Schmitz Cargobull has increased its investment in Freighter Group, taking a 72 per cent majority shareholding in the Australian trailer manufacturer.
The move marks an expansion of the long-standing partnership between the companies.
Building on the strategic partnership announced in April 2023, the majority investment gives Freighter Group direct access to Schmitz Cargobull’s global engineering, production and connected fleet technologies while preserving the company’s established Australian manufacturing identity.
“We have been supporting Australian customers for 15 years and by increasing our stake in Freighter Group, we are reaffirming our long-term commitment to the Australian market,” said Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull.
“This step is also testament to our belief in the strength of the local team.
“Our role is to support and enable the continued development of Freighter Group – providing access to global expertise, technology and networks, while the Freighter team continues to shape the business with its deep local knowledge and customer focus.”
Schmitz Cargobull brings expertise in refrigerated transport, cold-chain solutions, large-scale production and digital fleet systems designed to improve uptime, operational reliability and cost efficiency.
The ownership expansion follows substantial investment in Freighter Group’s manufacturing operations, including the approximately €30.8 million upgrade of its Ballarat facility, transforming the site into an advanced production hub.
The upgraded infrastructure enables the integration of Schmitz Cargobull engineering and production technologies with Freighter Group’s Australian-built trailer platforms.
Beyond manufacturing, Freighter Group said it will continue expanding its aftermarket service and parts network to strengthen customer uptime and improve access to local and international supply chains.
The ownership transition coincides with a leadership change, with Michael Temminghoff appointed CEO effective immediately.
Temminghoff brings more than 15 years of experience within Schmitz Cargobull and will lead Freighter Group through its next stage of development.
“I am honoured to lead Freighter Group at such a pivotal moment,” said Temminghoff.
“The synergy between Schmitz Cargobull’s global scale and Freighter Group’s local expertise is an exciting opportunity. Our role is to build on the strengths of the local business, supported by global capabilities and experience, and to help the team unlock its full potential – while further strengthening the quality and reliability our customers expect.”
“The business enters this new chapter on a strong footing, thanks to a period of intense modernisation that has prepared the workforce and the facility for high-tech production,” he said.
Temminghoff added that the commitment of the local workforce had laid the foundations for continued growth as the market evolves.
Freighter Group will continue operating under its established brand as it develops the next generation of trailer solutions for the Australian transport industry.
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