Rhenus signs an agreement to take over the European business operations of the Wincanton Group and this acquisition enables the Group to strengthen its standing in third-party logistics and multimodal shipments. The company purchases a deep-sea terminal measuring 200,000 square meters at the port of Rotterdam. Rhenus acquires Spedition Wilh. Schon GmbH & Co. KG, a freight forwarding company based in Traben-Trarbach. The remaining shareholdings in Rhenus eonova become the property of the Rhenus Group. Rhenus opens new logistics centers in Weil am Rhein, Barcelona and Hoerselgau.

Rhenus acquired a majority holding in the Pro-Log Group in order to consolidate its own network in Asia. Rhenus and Mierka Donauhafen Krems agreed a strategic partnership to expand business activities on the Danube River. The Langenscheidt publishing group sold Thüringer Verlagsauslieferung (TVA) in Gotha and it became part of the Rhenus Media Logistics business division. Rhenus took over the WECKERLE GmbH Spedition + Logistik, IFS Inter Freight System Internationale Spedition GmbH and Grossmann Sea & Air Logistics freight forwarding companies.

Rhenus sets up a joint venture for a container terminal at Moscow (RU) - Rhenus Yuzhny Port. Remondis Data, which specializes in destruction of data storage media, is integrated in the Rhenus Office Systems business unit. Joint Venture is set up with RWZ Rhein-Main eG: RSL (Rhenus RWZ Schüttgut Logistik GmbH). Rheintank GmbH with its headquarters in Duisburg (DE), a one hundred percent subsidiary of Rhenus PartnerShip GmbH & Co. KG, takes over the final customer bunker business of Deutsche BP AG with its BP and Castrol brands.

The foundation is laid for a nationwide network of business locations in France with the takeover of Hamann International SAS with 4 locations in the country and the founding of Rhenus Freight Logistics in France. Rhenus takes over Werndl Spedition in Munich (DE). Rhenus leaves the “HHLA Rhenus Logistics” JV. Rhenus takes over Archivdepot Leipzig GmbH . 75% of the shares in Vortex Shipping in Bulgaria are taken over. Rhenus Home Delivery takes over Spedition Gelse Handelslogistik GmbH. Takeover of Leo Schwergutumschlag GmbH in Duisburg (DE). Rhenus Veniro begins operations in the tram sector.

Rhenus has taken over Interspe Hamann Group. This merger is a historic step for the two sides. We have succeeded in uniting two efficient companies with proven standards of quality and a good performance in the marketplace into a provider of full services.The take-over gives Rhenus a European network for land transport, extends its world-wide freight services, adds warehousing sites across the continent and thus makes Rhenus a provider of integrated logistics services in Europe.

Rhenus expands its European presence by extending its activities in South-Eastern Europe and Austria. In addition, Rhenus also takes a majority shareholding in MAXX Holding NV, Antwerpen (Belgium) and in Fastrack S.A., Warsaw (Poland). Rhenus Contargo enters the market as a complete supplier for European container hinterland transport. The new logistics centre in Györ, Hungary, enters operation.

The takeover of Polish logistics provider Polta S. A. expands Rhenus' position in the EU accession states in Eastern Europe and builds bridges to the Russian market. Rhenus Alpina takes over Georg Fischer Speditions-Logistik AG in Schaffhausen, strengthening its contract logistics activities in the Swiss automotive technology and pipeline systems sectors.

Rhenus strengthens its portfolio of international logistics services by setting up joint ventures with partners like Azkar in Spain and Kerry Logistics in Asia. In Germany, Rhenus develops the nationwide logistics infrastructure for the "P-System" beverage can return system.

Rhenus Alpina takes over Cargologic AG and begins transshipping air freight at the airports in Zurich, Geneva and Bern. A new logistics center is built near Paris and an external supplier warehouse for Daimler starts operating in Stuttgart. The DIT Duisburg Intermodal Terminal goes into operation in Duisburg. Rhenus holds the majority of shares.

Rhenus increases its stake in Mindener Logistikservice GmbH and operates the logistics center in Minden. A further logistics center is opened in Grossbeeren near Berlin. Rhenus also steps up its activities as a logistics service provider in Hannover and opens a new logistics center.

Rhenus acquires Schweizerische Reederei und Neptun AG and merges the company with Rhenus AG für Schifffahrt und Spedition Basel to form Rhenus Alpina. In the same year, Rhenus takes on the operation of the new IKEA central warehouse in Salzgitter and launches the I.C.C. International Consolidation Center in Giessen. These are two key milestones on the road to becoming a leading provider of logistics services. A further logistics center is opened in Mannheim.

