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128-455: Klöckner & Co SE (also known as Klöckner , KlöCo , or KCO) is a producer-independent distributor of steel and metal products . With a network of 120 warehousing and processing locations, Klöckner & Co supplies over 90,000 customers, mainly in Europe and North America. The company was founded in 1906 by Peter Klöckner as a trading company and has subsequently developed into one of

256-659: A Neutrality Pact in April 1941, and Japan adopted the doctrine of Nanshin-ron , promoted by the Navy, which took its focus southward and eventually led to war with the United States and the Western Allies. In Europe, Germany and Italy were becoming more aggressive. In March 1938, Germany annexed Austria , again provoking little response from other European powers. Encouraged, Hitler began pressing German claims on

384-578: A cautious French probe into the Saarland . The Western Allies also began a naval blockade of Germany , which aimed to damage the country's economy and war effort. Germany responded by ordering U-boat warfare against Allied merchant and warships, which would later escalate into the Battle of the Atlantic . On 8 September, German troops reached the suburbs of Warsaw . The Polish counter-offensive to

512-414: A company's overall strategic vision and mission . Developing a coherent distribution plan is a central component of strategic planning . At the strategic level, as well as deciding whether to distribute directly or via a distribution network, there are three broad approaches to distribution, namely mass, selective and exclusive distribution. The number and type of intermediaries selected largely depends on

640-429: A diverse range of activities and disciplines including detailed logistics , transportation , warehousing, storage, inventory management as well as channel management, including selection of channel members and rewarding distributors. Before designing a distribution system, the supplier needs to determine what distribution channel to achieve in broad terms. The approach to distributing products or services depends on

768-722: A head office in Singapore which can be used by manufacturers outside the region to increase their regional market penetration and grow sales. Channel-switching (not to be confused with zapping or channel surfing on TV) is the action of consumers switching from one type of channel intermediary to a different type of intermediary for their purchases. Examples include switching from brick-and-mortar stores to online catalogues and e-commerce providers; switching from grocery stores to convenience stores or switching from top tier department stores to mass market discount outlets. A number of factors have led to an increase in channel switching behaviour;

896-592: A major trigger for disintermediation in some industries. Certain types of traditional intermediaries are dropping by the wayside. World War II Asia-Pacific Mediterranean and Middle East Other campaigns Coups World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers . Nearly all

1024-478: A number of factors including the type of product, especially perishability ; the market served; the geographic scope of operations and the firm's overall mission and vision. The process of setting out a broad statement of the aims and objectives of a distribution channel is a strategic level decision. Strategically, there are three approaches to distribution: Summary of strategic approaches to distribution In consumer markets, another key strategic level decision

1152-549: A powerful channel member may coordinate the interests of the channel for personal gain. Territories are often seen as a source of conflict, sometimes because boundaries are only loosely defined. American building materials supplier Johns Manville noted in the years before the US entered World War II that distributors needed support in a range of practical areas if they were going to be successful in connecting with housing developers, and instituted "Housing Guilds" which brought together

1280-524: A pretext to initiate the invasion. The first German attack of the war came against the Polish defences at Westerplatte . The United Kingdom responded with an ultimatum for Germany to cease military operations, and on 3 September, after the ultimatum was ignored, Britain and France declared war on Germany. During the Phoney War period, the alliance provided no direct military support to Poland, outside of

1408-781: A pretext to worsen relations. On 29 August, Hitler demanded that a Polish plenipotentiary immediately travel to Berlin to negotiate the handover of Danzig , and to allow a plebiscite in the Polish Corridor in which the German minority would vote on secession. The Poles refused to comply with the German demands, and on the night of 30–31 August in a confrontational meeting with the British ambassador Nevile Henderson , Ribbentrop declared that Germany considered its claims rejected. On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland after having staged several false flag border incidents as

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1536-428: A risk leading distributors to move their business to other supply lines. Channel conflict can arise when one intermediary's actions prevent another intermediary from achieving their objectives. Vertical channel conflict occurs between the levels within a channel, and horizontal channel conflict occurs between intermediaries at the same level within a channel. Channel conflict is a perennial problem. There are risks that

1664-475: A secret protocol that defined German and Soviet "spheres of influence" (western Poland and Lithuania for Germany; eastern Poland , Finland, Estonia , Latvia and Bessarabia for the Soviet Union), and raised the question of continuing Polish independence. The pact neutralised the possibility of Soviet opposition to a campaign against Poland and assured that Germany would not have to face the prospect of

1792-774: A similar pact and rejected ceding part of its territory to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union invaded Finland in November 1939, and was subsequently expelled from the League of Nations for this crime of aggression. Despite overwhelming numerical superiority, Soviet military success during the Winter War was modest, and the Finno-Soviet war ended in March 1940 with some Finnish concessions of territory . In June 1940,

1920-412: A single organization uses a variety of different channels to reach its markets, this is known as a multi-channel distribution network. In addition, online retailing or e-commerce is leading to disintermediation , the removal of intermediaries from a supply chain. Retailing via smartphone or m-commerce is also a growth area. The firm's marketing department needs to design the most suitable channels for

2048-539: A total of more than 200,000 products. The range is divided into the areas of long steel products (steel beams for the construction industry), flat steel products ( sheet steel for mechanical engineering), hollow sections (hollow sections for steel construction), stainless and quality steel (high-alloy round steel for mechanical engineering), tubes and hollow sections (precision tubes), aluminum (aluminum profile bars for plant construction) and CO 2 -reduced steel, stainless steel , and aluminum products. The company's focus

2176-512: A trading company to strategically cater to the growing iron and steel industry. In addition to acquisitions, Klöckner focused on expansion from the beginning. When the company was founded in 1906, the first branches were opened in Cologne and Düsseldorf . Klöckner & Co opened additional branches in Berlin and Magdeburg in 1907, followed by Hamburg and Dresden in 1909. In 1911, a branch

