time:matters

time:matters is a German logistics company focused on shipments for which delivery speed, process reliability and specialist handling are more important than conventional parcel-economics. The company serves customers with urgent transports, international same-day deliveries, onboard-courier movements, spare-parts logistics and customs-related services. Its customer base spans sectors in which production interruptions, aircraft or vehicle downtime, medical requirements and other operational disruptions can create high costs or safety risks. The company identifies Life and Health, Medical Technology, Aviation and Aerospace, Machinery and Components, Automotive, and High Tech and Semiconductors as important industry areas. The business was established on 1 January 2002 as a spin-off from Lufthansa Cargo AG under the name Lufthansa Cargo Same Day World GmbH. It was subsequently renamed time:matters GmbH in 2003 and developed a service proposition described as Special Speed Solutions. Rather than operating only as a conventional freight forwarder, time:matters combines access to air-cargo capacity with rail and road options and specialized courier infrastructure. Its network has benefited from cooperation involving Lufthansa Group connectivity, Deutsche Bahn Intercity-Express services, Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport. The company also operates courier terminals designed to support the rapid handover and onward movement of urgent consignments. A major ownership change took place in 2007, when Aheim Capital GmbH acquired a majority interest while Lufthansa Cargo retained 49 percent. During the same period, time:matters created a dedicated spare-parts logistics company and opened a courier terminal at Frankfurt Airport. In 2016, Lufthansa Cargo reacquired the remaining 51 percent held by Aheim Capital and became the sole stakeholder. This restored the company to full ownership within the Lufthansa Cargo organization and reinforced its connection to the wider Lufthansa Group transport network. The company expanded both its geographic reach and digital capabilities during the following decade. Its ic:kurier service reached additional European destinations, including Vienna and Paris, while the airmates platform, introduced in 2017, provided a digital framework for arranging and managing onboard-courier transports. Same-day Air services were extended to the United States and Mexico in 2018 and to Asia in 2019. In 2020, time:matters established a corporate affiliate in the United States and built a domestic same-day Air network covering 100 stations. Operational quality, customs capability and environmental management have also been part of the company's development. time:matters reported obtaining ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification in 2018, followed by ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and Authorized Economic Operator certifications in 2019. The company also acquired CB Customs Broker GmbH and Customs Broker Cargo Handling GmbH in 2018, broadening its customs-clearance capabilities. In 2019, it began offsetting carbon dioxide emissions for all airmates onboard-courier transports. The current time:matters organization includes courier-terminal operations and subsidiaries or affiliates in Austria, the Netherlands, Asia-Pacific, China and the Americas. Its headquarters are in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt. The brand's positioning is that of a specialist provider for urgent and high-consequence logistics rather than a mass-market parcel carrier, with service design centered on speed, multimodal access, shipment visibility, customs support and sector-specific handling.

time:matters began operations on 1 January 2002 as Lufthansa Cargo Same Day World GmbH, a business spun out of Lufthansa Cargo AG to address urgent and time-sensitive shipments. In 2003, the company adopted the time:matters name and developed its Special Speed Solutions proposition, covering time-critical transportation by air, rail and road. The early business was built around access to established transport infrastructure and specialist handling. Cooperation with the Lufthansa Group provided access to an extensive air network, while arrangements involving Deutsche Bahn's Intercity-Express services, Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport supported multimodal routing. The company also developed its own courier terminals to speed the transfer of urgent shipments between transport modes and handling points. In 2004, time:matters entered a cooperation arrangement with United Airlines Cargo for intercontinental shipments to the United States. Ownership and organizational scope changed in 2007. Aheim Capital GmbH acquired a majority stake, with Lufthansa Cargo retaining 49 percent. During that year, time:matters Spare Parts Logistics GmbH was established to support customers requiring rapid delivery of replacement components, and a courier terminal opened at Frankfurt Airport. The company subsequently broadened its European coverage: by 2010, its ic:kurier service had expanded to Vienna, Paris and other French destinations. In 2016, Lufthansa Cargo acquired the 51 percent held by Aheim Capital and became time:matters' sole stakeholder. The change returned the company to full ownership by its original corporate parent and strengthened its integration with Lufthansa Cargo's international logistics environment. In 2017, time:matters launched airmates, a digital platform for arranging onboard-courier services. The platform complemented the company's physical network by helping coordinate time-critical shipments carried by couriers on commercial passenger flights. International expansion accelerated in the late 2010s. The same-day Air network reached the United States and Mexico in 2018 and Asia in 2019. In 2020, the company established a corporate affiliate in the United States and introduced a domestic same-day Air network with 100 stations. These developments extended the brand beyond its German and European base while preserving its focus on urgent deliveries rather than standard parcel volume. The company also invested in quality, environmental management and customs services. It obtained ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification in 2018 and ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and AEO certifications in 2019. In 2018, time:matters acquired CB Customs Broker GmbH and Customs Broker Cargo Handling GmbH, adding customs-clearance and cargo-handling capabilities. In 2019, it began offsetting carbon dioxide emissions for all airmates onboard-courier transports. The resulting business is a specialist logistics platform serving sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, medical technology, aviation, aerospace, machinery, automotive and high technology. Its operating structure includes time:matters Courier Terminals GmbH, time:matters Austria GmbH, time:matters Netherlands B.V., time:matters Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., time:matters Shanghai International Freight Forwarding Ltd. and time:matters Americas, Inc. The headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg, Germany. Across its history, the brand has remained differentiated by its focus on speed-critical consignments, multimodal connectivity, specialized courier handling and the ability to support customers when ordinary logistics timetables are insufficient.

• 2020

  United States domestic network established

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  time:matters created a United States affiliate and launched a domestic same-day Air network with 100 stations.

