Creation and development history of Sortimo

SORTIMO stands for asSORTIments MObile. This idea has developed over the years into a Full-Service Total Concept.

THE IDEA

At the age of 25, Herbert Dischinger - the founder of Sortimo - opened a wholesale business for fastenings in Augsburg, Germany. He sold tradesmen’s requisites, such as screws and plugs. In order to meet the requirements of his skilled trade customers, the range grew to include drills, ladders and everything that the they could require.

After 13 years of business, Herbert Dischinger hit upon THE IDEA: Tinkering about, he created small insetboxes, made from plastic, that fitted precisely in the metal case, the KM 321, for the plugs, screws and all the small components tradespeople stored hidden away in boxes and plastic bags - this was the birth of Sortimo and the legendary metal case.

From the metal case to the leader of innovation

1973

Birth of the famous Sortimo metal case, which very soon became the industry standard.

Sortimo History– Worth knowing about Sortimo

1990

“Sortimo Equipment Systems for Service Vehicles GmbH” became “Sortimo International GmbH” and Sortimo also introduced the first van racking system (FE1) to the market.

1991

The market launch of FE1 required expansion of the production and administration departments. In 1991 this resulted in laying of the foundation stone for the factory in Zusmarshausen - ready just one year later.

1994

As the first company in the sector, Sortimo was certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 for the highest quality, which also provided the springboard for cooperation with commercial vehicle and car manufacturers.

1994

An international presence was created in the period between 1994 and 1999 by the founding of subsidiaries in France, Belgium, Austria, Spain, and England.

1996

Sortimo presents itself for the first time at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Exhibition in Hanover, Germany. From now on, the exhibition in Hanover is the most important platform for the presentation of innovative products and new items form the world of Sortimo.

1998

Product optimisation and expansions lead in 1998 to the second generation of van racking (FE2).

2000

Founding of Sortimo Speedwave – a subsidiary of Sortimo International GmbH, with a focus on intensive cooperation with manufacturers of commercial vehicles.

2001 - 2009

Further development of the international network between 2001 and 2009 by the founding of subsidiaries in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden.

2004

Globelyst, the third generation van racking, is launched and establishes itself as the flagship of Sortimo.

2007

The introduction of Globelyst is simultaneously the starting signal for ongoing development of mobile transport systems, that makes the working day of tradespeople even more simple. The range is extended continuously, for example by the L-BOXXes family or the T-BOXX.

2010

While we continue to expand internationally and founded the new subsidiary in Italy, we also find another important business partner in the USA – Knapheide. The American manufacturer of commercial vehicle bodies and market leader in its sector, manufactures Service Bodies comprising steel racking that is mounted on Chassis Cabs.

2012

Bundling of the competences of Bosch and Sortimo in the joint venture BS Systems. The line of business of BS Systems is the ongoing development and sales of the L-BOXX as a mobile repackaging and flexible transport system.

2013

Sortimo celebrates its 40-year anniversary.

2015

A fresh wind again emerges in 2015 with introduction of the WorkMo – a mobile transport, organisation and working system with diverse deployment opportunities and the FlexRack – a shelf developed especially for the requirements of courier, express and package delivery services.

2015

Founding of FISCO GmbH: A joint enterprise of the fastenings expert fischer and Sortimo. This enterprise is responsible for the development and sales of structural elements made from fibre-reinforced plastic.

A new time reckoning begins

You can't get any more PRODUCTIVE! As a pioneer and leader in innovation in the field of mobility solutions for tradespeople, Sortimo has developed a van racking system with the SR5 that facilitates perfect workplace organisation in minimum space for all trades.

DIGITALISATION – the catchphrase that cannot be avoided. The purchasing behaviour and expectations of our society are changing, meaning that old tried and tested processes and systems need to be viewed from a different angle and be adapted to the new requirements. Sortimo is adapting to the future and is changing into an agile partner with many networked services both online and offline.

Sortimo continues to expand its digital services and support trade companies even further with the sensible, systematic organisation and structuring of their workplace using the mySortimo labels label configurator. The courier, express and package sector is also set to benefit from optimum flexibility in the loading space, thanks to the new FR5 folding rack. Once again in 2020, Sortimo is focusing on maximum benefits for customers and launching more innovations onto the market, which are available to customers both online and offline.

From now on, the ProClick tool bags revolutionise the market for mobile working. Interfaces with a variety of Sortimo products, such as the van racking systems and the newly launched C-BOXX complete the Sortimo ecosystem.

The year 2022 is all about sustainability and increasing productivity. Sortimo focuses on CSR and sets binding guidelines for responsible acting.
With the Sortimo Innovation Park Zusmarshausen (SIZ) as the largest charging park in Germany and the expansion of competences in the field of electromobility Sortimo makes a contribution to the environment.
The topics are also present on the product and service side, as evidenced by both the new FlexRack 2.0 as a climate-neutral shelving system for parcel delivery services and the new Fleet Management Service approach (FMS) for fleet customers.