100 Years of Herchenbach: A Jubilee Year Full of Milestones and Pivotal Decisions
Our Success Story
The year 2024 was entirely dedicated to celebrating our 100-year anniversary, making us part of a select group of companies that have successfully thrived for a century.
"Not many companies manage to remain relevant for 100 years and consistently adapt to changing conditions and customer needs. This highlights how deeply transformation and entrepreneurial courage are rooted in our DNA," explains Nektarios Apostologlou, CEO of Herchenbach Industrial Buildings.
Since 1924, we have evolved from a regional dealer and renter of event tents to an international manufacturer and provider of storage solutions.
"What hasn’t changed is that our customers remain at the center of everything we do. Only by offering them true added value will they continue to choose us in the future," Apostologlou emphasizes.
Business Development 2024:
Progress and New Markets
A significant milestone was the first acquisition in our company’s history. Through an asset deal, we acquired the ongoing rental contracts of ZVG (Zelt-Hallenvertriebs- und Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH). This expanded our rental fleet across Europe to over 800 lightweight halls, covering a total area of approximately 500,000 square meters. The high standardization of these halls and their clear alignment with industrial clients perfectly align with our long-term strategy.
"This step strengthened our market position and created new capacities," Apostologlou notes.
Despite a slow start in the first two quarters, we achieved two strong quarters in the second half of the year. Internationalization remained a central growth driver, with particularly strong performances in the UK, France, and Hungary. We also prepared for market entry in Poland, aiming to launch operations there in 2025.
Flexibility and Sustainability:
Key Customer Demands
Our customers demand quick and flexible storage solutions.
"Planning cycles are getting shorter, and our customers are looking for solutions that can adapt easily to temporary needs," explains Apostologlou. A core element of our business model is the ability to rent lightweight halls for a limited time and dismantle them easily afterward. This flexibility, combined with assembly times of just one week, makes our solutions especially attractive.
Sustainability is deeply embedded in our business model. In 2024, our modular system enabled us to reuse over 90% of components from dismantled halls. Our long-term goal remains achieving a 100% reuse rate. Additionally, our pre-assembly inspection allows customers to utilize existing foundations, saving time and costs—a benefit that proves particularly valuable under tight schedules.
The rental business continued to grow in 2024, accounting for more than 50% of new projects, underscoring the increasing importance of flexible solutions.
Strong Team and Modern Structures
We head into 2025 with nearly 126 employees. Alongside two warehouse locations and an office, over 30 colleagues work remotely across Germany, the UK, France, Hungary, and Poland. This geographical distribution and the diverse expertise of our employees create significant potential, which we optimize through clear coordination and targeted collaboration.
"To achieve exceptional results together, it’s crucial that we know each other well, both professionally and personally," emphasizes Apostologlou. To foster this, we prioritize modern workplaces and regular events that strengthen team spirit. A highlight was the company trip to Belgrade, where we celebrated our anniversary together.
"By the return journey, it was clear how much this event had brought our team closer," Apostologlou recalls.
Our corporate culture is built on values such as result orientation, transparency, perseverance, and respect. These values shape our daily work and are the foundation of our success. Over 60% of leadership positions were filled internally in 2024, demonstrating our commitment to employee development.
Looking Ahead
With these developments, we look to the future with optimism. Our focus remains on addressing challenges with a strong organization, a clear corporate culture, and unwavering attention to our customers’ needs.
"Challenges won’t diminish, but with our organization, our culture, and our customer-centric approach, we are well-equipped," Apostologlou concludes.