Rhenus AG is taken over by RETHMANN AG & Co. In this strong alliance, Rhenus is an innovative full-coverage provider of logistics services. In the same year, CCS charters the world's largest container barge with a capacity of 500 TEU.Rhenus takes over a logistics center in Dortmund, and the location is expanded into a multi-user center together with several customers in the years that follow.

Cuxport GmbH is founded in Cuxhaven and the multifunction terminal goes into operation. Rhenus handles the plant logistics for Mannheim-based John Deere, the world's leading tractor manufacturer. A new logistics center is officially opened in Langgöns near Gießen.

Rhenus extends its market position in the automotive sector. The company offers system services for various manufacturers and takes care of just-in-sequence deliveries to the production line.

The Stahlwerke Bremen steelworks and Rhenus set up Weserport GmbH in Bremen and merge their activities at the port.

The construction of a modern logistics center in Brein with an area of 60,000 m² strengthens the logistics operations of Rhenus. Further logistics centers are opened in the following years in Langgoens, Giessen, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Hannover and Prague.

After Schenker AG is acquired by Stinnes, the parent company of Rhenus since 1969, the three Rhenus divisions are restructured once again. The activities of Rhenus Transport International are taken over by the newly formed Schenker International AG; Rhenus Lager und Umschlag AG now operates in the market under the former name of Rhenus AG; and Rhenus-Weichelt AG is merged with Schenker Eurocargo AG.

Rhenus sets up three public companies responsible for operational management: Rhenus Weichelt AG handles road freight transport, Rhenus Lager und Umschlag AG takes on warehousing, transshipment and inland waterway shipping, and Rhenus Transport International is responsible for international freight forwarding and air freight.

Rhenus-WTAG AG merges with Westfaelische Transport-AG (WTAG) and begins operating under the name Rhenus AG. There are now a further 60 locations with subsidiaries and branch offices in Germany. Rhenus is active worldwide through 80 operating locations in other countries.

Following the formation of a "group of common interest" by Rhenus AG, Fendel-Stinnes-Schiffahrt AG and WTAG, the company name Rhenus AG is changed to Rhenus-WTAG AG. The company headquarters is moved from Mannheim to Dortmund. Rhenus now has 40 branch offices and locations throughout Germany.At the same time, the CCS Combined Container Service GmbH & Co. KG subsidiary is founded..

Hugo Stinnes pools its inland waterway shipping activities. The Fendel-Stinnes-Schiffahrt AG company is set up near Duisburg. Rhenus Gesellschaft für Schiffahrt, Spedition und Lagerei is transformed into Rhenus AG with registered office in Mannheim.

VEBA restructures its business areas. Hugo Stinnes AG takes over the transport activities of VEBA, acquiring Rhenus at the same time.

The port is opened in Stuttgart. Rhenus starts to build warehouse and transshipment facilities.

The victory march of the container begins. The first container ship is sent on its journey from New York. It is another ten years before the first container ship enters a European port. A decade later, Rhenus sets up its CCS Combined Container Service subsidiary.

Hibernia Bergwerksgesellschaft, a subsidiary of VEBA, acquires a majority of shares in the "group of common interest" formed by the Rhine shipping companies in 1929. Rhenus becomes part of the VEBA Group.

Badische Actiengesellschaft, Rheinschiffahrts Actiengesellschaft, the Rhenus subsidiary and other companies merge to form a "group of common interest" in order to ensure their survival in an increasingly ailing German economy.

The dramatic inflation trend picks up even more speed. WTAG posts annual profits of 19317287820243183.38 marks - calculated in worthless paper money.

The Mittellandkanal is opened and connects central Germany to the Rhine via the Rhine-Herne Canal. The volume of freight on the German waterways continues to grow steadily, not least due to the material and equipment required by the German army in its war of attrition on the Western Front.

On November 13, the two companies "Badische Actiengesellschaft für Rheinschiffahrt und Seetransport" and "Rheinschiffahrts Actiengesellschaft " set up a joint company. The name they choose for the new company is the Latin word for the river that would carry their hopes and expectations from now on - "Rhenus", the Rhine. The company is entered in the commercial register as Rhenus Transport GmbH with head office in Frankfurt. At the same time, branch offices are established in Mannheim, Mainz, Antwerp and Rotterdam.