2304-531: A two-front war, as it had in World War   I. Immediately afterwards, Hitler ordered the attack to proceed on 26 August, but upon hearing that the United Kingdom had concluded a formal mutual assistance pact with Poland and that Italy would maintain neutrality, he decided to delay it. In response to British requests for direct negotiations to avoid war, Germany made demands on Poland, which served as

2432-564: Is co-created by all the players within the distribution chain, including the value created by customers themselves. This emphasis on value-creation is contributing to a change in terminology surrounding distribution processes; "distribution networks" are often termed value-chains while "distribution centers" are often termed customer fulfillment centers . For example, the retail giant Amazon , which utilizes both direct online distribution alongside bricks and mortar stores, now calls its distribution centers "customer fulfillment centers". Although

2560-486: Is directly related to the existing real estate and personnel capacities. The group operates as a Societas Europaea (SE), a European legal form for stock corporations. The company's business is the distribution of steel and metal products, their processing, as well as the acquisition and management of investments of all kinds. The business activities are managed by the Executive Board and the central departments of

2688-481: Is known as a zero-level distribution system or direct marketing . A level one (sometimes called one-tier ) channel has a single intermediary. A level two (alternatively a two-tier ) channel has two intermediaries, and so on. This flow is typically represented as being manufacturer to retailer to consumer, but may involve other types of intermediaries. In practice, distribution systems for perishable goods tend to be shorter - direct or single intermediary, because of

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2816-559: Is listed under the ticker symbol KCO. Particularly in the first few years after the IPO, Klöckner pursued an expansive acquisition strategy and took over several companies. In April 2007, Klöckner acquired the steel distribution company Primary-Steel. In 2008, Klöckner & Co acquired its US competitor Temtco Steel in 2008. In 2009, Becker Stahl-Service (BSS) and Bläsi were acquired. In 2011, Macsteel Service Centers USA and Frefer, Brazil's third-largest steel and metal distributor, became part of

2944-565: Is on flat and long products. In addition to unprocessed materials and primary products, the group offers various services such as steel service coil processing (cutting and splitting of strip steel), forming and production of pressed parts, CNC turning  [ Wikidata ] and milling, 2D/3D laser tube processing, laser and water jet cutting, processing of quality and engineering steel, thermal cutting (plasma and oxyfuel flame cutting), surface treatment (blasting and priming) and sawing/drilling/bending. For 2023, Klöckner & Co received

3072-449: Is whether to use a push or pull strategy. In a push strategy , the marketer uses intensive advertising and incentives aimed at distributors, especially retailers and wholesalers, with the expectation that they will stock the product or brand, and that consumers will purchase it when they see it in stores. In contrast, in a pull strategy , the marketer promotes the product directly to consumers hoping that they will pressure retailers to stock

3200-604: The Anglo-German Naval Agreement and the German–Polish declaration of non-aggression . The situation became a crisis in late August as German troops continued to mobilise against the Polish border. On 23 August the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact with Germany, after tripartite negotiations for a military alliance between France, the United Kingdom, and Soviet Union had stalled. This pact had

3328-689: The British Empire , with fighting in the Balkans , Mediterranean, and Middle East , the aerial Battle of Britain and the Blitz , and naval Battle of the Atlantic . Through a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany took control of much of continental Europe and formed the Axis alliance with Italy , Japan , and other countries. In June 1941, Germany led the European Axis in an invasion of

3456-581: The German Revolution of 1918–1919 , and a democratic government, later known as the Weimar Republic , was created. The interwar period saw strife between supporters of the new republic and hardline opponents on both the political right and left. Italy, as an Entente ally, had made some post-war territorial gains; however, Italian nationalists were angered that the promises made by the United Kingdom and France to secure Italian entrance into

3584-638: The German Sustainability Award (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis, DNP) in the Climate Transformation Field category. The award honors companies, organizations, and projects that make pioneering contributions to combating the climate crisis . The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recognized the group's CO 2 targets as scientifically sound in the regular process. Distribution (marketing) Decisions about distribution need to be taken in line with

3712-800: The German invasion of Poland and the United Kingdom and France 's declaration of war on Germany two days later on 3 September 1939. Dates for the beginning of the Pacific War include the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War on 7 July 1937, or the earlier Japanese invasion of Manchuria , on 19 September 1931. Others follow the British historian A. J. P. Taylor , who stated that the Sino-Japanese War and war in Europe and its colonies occurred simultaneously, and

3840-509: The Insurance Distribution Directive in 2016 to enhance a level of harmonisation in this market across EU member states. Typical intermediaries involved in distribution include: A firm can design any number of channels they require to reach customers efficiently and effectively. Channels can be distinguished by the number of intermediaries between producer and consumer. If there are no intermediaries then this

3968-576: The Italian mainland , and Allied offensives in the Pacific—cost the Axis powers their initiative and forced them into strategic retreat on all fronts. In 1944, the Western Allies invaded German-occupied France at Normandy , while the Soviet Union regained its territorial losses and pushed Germany and its allies westward. At the same time, Japan suffered reversals in mainland Asia, while the Allies crippled

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4096-553: The Japanese Navy and captured key islands . The war in Europe concluded with the liberation of German-occupied territories ; the invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, culminating in the fall of Berlin to Soviet troops; Hitler's suicide ; and the German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945 . Following the refusal of Japan to surrender on the terms of the Potsdam Declaration ,

