev Desert, where a manned Mars expedition under isolation conditions in the Martian-like landscape was simulated by the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), together with a six-person crew.

Robert Rubatscher, apprentice freight forwarding logistics manager in his 3rd year of apprenticeship at Gebrüder Weiss in Hall, Austria, said, “Logistically, the Mars mission provided us with a great experience because we were able to put our acquired knowledge into practice.”

Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss, noted, “Accompanying this Mars mission is like getting a little glimpse into the future of logistics. It’s all very fun and inspiring! We are learning a lot through this partnership and thank the OeWF for their professional cooperation. We will continue to support pioneering mobility projects.”

Gernot Grömer, Co-Founder and Director of the OeWF, added, “The results of the research projects on Mars are of great scientific benefit to life on Earth.” In a detailed interview in the current Gebrüder Weiss corporate magazine “Atlas,” Grömer concludes: “The first human to set foot on Mars has already been born.” The magazine will be published early in December 2021 and will also be available for digital download at:

You can find more video and image material in our

The “Swissloop Tunneling” research team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich was one of only two teams from the final 12 teams to qualify to complete the “Not-A-Boring Competition” in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 12. Sponsored by global logistics leader Gebrüder Weiss, the group of more than 40 students was awarded the highest honors from The Boring Company for Innovation.
As an official logistics partner, Gebrüder Weiss was responsible for the safe and timely land and sea transport of the Swissloop team’s critical drilling technology from Dübendorf, Switzerland, to Las Vegas for the competition. Teams faced immense logistical challenges to compete in the “Not-A-Boring Competition” amid a global pandemic and labor shortages.

“Innovation and investment in the future of mobility are so critical. The Hyperloop competition was an ideal opportunity for Gebrüder Weiss to put our company values into action. This includes ensuring the mobility of tomorrow. We have a group of extraordinary students on our team and we are exceedingly proud of their success in the category of innovation,” said Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss. “We remain committed to improving not only the logistics industry through our use of sustainable energy and materials but also by pursuing ways to reinvent the future of mobility, no matter if in the air, on the water, above or under the earth’s surface,” he added.

The idea behind the Hyperloop project, based on a concept developed by Elon Musk, is to transport people and goods over longer distances through tunnels under or above the earth’s surface to their destination at high speed. The drilling robots must be as fast, compact, and automated as possible to make tunneling financially viable.

“Gebrüder Weiss has been an essential partner for our team. Our success as an award winner in the ‘Not-a-Boring Competition’ would not have been possible without the support of their organization,” said Stefan Kaspar, founder and co-president of Swissloop Tunneling.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Downloadable videos, interviews and additional images can be found on our

As an official logistics partner, Gebrüder Weiss supports the “Swissloop Tunneling” research team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. The ETH team is involved in the further technical development of the Hyperloop high-speed transport system. With a sponsored land and sea transport from Dübendorf in Switzerland to Las Vegas, Gebrüder Weiss is ensuring that the research team can participate in September at Not-A-Boring Competition, “Can you beat the snail,” with its high-tech drilling robot. The Hyperloop competition will involve drilling a tunnel as quickly and accurately as possible.

The idea behind the Hyperloop project, based on a concept developed by Elon Musk, is to transport people and goods over shorter distances through tunnels under or above the earth’s surface to their destination at high speed. To make tunneling financially viable, the drilling robots required must be as fast, compact and automated as possible. The conditions set by Elon Musk for the high-tech scientific race in Las Vegas are challenging. As a reference, for drift velocity, he has specified the speed of a snail, which should be surpassed if possible.

“As a provider of future-oriented logistics solutions, we have to start thinking today about how we can ensure the freight mobility of tomorrow under economically feasible conditions. The Hyperloop project may still seem somewhat exotic to us today, but it promises feasible solutions for the mobility requirements of the future,” says Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss.

Stefan Kaspar, founder and co-president of Swissloop Tunneling said, “Questioning existing transport systems for people and goods and looking for feasible alternatives – our vision is nothing less than to revolutionize tunneling and help a technology achieve its breakthrough. With the logistical support of Gebrüder Weiss, our vision is one step closer to becoming reality.”

For more information, see: and