Ernst Lorch (Company)
| Ernst Lorch KG
|
|
|---|---|
_Logo.svg){kind=logo} |
|
| legal form | Limited partnership |
| founding | 1932 |
| Seat | Albstadt-Ebingen , Baden-Württemberg , Germany |
| management | Werner Schmid-Lorch, managing partner |
| Number of employees | 510 |
| sales | 100 million |
| Branch | Wholesale |
| Website | lorch-gruppe.com |
| Status: 2016 | |
The Ernst Lorch KG is a family-run Bosch -Vertragsgroßhändler in southern Germany, Vorarlberg and Switzerland and specializes in the distribution of automotive replacement parts, accessories and home appliances. Other business areas are workshop equipment and the operation of three Bosch service workshops. The central warehouse is in Storzingen (near Stetten akM). Management, sales and administration are based in Albstadt-Ebingen .
The Lorch Group employs around 450 people and around 60 trainees at 28 locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In 2017, the Lorch company expanded its sales area in Stuttgart by taking over the local Martika Autoteile GmbH. The Martika brand will continue to be represented as a retail brand in the greater Stuttgart area. In July 2017, Ernst Lorch KG also joined the Coparts group as a partner.
history
Ernst F. Lorch founded the Bosch service in Albstadt-Ebingen together with his son Ernst A. Lorch in 1932. Both company founders had previously worked for Robert Bosch and had got to know him personally. The family business took over the wholesale function for Robert Bosch GmbH 20 years later. The current manager Werner Schmid-Lorch joined the limited partnership in 1963 as a personally liable partner. The last 30 years have been characterized by the expansion of the sales area to the regions of Lake Constance, Black Forest and Reutlingen. In 1994 the central warehouse in Storzingen (near Stetten akM) was built, which significantly increased the storage capacity compared to the warehouse in Albstadt-Ebingen. In 1996 the sales area was expanded to Austria (Vorarlberg). After the turn of the millennium, Ernst Lorch KG first merged with Keller + Schneider GmbH based in Freiburg in 2002, followed by the merger with Otto Dürr GmbH from Neu-Ulm in 2004. Two years later, when Lorch AG was founded, Switzerland was named third sales country gained. The new construction of the Albstadt Distribution Center (VZA), which was opened in 2013, made it possible to combine administration, including management, customer service, Bosch Car Services and all sales for all business areas. In 2017 Martika GmbH in the Stuttgart area was bought up and Ernst Lorch KG joined the COPARTS purchasing association. In 2018 and 2019, the central warehouse in Storzingen was expanded and fundamentally modernized. Axel-Christof Schmid-Lorch joined Ernst Lorch KG in 2019 as managing partner (general partner).
range
The automotive parts trade accounts for over 75% of business operations. The company mainly supplies wear and spare parts from Bosch and around 200 other manufacturers. The company also offers a full range of workshop equipment for vehicle workshops. As a Bosch authorized wholesaler, the limited partnership also sells household appliances, primarily large appliances from Bosch and Constructa as well as small appliances from various brand manufacturers.
Ernst Lorch KG also offers training programs on the subjects of technology, sales and IT applications. The company also supports its customers with hotlines for technology and IT.
Wholesale function for Robert Bosch GmbH
The company has been a Bosch authorized wholesaler since 1952. This makes it a contractual partner for the areas of Bosch automotive equipment, Bosch workshop equipment and Bosch home appliances.
Lorch AG
In 2006 the wholesaler expanded into Switzerland. The resulting Lorch AG currently consists of five branches in Bern, Horw / Lucerne, St. Gallen, Basel, Vilters and the headquarters in Dübendorf. Ernst Lorch KG and Lorch AG together form the Lorch Group.