4224-695: The League of Nations as a force to preserve peace. Both Italy and Ethiopia were member nations, but the League did little when the former clearly violated Article X of the League's Covenant . The United Kingdom and France supported imposing sanctions on Italy for the invasion, but the sanctions were not fully enforced and failed to end the Italian invasion. Italy subsequently dropped its objections to Germany's goal of absorbing Austria . When civil war broke out in Spain, Hitler and Mussolini lent military support to

4352-731: The Nationalist rebels , led by General Francisco Franco . Italy supported the Nationalists to a greater extent than the Nazis: Mussolini sent more than 70,000 ground troops, 6,000 aviation personnel, and 720 aircraft to Spain. The Soviet Union supported the existing government of the Spanish Republic . More than 30,000 foreign volunteers, known as the International Brigades , also fought against

4480-690: The Rome–Berlin Axis . A month later, Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact , which Italy joined the following year. The Kuomintang (KMT) party in China launched a unification campaign against regional warlords and nominally unified China in the mid-1920s, but was soon embroiled in a civil war against its former Chinese Communist Party (CCP) allies and new regional warlords . In 1931, an increasingly militaristic Empire of Japan , which had long sought influence in China as

4608-590: The Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact in April 1941. By contrast, the Germans were steadily making preparations for an attack on the Soviet Union, massing forces on the Soviet border. Hitler believed that the United Kingdom's refusal to end the war was based on the hope that the United States and the Soviet Union would enter the war against Germany sooner or later. On 31 July 1940, Hitler decided that

4736-598: The Stresa Front in April 1935 in order to contain Germany, a key step towards military globalisation ; however, that June, the United Kingdom made an independent naval agreement with Germany, easing prior restrictions. The Soviet Union, concerned by Germany's goals of capturing vast areas of Eastern Europe , drafted a treaty of mutual assistance with France. Before taking effect, though, the Franco-Soviet pact

4864-709: The Sudetenland , an area of Czechoslovakia with a predominantly ethnic German population. Soon the United Kingdom and France followed the appeasement policy of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and conceded this territory to Germany in the Munich Agreement , which was made against the wishes of the Czechoslovak government, in exchange for a promise of no further territorial demands. Soon afterwards, Germany and Italy forced Czechoslovakia to cede additional territory to Hungary, and Poland annexed

4992-707: The Tanggu Truce was signed in 1933. Thereafter, Chinese volunteer forces continued the resistance to Japanese aggression in Manchuria , and Chahar and Suiyuan . After the 1936 Xi'an Incident , the Kuomintang and CCP forces agreed on a ceasefire to present a united front to oppose Japan. The Second Italo-Ethiopian War was a brief colonial war that began in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war began with

5120-579: The Trans-Olza region of Czechoslovakia. Although all of Germany's stated demands had been satisfied by the agreement, privately Hitler was furious that British interference had prevented him from seizing all of Czechoslovakia in one operation. In subsequent speeches Hitler attacked British and Jewish "war-mongers" and in January 1939 secretly ordered a major build-up of the German navy to challenge British naval supremacy. In March 1939, Germany invaded

5248-558: The Treaty of Craiova . The loss of one-third of Romania's 1939 territory caused a coup against King Carol II, turning Romania into a fascist dictatorship under Marshal Ion Antonescu , with a course set towards the Axis in the hopes of a German guarantee. Meanwhile, German-Soviet political relations and economic co-operation gradually stalled, and both states began preparations for war. In April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway to protect shipments of iron ore from Sweden , which

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5376-749: The United Kingdom and France to declare war on Germany. Poland was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact , in which they had agreed on " spheres of influence " in Eastern Europe. In 1940, the Soviets annexed the Baltic states and parts of Finland and Romania . After the fall of France in June 1940, the war continued mainly between Germany and

5504-709: The Wehrmacht rapidly advanced to the Channel and cut off the Allied forces in Belgium, trapping the bulk of the Allied armies in a cauldron on the Franco-Belgian border near Lille. The United Kingdom was able to evacuate a significant number of Allied troops from the continent by early June, although they had to abandon almost all their equipment. On 10 June, Italy invaded France , declaring war on both France and

5632-630: The aftermath of World War I and the rise of fascism in Europe and militarism in Japan . Key events leading up to the war included Japan's invasion of Manchuria , the Spanish Civil War , the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War , and Germany's annexations of Austria and the Sudetenland . World War II is generally considered to have begun on 1 September 1939, when Nazi Germany , under Adolf Hitler , invaded Poland , prompting

5760-479: The reunification of East and West Germany to take place and resolved most post–World War   II issues. No formal peace treaty between Japan and the Soviet Union was ever signed, although the state of war between the two countries was terminated by the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956 , which also restored full diplomatic relations between them. World War I had radically altered

5888-466: The Allies were attempting to cut off . Denmark capitulated after six hours , and despite Allied support , Norway was conquered within two months. British discontent over the Norwegian campaign led to the resignation of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain , who was replaced by Winston Churchill on 10   May 1940. On the same day, Germany launched an offensive against France . To circumvent

6016-534: The Axis war against the Soviet Union, in Romania's case partially to recapture territory ceded to the Soviet Union . In early June 1940, the Italian Regia Aeronautica attacked and besieged Malta , a British possession. From late summer to early autumn, Italy conquered British Somaliland and made an incursion into British-held Egypt . In October, Italy attacked Greece , but the attack

6144-421: The Blitz , but largely ended in May 1941 after failing to significantly disrupt the British war effort. Using newly captured French ports, the German Navy enjoyed success against an over-extended Royal Navy , using U-boats against British shipping in the Atlantic . The British Home Fleet scored a significant victory on 27   May 1941 by sinking the German battleship Bismarck . In November 1939,

6272-428: The Duisburg Holding and are carried out by the national companies. The group is divided into two operating segments (Kloeckner Metals Europe and Kloeckner Metals Americas), under which other operating country organizations operate. Klöckner & Co SE's share capital amounts to €249,375,000, which is divided into 99,750,000 no-par value registered shares. The company maintains a digital share register. In March 2023,

