Efficient Logistics for International Supply Chains: Ixolift and DACHSER
By Jonne Kuusisto I 4 minute read | photos courtesy of Ixolift
21/08/2026
Ixolift currently sells its products in over 20 European countries. As part of its international growth, the Finnish manufacturer of safe and ergonomic work platforms has continuously strengthened its partnership with DACHSER.
Logistics Considered from the Very Beginning
When Johan Friis founded Ixolift nine years ago, he had a clear vision: logistics must be integrated into product design from the very beginning. The company, headquartered in Nummela, Finland, manufactures small personal lifts and material-handling equipment, and early in the product development phase it was decided that every product should be designed to fit on a Euro pallet.
“From the very beginning, our goal was to focus on exports. That’s why we wanted to optimize logistics already at the design stage—both from a cost and functionality perspective. All six of our current machine models follow this same principle. It has been a guiding idea throughout our product development,” Friis explains.
Logistics is not our core business, but it directly affects the satisfaction of our distributor network. That’s why we value the reliable and flexible service we receive from DACHSER.
Direct deliveries to end customers
Today, Ixolift delivers its products to more than 20 countries—from the Nordics to Central Europe, from France to Ireland, and from Switzerland to Poland. Germany remains the largest market, but sales are relatively evenly spread across the region.
One of the cornerstones of the partnership with DACHSER has been simplifying the supply chain. Ixolift’s products are delivered directly to distributors and end customers without intermediate warehousing. This approach is not only cost-effective but also reduces the risk of damage by eliminating additional loading and unloading steps.
“The distributor’s warehouse is removed from the chain, which brings cost savings and reduces transport risks. Every loading and unloading increases the risk of damage. By delivering directly to the end customer, we eliminate one such risk point. This has been an important competitive advantage for us. Our customers across Europe can receive the products directly without storage,” Friis says.
DACHSER’s extensive European road transport network plays a significant role here, enabling Ixolift to deliver products efficiently to customers throughout Europe.
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European countries are supplied with Ixolift products, supported by DACHSER’s extensive groupage network.
Growth Through the European Groupage Network
The cooperation with DACHSER began in Ixolift’s early days and has grown alongside the expansion of the company’s international business. “Logistics is not our core business, but it directly affects the satisfaction of our distributor network. That’s why we value the reliable and flexible service we receive from DACHSER,” Friis emphasizes.
Business Development Manager Antti Suominen adds: “It has been a pleasure to follow Ixolift’s growth up close. Our long partnership has been built on open dialogue and clear goals. That’s why our cooperation has run so smoothly year after year.”
As Ixolift has grown, its service needs have evolved as well. When necessary, the company uses Dachser’s targospeed service for urgent deliveries, for example in critical end-of-week shipments. Additionally, new transport routes—such as the direct connection from Finland to Strasbourg—have supported growth in the French market in recent years. “It’s great to see that DACHSER has also expanded its services and can offer new solutions to support our growth. That’s a major advantage for us,” Friis says.
Looking ahead, Friis sees development opportunities especially in digital communication. As delivery status updates become increasingly automated, time and effort can be saved for Ixolift, distributors, and end customers alike. “Our customers are often in industrial settings where delivery windows are precise, and site access requires pre-notifications and special codes. That’s why up-to-date information is absolutely essential for us,” Friis explains.
The European groupage network is a key factor in the success of reliable supply chains. An article by Alexander Tonn, DACHSER COO of Road Logistics, titled “Groupage market in Europe: Resilience arises from the network” explains how DACHSER is strengthening resilience, capacity, and efficiency in the European general cargo market.
Our long partnership has been built on open dialogue and clear goals. That’s why our cooperation has run so smoothly year after year.
A partnership as a key to success
Although Ixolift is relatively small in size, it has been able to build a strong international business with the support of a robust logistics partnership. According to Friis, DACHSER’s network and services have enabled the company to offer added value to its distributors.
“It’s fair to say that this collaboration has been one of the keys to our success. Our customer relationships have never been based solely on price but on service quality. It’s been great to grow together,” Friis concludes.