• 2019

  Asian expansion and further certifications

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  The same-day Air network expanded to Asia, while the company obtained ISO 9001:2015 and AEO certifications and began offsetting emissions for airmates transports.

• 2018

  North American expansion and customs acquisitions

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  Same-day Air services expanded to the United States and Mexico; the company obtained ISO 14001:2015 certification and acquired two customs-related businesses.

• 2017

  airmates platform launched

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced a digital platform for its onboard-courier service.

• 2016

  Lufthansa Cargo becomes sole owner

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  Lufthansa Cargo acquired Aheim Capital's remaining interest and became the sole stakeholder.

• 2010

  ic:kurier expands in Europe

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  The ic:kurier service expanded to Vienna, Paris and destinations in France.

• 2007

  Majority stake acquired by Aheim Capital

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  Aheim Capital acquired a majority interest while Lufthansa Cargo kept a 49 percent stake; the company also created a spare-parts logistics entity and opened a Frankfurt Airport courier terminal.

• 2004

  United Airlines Cargo cooperation

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  time:matters partnered with United Airlines Cargo for intercontinental shipments to the United States.

• 2003

  Rebranded as time:matters GmbH

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the time:matters name and focused its proposition on Special Speed Solutions.

• 2002

  Business established as Lufthansa Cargo Same Day World

  [1]Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org

  A same-day logistics business was spun off from Lufthansa Cargo AG and began operating on 1 January.

A specialist provider of time-critical and urgent logistics for international businesses, combining air, rail and road transport with courier terminals, onboard couriers, spare-parts capability and customs expertise.

• Air express logistics

  Same-day Air

  A service for urgent shipments requiring same-day movement by air. The network was progressively extended from Germany and Europe to the United States, Mexico and Asia. It is aimed at business-critical consignments such as replacement parts, medical items and other goods for which conventional express transit would be too slow.

• Onboard courier · 2017

  airmates On Board Courier

  An onboard-courier service supported by the airmates digital platform. A courier accompanies a shipment on a passenger flight, enabling highly time-sensitive international transport. The service is particularly relevant to small, valuable or operationally urgent consignments, including aircraft and industrial spare parts.

• Express rail logistics

  ic:kurier

  A courier service using high-speed rail connectivity and related ground-handling processes. Its European footprint was expanded to destinations including Vienna, Paris and France, providing an alternative to air transport for time-sensitive shipments within connected rail corridors.

• Spare-parts logistics · 2007

  Spare Parts Logistics

  A specialist capability created to deliver replacement components needed to restore equipment or production. The offering supports industries such as aviation, automotive, machinery and industrial manufacturing, where unavailable parts can cause downtime or interrupt service operations.

• Trade and customs services · 2018

  Customs brokerage and cargo handling

  Customs-clearance and cargo-handling services expanded through the acquisition of CB Customs Broker GmbH and Customs Broker Cargo Handling GmbH. These capabilities are intended to reduce border-related delays and support urgent international shipments requiring specialized documentation and regulatory processing.

• 2020

  Creation of United States domestic same-day networkStrategy

  Background

  International expansion created a need for domestic distribution and collection infrastructure in the United States.

  Action taken

  time:matters established a United States affiliate and a domestic same-day Air network with 100 stations.

  Aftermath

  The move gave the company a broader domestic operating footprint in the United States in addition to its international services.

  Source

• 2019

  Expansion into Asia and emissions-offsetting commitmentStrategy

  Background

  The company continued internationalizing its same-day service while responding to environmental expectations in air logistics.

  Action taken

  time:matters expanded same-day Air to Asia and began offsetting carbon dioxide emissions for all airmates onboard-courier transports.

  Aftermath

  The measures extended the geographic reach of the service and added an environmental-management element to the onboard-courier proposition.

  Source

• 2018

  Expansion into North American same-day logisticsStrategy

  Background

  Demand for rapid international transport led the company to extend its same-day Air proposition beyond its established European base.

  Action taken

  time:matters expanded its same-day Air network to the United States and Mexico.

  Aftermath

  The expansion was followed by the creation of a United States domestic network in 2020.

  Source

• 2018

  Acquisition of customs-service companiesM&A

  Background

  Urgent cross-border logistics depends on fast and compliant customs processing.

  Action taken

  time:matters acquired CB Customs Broker GmbH and Customs Broker Cargo Handling GmbH.

  Aftermath

  The acquisitions broadened the company's customs-clearance and cargo-handling capabilities.

  Source

• 2017

  Launch of the airmates digital platformProduct launch

  Background

  Onboard-courier logistics required a digital means of organizing urgent consignments and courier movements.

  Action taken

  time:matters launched airmates as a digital platform for its On Board Courier service.

  Aftermath

  The platform became part of the company's digitally enabled approach to international time-critical shipments.

  Source

• 2016

  Lufthansa Cargo consolidates full ownershipM&A

  Background

  Lufthansa Cargo held a minority position after the 2007 transaction and sought to restore complete ownership of the specialist logistics company.

  Action taken

  Lufthansa Cargo acquired Aheim Capital's 51 percent stake and became the sole stakeholder.

  Aftermath

  time:matters continued operating within the Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Group structure while expanding its international and digital services.

  Source

• 2007

  Aheim Capital acquires majority stakeM&A

  Background

  The time-critical logistics business was reorganized with Aheim Capital GmbH taking a majority interest and Lufthansa Cargo retaining 49 percent.

  Action taken

  Aheim Capital became the majority owner, while the company expanded into spare-parts logistics and opened a Frankfurt Airport courier terminal.

  Aftermath

  The ownership arrangement remained in place until Lufthansa Cargo reacquired the outstanding interest in 2016.

  Source

1. 1Time:mattersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2time:matters official websitetime-matters.com