6400-405: The European Axis declaring war on the US. Japan conquered much of coastal China and Southeast Asia , but its advances in the Pacific were halted in mid-1942 after its defeat in the naval Battle of Midway ; Germany and Italy were defeated in North Africa and at Stalingrad in the Soviet Union. Key setbacks in 1943—including German defeats on the Eastern Front, the Allied invasions of Sicily and

6528-410: The French possessions of Syria and Lebanon , assisted by the Free French . With the situation in Europe and Asia relatively stable, Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union made preparations for war. With the Soviets wary of mounting tensions with Germany, and the Japanese planning to take advantage of the European War by seizing resource-rich European possessions in Southeast Asia , the two powers signed

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6656-426: The Germans, and the last large operational unit of the Polish Army surrendered on 6   October . Despite the military defeat, Poland never surrendered; instead, it formed the Polish government-in-exile and a clandestine state apparatus remained in occupied Poland. A significant part of Polish military personnel evacuated to Romania and Latvia; many of them later fought against the Axis in other theatres of

6784-739: The KCO share has been traded on the regulated market ( Prime Standard ) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is listed on the SDAX. This makes Klöckner & Co one of the 160 largest listed companies in Germany. Klöckner & Co has a dense distribution and service network with a geographical focus on Europe and North America. The group's value chain extends from purchasing to warehousing , services, retail (digital and traditional), and distribution. Klöckner also offers consulting services relating to logistics and other production processes. The international distribution group operates independently of production. The group bundles its range of sustainable products and services, such as CO 2 -reduced materials, under

6912-480: The Klöckner-Werke AG and Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG in the 1950s, Klöckner & Co developed into a diversified trading company. The sale of steel in Germany brought high profits during the " Wirtschaftswunder " ("Economic Miracle"), as Germany rapidly reconstructed and developed following WII. Branches abroad strengthened international business. Klöckner & Co also became active in other sectors, such as shipping and burner technology. Klöckner & Co responded to

7040-577: The Management Board from Thomas Ludwig. He initiated a restructuring of the company to compensate for declining demand. As a result, locations were closed or sold, and jobs were cut. At the same time, the group invested in new technologies. Since 2014, the company has focused heavily on expanding digital sales channels. Today, the company is considered a pioneer in the industry with its Klöckner Assistant application and other digital services. The group enables other steel and metal trade companies to connect digitally without adapting their processes. In May 2017,

7168-450: The Nationalists. Both Germany and the Soviet Union used this proxy war as an opportunity to test in combat their most advanced weapons and tactics. The Nationalists won the civil war in April 1939; Franco, now dictator, remained officially neutral during World War   II but generally favoured the Axis . His greatest collaboration with Germany was the sending of volunteers to fight on the Eastern Front . In July 1937, Japan captured

7296-452: The Royal Navy putting three Italian battleships out of commission after a carrier attack at Taranto , and neutralising several more warships at the Battle of Cape Matapan . Italian defeats prompted Germany to deploy an expeditionary force to North Africa; at the end of March 1941, Rommel 's Afrika Korps launched an offensive which drove back Commonwealth forces. In less than a month, Axis forces advanced to western Egypt and besieged

7424-423: The Soviet Union occupied the entire territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as the Romanian regions of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and the Hertsa region . In August 1940, Hitler imposed the Second Vienna Award on Romania which led to the transfer of Northern Transylvania to Hungary. In September 1940, Bulgaria demanded Southern Dobruja from Romania with German and Italian support, leading to

7552-421: The Soviet Union , opening the Eastern Front and initially making large territorial gains. Japan aimed to dominate East Asia and the Asia-Pacific , and by 1937 was at war with the Republic of China . In December 1941, Japan attacked American and British territories in Southeast Asia and the Central Pacific , including Pearl Harbor in Hawaii , which resulted in the US and the UK declaring war against Japan, and

7680-418: The Soviet Union and Mongolia . The Japanese doctrine of Hokushin-ron , which emphasised Japan's expansion northward, was favoured by the Imperial Army during this time. This policy would prove difficult to maintain in light of the Japanese defeat at Khalkin Gol in 1939, the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War and ally Nazi Germany pursuing neutrality with the Soviets. Japan and the Soviet Union eventually signed

7808-575: The Soviet Union should be eliminated and aimed for the conquest of Ukraine , the Baltic states and Byelorussia . However, other senior German officials like Ribbentrop saw an opportunity to create a Euro-Asian bloc against the British Empire by inviting the Soviet Union into the Tripartite Pact. In November 1940, negotiations took place to determine if the Soviet Union would join the pact. The Soviets showed some interest but asked for concessions from Finland, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Japan that Germany considered unacceptable. On 18 December 1940, Hitler issued

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7936-402: The US dropped the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August. Faced with an imminent invasion of the Japanese archipelago , the possibility of further atomic bombings, and the Soviet declaration of war against Japan and its invasion of Manchuria , Japan announced its unconditional surrender on 15 August and signed a surrender document on 2 September 1945 , marking

8064-424: The United Kingdom and France guaranteed their support for Polish independence ; when Italy conquered Albania in April 1939, the same guarantee was extended to the Kingdoms of Romania and Greece . Shortly after the Franco - British pledge to Poland, Germany and Italy formalised their own alliance with the Pact of Steel . Hitler accused the United Kingdom and Poland of trying to "encircle" Germany and renounced

8192-489: The United Kingdom attacked on 3   July in an attempt to prevent its seizure by Germany. The air Battle of Britain began in early July with Luftwaffe attacks on shipping and harbours . The German campaign for air superiority started in August but its failure to defeat RAF Fighter Command forced the indefinite postponement of the proposed German invasion of Britain . The German strategic bombing offensive intensified with night attacks on London and other cities in

