AsstrA History

2011 – Year of AsstrA new horizons
2011 was marked by the completion of the restructuring process that began a year ago and introduction of new IT-solutions in the field of logistics. AsstrA was able to significantly improve the quality of business processes and achieve new levels of efficiency in running business which became a significant competitive advantage in dealing with transnational companies.

All activities including the development of service portfolio on the focused markets enabled the company to increase its market share and achieve the most impressive financial performance in the history of AsstrA. The holding continued solid progress in its long-term strategic goal that is to be one of the leading logistic providers in Europe.

2010 - is the year of partnership relations!
Last year we were concentrated on our strengths and focused on the service quality improvement and development of relations with Customers and Suppliers.

It resulted in the development of cooperation with the key customers of the holding – the leading transnational companies, in the enlargement of the customers’ portfolio, in the creation of closer and more trusting relations with the service suppliers, in strengthening of cooperation on key working directions and in team work on the development of new routes and new types of transportation.

In such a way, the development of the existing and building of new partnership contacts and contracts became AsstrA’s main achievement in 2010!

First of all, restructuring of the company into the holding company promoted their development. AsstrA AG singled out the following separate business-:

AsstrA Forwarding AG – transport and freight-forwarding services, customs services;

AsstrA Transport AG – road cargo transportation by own transport;

AsstrA Logistics AG – cargo insurance, warehouse services, import-export support, development and sale of logistics projects;

EBS Partners AG – software development on Oracle base in the field of logistics.

 

2009 – Year of AsstrA Opportunities

2009 - Year of AsstrA Opportunities 2009 was a year of drastic changes in economy and business. This became a real test for companies in terms of their ability to react to the market changes quickly and efficiently.

The crisis offered AsstrA group an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to handle difficult situations. AsstrA was successful at using the chances to stabilize the situation strengthening its position on the markets of presence and developing new directions in business.

In 2009 AsstrA group was actively preparing to launch ORACLE-based software products using its own resources. In February 2009, EBS Partners foreign company was founded in Belarus based on EBS Partners AG.

2008 – Year of Efficiency Improvement
Internal structure of the company is improving; the company is developing its expertise in a 3PL field. A new enterprise “AsstrA Rus” is created as a result of the merger of the two Moscow offices.
The Warsaw subsidiary, “AsstrA Polska Sp.z.o.o.”, passes the certification of conformity of its management system with SQAS (Safety Quality Assessment Systems) requirements, which will enable the AsstrA group to cooperate with major chemical trusts.
 
2007 – Year of Logistics Solutions
The company continues to mature as a full-fledged logistics operator. In 2007 AsstrA is working on the development of individual cargo delivery solutions, project logistics, logistics outsourcing, and “turnkey” projects.
After the reorganization of the company, the Board of Director replaces the Administration at governing the company.
A logistics center, an “A” class warehouse of 10 000 m², is opened in Kyiv.
A subsidiary in Perm starts its operations. The company successfully passes the certification audit on compliance with the ISO 9001:2000 quality management system standards.
 
2006 – Year of the Customer’s Values
This year is announced to become a Year of Customer’s Values, which means that all AsstrA employees will gain clear understanding of customer’s needs, accept customer’s values, and create a new integrated logistics product to meet his requirements.
A company’s new subsidiary is registered in Poznan, Poland.
A new point on the AsstrA’s map is Almaty, Kazakhstan.
A third customs agency starts operations in Fanipol, Belarus.
 
2005 – Year of Integrated Services
First experience in project logistics on the Russian market.
An agency is opened in Shenzhen, Guandun province, China.
The AsstrA group reaches a 100-million mark in the volume of services sale; the company renders services to more than1000 customers monthly.
 
2004 – Expansion within Europe and Asia
The company’s quality management system is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
AsstrA enters FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) and becomes its individual member.
New subsidiaries start operations in the “Borispol” international airport in Kyiv, Ukraine, Chelyabinsk, Russia, and Magdeburg, Germany.
Development of warehouse services in Europe and the CIS countries, expansion of office network, and quality development of shipping services by all means of transport enables AsstrA to provide customers with a full package of transportation and logistics services.
 

2003 – Expansion to East and West
In October, the company starts operations in Yekaterinburg, Russia, with a subsidiary servicing customers of the Ural Region. Customs agencies are opened in Bobrovniki and Kuznitsa, Poland.
Shipping by air is now available.
A Groupage Cargo Division is created to specialize on handling small shipments from Western Europe to CIS countries using company-owned fleet. The company is now able to deliver any size of cargo on a “door-to-door” basis.

2002 – Year of a High Quality, New Services, and New Markets
AsstrA Polska Sp.z.o.o. starts offering customs clearance services at the border terminal in Koroszczyn, Poland.
The group’s subsidiary in St. Petersburg, Russia, starts operating as a ship agent and a port freight forwarder.
A transportation enterprise “AsstrA-Rusland” is founded in Smolensk, Russia.
The AsstrA group offers integrated cargo delivery worldwide services by all means of transport.
The year 2002 is announced to become a year of quality and efficiency enhancement – the AsstrA group begins implementing ISO 9000:2000 standards, and based on them begins creating a quality management system.

2001 – Intermodal Services, Expansion into Russia and Poland
The company’s subsidiaries are established in Szczecin, Poland, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Due to the development of intermodal or combined services, the AsstrA group now offers cargo delivery all over the world. In January 2001 AsstrA Associated Traffic AG joins ASTAG, National Road Transport Association of Switzerland. 

2000 –Network Expansion and Own Fleet
The AsstrA group opens operating subsidiaries in Bergamo, Italy and Vilnius, Lithuania.
“BTL-BelTransLine”, a subsidiary transportation and freight forwarding company in Belarus, acquires its own fleet for international transportation.

1999 – AsstrA Group
After establishing its subsidiaries in Moscow, Russia, and Kyiv, Ukraine, AsstrA becomes known as a group of transportation and freight forwarding companies. Starting this year, the fright forwarder’s liability is insured by the mutual insurance company, TT Club, in London, England.
 
1998 – Growing up
A subsidiary is opened in Brest, a Belarus city located near the border with Poland which represents an important transport corridor connecting EU countries and the CIS.
AsstrA expands its area of expertise with new divisions being established to service the freight flow transported by road from Germany, Italy, France, as well as the export freight flow from the CIS to European countries. 
 
1995 – A Small Company
AsstrA makes its first steps in international freight forwarding. The area of expertise is road transportation of cargo between European and CIS countries.
A new branch opens up in Minsk, Belarus. 
 
1993 – How it Began
The company is founded in Zurich, Switzerland.