Success story – Branded products from experts for experts
EXPRESSO – Our quality has a history
What began in the 1940's with the manufacture of hand trucks for transporting barrels, quickly developed into a successful company with a comprehensive range of products for specific applications – e.g. in the beverage industry, hotels and restaurants, or mail distribution services – which still belong to EXPRESSO's most important customers.
With the introduction in 1967 of the world's first aluminium hand truck based on a modular system, EXPRESSO started on a path that no other company had previously dared to go. It was the start of EXPRESSO's Europe-wide success as a supplier of light, ergonomic hand trucks as vehicle companions, as well as baggage carts for airports and rail stations. With innovative quality products and more than 200 patents, EXPRESSO continues to convince new and existing customers. Many of them have already trusted our imaginative company for many decades.
In 1990, August F. Manss retired from the business, and sold the company to Joachim Loh, owner of the Joachim Loh Group of Companies.
For the company, the change of ownership resulted in a continuous period of modernization and adaptation to the drastically changing market situation.
Today, EXPRESSO is a world leader in the field of “professional manual transport equipment” and is growing continuously thanks to new products for goods handling and drive technology. What became of the initial barrel trading company, is summarized below:
From barrel trading to a specialist for small goods handling – worldwide
| 1939 | Founding of the one-man business "August Manss" in Vienna for trading with barrels. |
| 1945 | The company moves to Kassel, the founder's hometown. |
| 1953 | The original barrel trading activity led to the development of the first hand truck to assist moving heavy barrels and drums. The first proprietary EXPRESSO product is “born”. Soon, further special transport equipment is developed for practically all kinds of goods and industries, and an extensive field sales organization is established. The first patent is applied for. In the following years, more than 200 patent rights are granted, which have a decisive effect on the company's success. |
| 1967 | Development of the first aluminium hand truck based on a modular system. This innovation was the basis for EXPRESSO's present position as a leading supplier of aluminium transport equipment. |
| 1968 | Production of the first aluminium baggage cart. From now on, EXPRESSO products assist travellers in airports and railway stations worldwide. |
| 1978 | The one-man business is changed into a family-owned limited company. |
| 1989 | EXPRESSO introduces the world's first aluminium baggage cart. Meanwhile, several hundred thousand baggage carts are used worldwide in airports and railway stations. |
| 1990 | EXPRESSO-Deutschland Transportgeräte GmbH is taken over by the Joachim Loh Group of Companies (JLU). |
| 1994 | The company moves into new premises in the Industrial Estate “Kassel – Waldau”, which have been built according to modern team communication concepts. |
| 1997 | “Luggy”, the stair-climbing baggage cart, is distinguished by receiving the if-Design Award. Battery-operated lifting aids “Lift&Drive” and the patented, sensor-controlled “MagiC” drive concept are added to the product range. |
| 1999 | The product range for “Small Goods Handling” is extended with the “Mobicrane” mobile lifting aid. Successful ISO 9001 certification. The “BalanceLift” supplements the product range for effortless load handling. |
| 2003 | With a new company name, “EXPRESSO Deutschland GmbH” celebrates the 50th anniversary of EXPRESSO, and 25 years as a the limited company (GmbH). |
| 2004 | “MagiCexpress”, the pioneering mail distribution cart, sees its first use by the German Post Office. Market introduction of the new “Long Life” safety brake housing for baggage carts and shopping trolleys. Further development of the patented “MagiC” drive concept, resulting in the “touch2move (t2m)” with digital control system and freely programmable driving characteristics. |
| 2005 | The new “LightLiner” is EXPRESSO's first nestable baggage cart that can also be towed by suitable tugs (and not only pushed), and enters service at an airport for the first time. |
| 2007 | Product range expansion for aluminium dock boards & dock plates. Market introduction of the LEO single-handed tug system (powered by touch2move). |
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