8320-401: The United Kingdom. The Germans turned south against the weakened French army, and Paris fell to them on 14   June. Eight days later France signed an armistice with Germany ; it was divided into German and Italian occupation zones , and an unoccupied rump state under the Vichy Regime , which, though officially neutral, was generally aligned with Germany. France kept its fleet, which

8448-473: The United States was assisting China and the Western Allies, and had amended the Neutrality Act to allow "cash and carry" purchases by the Allies. In 1940, following the German capture of Paris, the size of the United States Navy was significantly increased . In September the United States further agreed to a trade of American destroyers for British bases . Still, a large majority of the American public continued to oppose any direct military intervention in

8576-434: The Yellow River ; this manoeuvre bought time for the Chinese to prepare their defences at Wuhan , but the city was taken by October. Japanese military victories did not bring about the collapse of Chinese resistance that Japan had hoped to achieve; instead, the Chinese government relocated inland to Chongqing and continued the war. In the mid-to-late 1930s, Japanese forces in Manchukuo had sporadic border clashes with

8704-442: The board. To this end, a dedicated center for digitalization, kloeckner.i, was established at the end of 2014. One of its digital applications is the Kloeckner Assistant, which uses artificial intelligence to automatically process incoming price inquiries and orders received by fax or phone. Klöckner & Co also invests in venture capital funds and directly in start-ups via its own investment company . Klöckner & Co offers

8832-408: The businessman Peter Klöckner, together with his brother Florian Klöckner, founded Klöckner & Co as a general partnership company in Duisburg . Born in Koblenz in 1863, Peter Klöckner had worked in the iron and steel industry for 24 years by the time the company was founded, having previously made a name for himself through business restructuring and investments. Klöckner & Co was founded as

8960-405: The capital Nanking in December 1937. After the fall of Nanking, tens or hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and disarmed combatants were murdered by the Japanese . In March 1938, Nationalist Chinese forces won their first major victory at Taierzhuang , but then the city of Xuzhou was taken by the Japanese in May. In June 1938, Chinese forces stalled the Japanese advance by flooding

9088-422: The company into an existential crisis. This drastically reduced the company's capital base by 600 million deutschmarks . Due to his responsibility for this division, Peter Henle left the company's management. Deutsche Bank , which provided 400 million deutschmarks to cover the losses, took over the company and converted it into a stock corporation. This meant that Klöckner & Co was no longer family-run. During

9216-590: The company on the stock exchange in June 2006 and sold most of the shares in October. The shares are admitted to trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange regulated market with additional post-admission obligations (Prime Standard). On January 29, 2007, Klöckner & Co shares were included in Deutsche Börse 's MDAX index. The share has been listed in the SDAX since March 21, 2016. The share

9344-403: The conflict well into 1941. In December 1940, Roosevelt accused Hitler of planning world conquest and ruled out any negotiations as useless, calling for the United States to become an " arsenal of democracy " and promoting Lend-Lease programmes of military and humanitarian aid to support the British war effort; Lend-Lease was later extended to the other Allies, including the Soviet Union after it

9472-463: The corporate strategy introduced by Guido Kerkhoff, which focuses on higher-value businesses, including the processing and metalworking business, in Europe and North America. Additionally, as part of the portfolio optimization and the implementation of the corporate strategy, the company announced the planned sale of the distribution business in four European countries in December 2023. In March 2024,

9600-526: The creation of a " New Roman Empire ". Adolf Hitler , after an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the German government in 1923, eventually became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933 when Paul von Hindenburg and the Reichstag appointed him. Following Hindenburg's death in 1934, Hitler proclaimed himself Führer of Germany and abolished democracy, espousing a radical, racially motivated revision of

9728-757: The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian Empires. To prevent a future world war, the League of Nations was established in 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference . The organisation's primary goals were to prevent armed conflict through collective security, military, and naval disarmament , as well as settling international disputes through peaceful negotiations and arbitration. Despite strong pacifist sentiment after World War   I , irredentist and revanchist nationalism had emerged in several European states. These sentiments were especially marked in Germany because of

9856-808: The distributor (as the materials supplier), design services, sub-contractors, local realtors and housing financiers. Laurence C. Hart refers to the extensive development of these guilds and the "Training Schools" which they operated, converting these into a radio-based program from 1942. Hart, who worked for the supplier, put this experience forward to the American Marketing Association as "an outstanding example of manufacturer-distributor collaboration on an industry-wide basis". Companies wishing to grow through sales to new markets may need to identify and develop relationships with local distributors, for example to support export to new markets. In southeast Asia , for example, many distributors have

9984-662: The end of May completed the German conquest of the Balkans. Partisan warfare subsequently broke out against the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia , which continued until the end of the war. In the Middle East in May, Commonwealth forces quashed an uprising in Iraq which had been supported by German aircraft from bases within Vichy-controlled Syria . Between June and July, British-led forces invaded and occupied

10112-479: The end of the Wirtschaftswunder with more service, a reorganization, and more international trading activities. In addition to the core steel trading business, the company expanded into other trading areas. Diversification and internationalization helped to insulate the company during the economic ups and downs of the 1970s and 1980s. However, a failed crude oil futures transaction in the late 1980s plunged

10240-511: The end of the war. World War II changed the political alignment and social structure of the world, and it set the foundation of international relations for the rest of the 20th century and into the 21st century. The United Nations was established to foster international cooperation and prevent conflicts, with the victorious great powers—China, France, the Soviet Union, the UK, and the US—becoming

