“They are simply unstoppable, these Haltmayer people. In 50 years, they managed to form a classic German medium-sized company with 400 employees – with heart and mind. Thanks to continuous expansion, their ‘baby’ QCS has now become a pan-European company.” This statement delivered by EDIfly executive Ingo Roessler, on Quick Cargo’s anniversary and its patron Dieter Haltmayer’s 90th birthday, characterizes the gala event best, held last night (02NOV24) at the Hilton Hotel in Gravenbruch, near Frankfurt.
Practically, it was a double anniversary in one. Dieter turned 90, QCS celebrated the 50th year of its existence. Guests were invited from practically every continent. The verbal prize for the travel record went to Aubry Inston from Talkcargo in Aukland, New Zealand. “He spent incredible 24 hours in the air and on the road to attend our event,” applauded Stephan Haltmayer in his keynote address.
Next on stage was Dieter who thanked all invitees for their coming. He mentioned in particular some of his long-time companions, dearest friends and professional partners: Ram Menen, the “father” of Emirates Sky Cargo, Des Vertannes, the most outstanding representative of IATA Cargo to date alongside Glyn Hughes, Florian Pfaff, the former VP Germany and VP Asia Pacific at Lufthansa Cargo, to name just three of the hons on behalf of many others. To convey an impression of the great event professionally orchestrated by Heidi and her sister Jennifer, we asked some of the invitees for a testimonial. Here we go:
Back row: The author, Dieter Haltmayer, Ram Menen – courtesy: QCS
Ram Menen, former head of EK Cargo and meanwhile retired “and I love it”:
What an event last evening celebrating my friend Dieter has been. As always, he just goes to prove that ‘he is de man” no matter what the age is … It goes to prove that age is just a number.
Decades later, I still want to be like him when I grow up.
The legacy that Dieter has built up is nothing short of inspirational. I don’t think I have come across the family business dynamics like the one that exists between papa Dieter, Stephan, Heidi and Jennifer, that has led to 50 years of success for a family business that is, against the odds of the nineties and this century, still going strong whilst the larger multi nationals were gobbling down the smaller companies and were finding it challenging to survive. QCS bucked the trend, and actually helped the smaller companies to survive and compete with the multi nationals’ buying power by creating the IGLU, an interest group consisting of 25 companies that bundles freight on certain routes in order to achieve more favorable rates. Other associations followed like the China Cargo Alliance, initiated by the Haltmayer family as well. All these platforms have built the QCS of today. When I was with Emirates, we were great advocates of the start-ups and SME and always supported them. We believed that growth of the SME, as we were one of them, is what will help us grow. Having watched QCS mature over the last decades, I have nothing but admiration, for the whole Haltmayer family, their partners and wish them continued success. QCS, apart from building their own business, has such a positive effect on the German forwarding business… Tonight’s celebration was all about celebrating a living legend’s life and the business he built. What a night it was … we were honored to be invited to be a part of this fantastic milestone event. Happy 90th birthday and 50th anniversary of the business you built, Dieter. I am looking forward to your century milestone.
Des Vertannes, former head of IATA Cargo
It’s an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be celebrating Dieter Haltmayer’s 90th Birthday and QCS’s 50th Anniversary. My wife and I were present at his 80th Birthday too, but the remarkable thing about Dieter is his legacy and uncompromised passion for the industry!!
He knew what the air cargo industry needed and wanted to overcome every obstacle to achieve his goals even when the odds were stark against him. He was a loyal customer and supporter to me and his success and achievements are to be celebrated and recognized globally.
The most important ingredient to his success has been his family. From Maureen, who loved and supported him, to his children, Stephan, Heidi and Jennifer. They have built on his foundation to create this most successful of logistics companies.
Christopher Stoller, head of ACD – Air Cargo Association, Germany
Dieter Haltmayer is an entrepreneur par excellence. At the age of almost 40, he founded the start-up QCS in Frankfurt. With constant diligence and dedication, he laid the foundation for a company that keeps on growing continuously. Alongside his children, Stephan, Heidi and Jennifer, the third Haltmayer generation is now contributing to the success of the company and thus also to air freight in Germany and Europe.
J. Florian Pfaff, Manager Lufthansa Cargo
Dear Dieter, I have the privilege to have known you for more than 30 years, to attend your 25/65 party in Frankfurt, the 40/80 anniversary and now the 50/90 party in Gravenbruch. But on top, I had the honor to work closely with Dieter personally, his company QCS and Lufthansa Cargo to jointly develop and grow a partnership over years and – hopefully – for many more years to come. When Dieter initiated the interest group IGLU I was happy to support this project from its very beginning. I also was proud to hand over various awards for the achievement of special performances in the air freight industry. But most important I am grateful for our friendship spanning three decades, including three generations. We experienced many wonderful moments with our families in the beautiful Rheingau area and around Frankfurt Airport. After a few years in Singapore, I look forward to a lot of get-togethers in the future.
Markus Heinelt, Cargo Chief Munich Airport
It was an outstanding anniversary event, where everyone present sensed the entrepreneurial spirit of the Haltmayer family, their solidarity and the identification of the QCS employees with their company. QCS makes its employees feel valued and appreciated, its strategy is transparent and forward-looking. It’s a difference to some of the large companies, which operate differently and are more anonymous.
The business environment is brutal. But the motivation of the employees is the decisive difference that decides success or failure over longer periods of time. I was particularly impressed by Stephan’s speech. He outlined a clear pan-European strategy for QCS, where he aims to be a leader in the family business sector. This is long-term thinking and includes transparent targets, which has become rather rare today.