10368-519: The end-user, the consumer. This is mostly accomplished through merchant retailers or wholesalers or, in the international context, by importers. In certain specialist markets, agents or brokers may become involved in the marketing channel: for example in the insurance sector, the European Union has noted that "insurance and reinsurance intermediaries play a central role in the distribution of insurance and reinsurance products" . The EU introduced

10496-402: The firm's products, then select appropriate channel members or intermediaries. An organization may need to train staff of intermediaries and motivate the intermediary to sell the firm's products. The firm should monitor the channel's performance over time and modify the channel to enhance performance. To motivate intermediaries the firm can use positive actions, such as offering higher margins to

10624-891: The first part of the Becker Aluminium Service Center for processing flat aluminum products for the automotive and processing industry was put into operation in Bönen. In May 2021, Guido Kerkhoff succeeded Gisbert Rühl as Chairman of the Management Board of Klöckner & Co. Under his leadership, the group's sustainability strategy was further developed, and activities related to green steel were expanded. Klöckner & Co has also focused on selective acquisitions, including Hernandez Stainless, RSC Rostfrei Coilcenter, National Materials of Mexico (NMM), Industrial Manufacturing Services (IMS), and Sol Components in recent years. These acquisitions are in line with

10752-631: The first step of what its government saw as the country's right to rule Asia , staged the Mukden incident as a pretext to invade Manchuria and establish the puppet state of Manchukuo . China appealed to the League of Nations to stop the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Japan withdrew from the League of Nations after being condemned for its incursion into Manchuria. The two nations then fought several battles, in Shanghai , Rehe and Hebei , until

10880-864: The former Chinese imperial capital of Peking after instigating the Marco Polo Bridge incident , which culminated in the Japanese campaign to invade all of China. The Soviets quickly signed a non-aggression pact with China to lend materiel support, effectively ending China's prior cooperation with Germany . From September to November, the Japanese attacked Taiyuan , engaged the Kuomintang Army around Xinkou , and fought Communist forces in Pingxingguan . Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek deployed his best army to defend Shanghai , but after three months of fighting, Shanghai fell. The Japanese continued to push Chinese forces back, capturing

11008-539: The group divested activities that were no longer part of its core business. In 2001, Klöckner & Co was sold to the Balli Group, a British materials trader. The Iranian owners of Balli took over the group for around €1.1 billion. Two years after the takeover, Balli sold 94.5% of Klöckner & Co to WestLB and 5.1% to Hamburgische Landesbank . In 2005, Klöckner & Co was sold to the U.S. private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg & Bessemer (LGB), which floated

11136-624: The group. This was followed by the acquisition of the Swiss reinforcement steel specialist Riedo Bau + Stahl in 2014. In 2015, Klöckner & Co acquired the American steel processor American Fabricators in Nashville, Tennessee. In August 2008, Klöckner & Co was converted from a stock corporation under German law into a Societas Europaea (SE), a European legal form for stock corporations. In November 2009, Gisbert Rühl took over as Chairman of

11264-457: The growth of e-commerce, the globalization of markets, the advent of category killers (such as Officeworks and Kids 'R Us ) as well as changes in the legal or statutory environment. For instance, in Australia and New Zealand, following a relaxation of laws prohibiting supermarkets from selling therapeutic goods, consumers have gradually switched away from pharmacies and toward supermarkets for

11392-433: The intermediary, special deals, premiums and allowances for advertising or display. On the other hand, negative actions may be necessary, such as threatening to cut back on margin, or hold back delivery of product. Care must be exercised when considering negative actions as these may fall foul of regulations and can contribute to a public backlash and a public relations disaster. Manufacturer complacency has been highlighted as

11520-525: The invasion of the Ethiopian Empire (also known as Abyssinia ) by the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy ( Regno d'Italia ), which was launched from Italian Somaliland and Eritrea . The war resulted in the military occupation of Ethiopia and its annexation into the newly created colony of Italian East Africa ( Africa Orientale Italiana , or AOI); in addition it exposed the weakness of

11648-506: The investment company Swoctem, wholly owned by Friedhelm Loh, submitted a voluntary public takeover offer for Klöckner & Co. The aim was to exceed the threshold of 30% without achieving an absolute majority. At the end of the offer period in May 2023, Swoctem held 41.53% of the group's shares. As of December 31, 2023, institutional investors held most of Klöckner & Co.'s shares: Swoctem (41.53%), Goldman Sachs (4.99%), Amiral Gestion (3.11%), and Dimensional Holdings (3.01%). Since 2006,

11776-587: The management of the group of companies. As Klöckner & Co was regarded as one of the strategically essential companies for the German defense industry, the National Socialists took control of the company during the Second World War . Henle, who was removed from his position as managing director of the Klöckner group by the Nazis in 1942, took over the management of Klöckner & Co. As early as

11904-417: The media mix would be weighted toward mass-market media such as newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. Distribution of products takes place through a marketing channel , also known as a distribution channel. A marketing channel is the people, organizations, and activities necessary to transfer the ownership of goods from the point of production to the point of consumption. It is the way products get to

12032-590: The national companies in France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium were sold to the Spanish company Hierros Anon. Klöckner & Co plans to relocate the group's headquarters from Duisburg to Düsseldorf in 2025. The primary reason for this decision is the significantly better CO 2 footprint of the new building compared to the current location. In addition, the move offers several operational advantages and

12160-401: The need to reduce the time a product spends in transit or in storage. In other cases, distribution systems can become quite complex involving many levels and different types of intermediaries. In practice, many organizations use a mix of different channels; a direct sales force may call on larger customers. This may be complemented with other agents to cover smaller customers and prospects. When

12288-502: The permanent members of its security council . The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers , setting the stage for the Cold War . In the wake of European devastation, the influence of its great powers waned, triggering the decolonisation of Africa and Asia . Most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery and expansion . World War II began in Europe on 1 September 1939 with

12416-478: The plants were partially destroyed during the Second World War. After the Second World War, the Klöckner & Co group was placed under the supervision of the Allies , whose aim was to unbundle the large company. Thus, a new start was made. Like the other Klöckner & Co companies, the trading company benefited from the global demand for iron and steel that soon set in. After the legal separation from

12544-589: The political European map with the defeat of the Central Powers —including Austria-Hungary , Germany , Bulgaria , and the Ottoman Empire —and the 1917 Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia , which led to the founding of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, the victorious Allies of World War I , such as France, Belgium, Italy, Romania, and Greece, gained territory, and new nation-states were created out of

12672-599: The port of Tobruk . By late March 1941, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia signed the Tripartite Pact ; however, the Yugoslav government was overthrown two days later by pro-British nationalists. Germany and Italy responded with simultaneous invasions of both Yugoslavia and Greece , commencing on 6 April 1941; both nations were forced to surrender within the month. The airborne invasion of the Greek island of Crete at

12800-473: The product or brand, thereby pulling it through the distribution channel. The choice of a push or pull strategy has important implications for advertising and promotion. In a push strategy, the promotional mix would consist of trade advertising and sales calls while the advertising media would normally be weighted toward trade magazines, exhibitions, and trade shows while a pull strategy would make more extensive use of consumer advertising and sales promotions while

12928-531: The product or service can be found at cheaper prices, when superior models become available, when a wider range is offered, or simply because it is more convenient to shop through a different channel (e.g. online or one-stop shopping). As a hedge against market share losses due to switching behaviour, some retailers engage in multi-channel retailing. The emergence of a service-dominant logic perspective has focused scholarly attention on how distribution networks serve to create customer value and to consider how value

13056-474: The purchase of minor analgesics, cough and cold preparations and complementary medicines such as vitamins and herbal remedies. For the consumer, channel switching offers a more diverse shopping experience, which may concern some sellers by its potential to erode market share. Evidence of channel switching can suggest that disruptive forces are at play, and that consumer behaviour is undergoing fundamental changes. A consumer may be prompted to switch channels when

13184-722: The remainder of Czechoslovakia and subsequently split it into the German Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and a pro-German client state , the Slovak Republic . Hitler also delivered an ultimatum to Lithuania on 20 March 1939, forcing the concession of the Klaipėda Region , formerly the German Memelland . Greatly alarmed and with Hitler making further demands on the Free City of Danzig ,

13312-473: The rescue measures, the traditional company became the property of VIAG . Under new management, Klöckner & Co was active during the 1990s in steel, PC products, chemicals, textiles, and mobile buildings while also expanding its international presence in the steel sector. In spring 1997, Klöckner & Co announced its decision to concentrate on its core business: steel and metal trading. While continuing to expand its stockholding steel trading in Europe,

13440-632: The scrap trade, which developed into an exceptionally lucrative iron and steel trade branch. The outbreak of the First World War marked a sharp turning point. The conscription of many employees for military service caused a significant labor shortage. Klöckner & Co's plant in Kneuttingen, Lorraine, drastically reduced production during the war years because many of the Italians who had worked there had to return to their home country when

13568-410: The significant territorial, colonial, and financial losses imposed by the Treaty of Versailles . Under the treaty, Germany lost around 13 percent of its home territory and all its overseas possessions , while German annexation of other states was prohibited, reparations were imposed, and limits were placed on the size and capability of the country's armed forces . The German Empire was dissolved in

13696-498: The start or prelude to World War II. The exact date of the war's end also is not universally agreed upon. It was generally accepted at the time that the war ended with the armistice of 15 August 1945 ( V-J Day ), rather than with the formal surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945, which officially ended the war in Asia . A peace treaty between Japan and the Allies was signed in 1951. A 1990 treaty regarding Germany's future allowed

13824-419: The strategic approach. The overall distribution channel should add value to the consumer. Distribution is fundamentally concerned with ensuring that products reach target customers in the most direct and cost-efficient manner. In the case of services, distribution is principally concerned with access. Although distribution, as a concept, is relatively simple, in practice distribution management may involve

13952-533: The strong Maginot Line fortifications on the Franco-German border, Germany directed its attack at the neutral nations of Belgium , the Netherlands , and Luxembourg . The Germans carried out a flanking manoeuvre through the Ardennes region, which was mistakenly perceived by the Allies as an impenetrable natural barrier against armoured vehicles. By successfully implementing new Blitzkrieg tactics,

14080-469: The summer of 1940, forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners were deployed to work at Klöckner-Werke sites and their associated mines. Until 1945, 1,000 to 2,000 people were held prisoner in a camp at Werne Colliery. In Hasbergen-Ohrbeck near Osnabrück , the Gestapo set up a labor education camp, which probably held over 2000 prisoners who were forced to work in the nearby Klöckner plants. Some of

14208-556: The term "customer fulfillment center" has been criticized on the grounds that it is a neologism , its use is becoming increasingly mainstream as it slowly makes its way into introductory marketing textbooks. Disintermediation occurs when manufacturers or service providers eliminate intermediaries from the distribution network and deal directly with purchasers. Disintermediation is found in industries where radically new types of channel intermediaries displace traditional distributors. The widespread public acceptance of online shopping has been

14336-571: The trading division's independence. After the death in December 1936 of Peter Klöckner's only son, Waldemar Peter Klöckner, the Peter Klöckner Family Foundation, which had been established in 1931, was appointed as heir to the Klöckner group of companies. The designated successor then became the husband of Peter Klöckner's stepdaughter, Günther Henle , a partner at Klöckner & Co from 1937 to 1976. After Peter Klöckner's death on October 5, 1940, Günther Henle took over

14464-518: The two wars became World War II in 1941. Other proposed starting dates for World War II include the Italian invasion of Abyssinia on 3 October 1935. The British historian Antony Beevor views the beginning of World War   II as the Battles of Khalkhin Gol fought between Japan and the forces of Mongolia and the Soviet Union from May to September 1939. Others view the Spanish Civil War as

14592-429: The umbrella brand Nexigen. Klöckner & Co's customers are small and medium-sized companies as well as large international corporations, many of which are mainly in the construction industry and the mechanical and plant engineering sectors. The group also supplies intermediate products for the automotive, shipbuilding, and consumer goods industries. Klöckner & Co is digitizing its supply and service chains across

14720-599: The war broke out. During the economic crisis following the end of the First World War, Klöckner & Co compensated for its losses in the steel business by expanding the company's fields of activity. In the 1920s and 1930s, the trading company established its foreign department and opened its first branches in Europe, as well as in South and North America. The separation of the group into Klöckner-Werke  [ Wikidata ] and Klöckner & Co also strengthened

14848-513: The war were not fulfilled in the peace settlement. From 1922 to 1925, the Fascist movement led by Benito Mussolini seized power in Italy with a nationalist, totalitarian , and class collaborationist agenda that abolished representative democracy, repressed socialist, left-wing, and liberal forces, and pursued an aggressive expansionist foreign policy aimed at making Italy a world power, promising

14976-475: The war. Germany annexed western Poland and occupied central Poland ; the Soviet Union annexed eastern Poland ; small shares of Polish territory were transferred to Lithuania and Slovakia . On 6 October, Hitler made a public peace overture to the United Kingdom and France but said that the future of Poland was to be determined exclusively by Germany and the Soviet Union. The proposal was rejected and Hitler ordered an immediate offensive against France, which

15104-512: The west halted the German advance for several days, but it was outflanked and encircled by the Wehrmacht . Remnants of the Polish army broke through to besieged Warsaw . On 17 September 1939, two days after signing a cease-fire with Japan , the Soviet Union invaded Poland under the supposed pretext that the Polish state had ceased to exist. On 27 September, the Warsaw garrison surrendered to

15232-707: The world order , and soon began a massive rearmament campaign . France, seeking to secure its alliance with Italy, allowed Italy a free hand in Ethiopia , which Italy desired as a colonial possession. The situation was aggravated in early 1935 when the Territory of the Saar Basin was legally reunited with Germany, and Hitler repudiated the Treaty of Versailles, accelerated his rearmament programme, and introduced conscription. The United Kingdom, France and Italy formed

15360-439: The world's countries —including all the great powers —participated, with many investing all available economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities in pursuit of total war , blurring the distinction between military and civilian resources. Tanks and aircraft played major roles , with the latter enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and delivery of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II

15488-444: The world's leading steel distributors. Klöckner & Co has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2006. In recent years, Klöckner & Co has driven the integration of digital technologies into its core business and expanded its offering to include sustainable products, including green steel . The company is increasingly focusing on higher value-added business and is expanding its offering accordingly. On June 28, 1906,

15616-614: Was invaded by Germany. The United States started strategic planning to prepare for a full-scale offensive against Germany. At the end of September 1940, the Tripartite Pact formally united Japan, Italy, and Germany as the Axis powers . The Tripartite Pact stipulated that any country—with the exception of the Soviet Union—that attacked any Axis Power would be forced to go to war against all three. The Axis expanded in November 1940 when Hungary , Slovakia , and Romania joined. Romania and Hungary later made major contributions to

15744-473: Was expanded to include ore trading and raw material processing. Following the integration of the branches in Troisdorf and Düsseldorf, the group's companies covered the entire range of industrial production in Germany. The trading company served as an intermediary in the production chain, which, as early as 1912, extended from ore mining to the manufacturing of wires and machines. In 1913, the company entered

15872-515: Was opened in Mannheim to cover the southwest of Germany and to link up with the company's production site in Kneuttingen . Klöckner & Co's extensive trading and distribution network made it necessary for the branches to be given the status of independent companies, operating on their own account with their own managers. In addition to pig iron trading and steel production, the product range

16000-456: Was postponed until the spring of 1940 due to bad weather. After the outbreak of war in Poland, Stalin threatened Estonia , Latvia , and Lithuania with military invasion, forcing the three Baltic countries to sign pacts allowing the creation of Soviet military bases in these countries; in October 1939, significant Soviet military contingents were moved there. Finland refused to sign

16128-772: Was repulsed with heavy Italian casualties; the campaign ended within months with minor territorial changes. To assist Italy and prevent Britain from gaining a foothold, Germany prepared to invade the Balkans, which would threaten Romanian oil fields and strike against British dominance of the Mediterranean. In December 1940, British Empire forces began counter-offensives against Italian forces in Egypt and Italian East Africa . The offensives were successful; by early February 1941, Italy had lost control of eastern Libya, and large numbers of Italian troops had been taken prisoner. The Italian Navy also suffered significant defeats, with

16256-673: Was required to go through the bureaucracy of the League of Nations, which rendered it essentially toothless. The United States, concerned with events in Europe and Asia, passed the Neutrality Act in August of the same year. Hitler defied the Versailles and Locarno Treaties by remilitarising the Rhineland in March 1936, encountering little opposition due to the policy of appeasement . In October 1936, Germany and Italy formed

16384-537: Was the deadliest conflict in history, resulting in 70 to 85 million deaths , more than half being civilians. Millions died in genocides , including the Holocaust of European Jews, as well as from massacres, starvation, and disease. Following the Allied powers' victory, Germany , Austria , Japan , and Korea were occupied, and war crimes tribunals were conducted against German and Japanese leaders . The causes of World War II included unresolved tensions in

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