The J. MÜLLER Chronicle 1821 - 2021
In her richly illustrated company history, author Lydia Niehoff, a recognized specialist in the economic and social history of the Bremen/Oldenburg region, paints a fascinating picture of a unique mid-sized company where technological innovation, a tradition-conscious corporate culture, and regional ties are exemplarily visible.
On May 1, 2021, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of our company. Although we would have liked to celebrate on a grand scale, it was not possible under the conditions at that time. To commemorate this special company milestone, a livestream event titled “200 Years of J. MÜLLER Celebration” took place on May 5, 2021. The engaging, approximately one-hour event featured Jan Müller, Chairman of the J. MÜLLER AG, Michael Kurz, Mayor of the City of Brake, and Stephan Weil, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, and it marked this significant anniversary.
A medium-sized family business with a 200-year tradition is something special in the German business landscape. Through the event, we conveyed that 200 years is not a burden but, especially in times of crisis, can be a solid foundation to—maritimately speaking—set the sails towards the future.
Milestones in History
The following milestones present the key years and the defining generations from 1831 to 2024 that have significantly influenced and shaped the path of J. Müller Port Logistics.
1821
Establishment of the shipping business by Johann Müller
1822
Development of the transshipment and warehousing business. Specialization in direct cargo handling and transportation
1835
On January 1, the Braker Hafen is declared a Freihafen. As no customs duties or import taxes are levied, maritime trade increases
1858
Increased traffic necessitates the construction of the new inland port with a lock
1862
Major setback for maritime trade due to the construction of the railway line between Bremerhaven and Geestemünde
1869
Bernhard Friedrich Heinrich Müller is already taken into the company by his father Johann Müller in 1862. When Johann dies in 1869, Bernhard is supported in the business by his brother Carl Theodor
1873
Together with his uncle Hermann Gerhard, Bernhard Müller achieves the connection of Brake to the Brake railway network. The disadvantage compared to the Bremen port is thus eliminated
1875
Rail connection to Nordenham, where the company opened a branch. The branch primarily handles petroleum and naphtha
1887
Reorientation of the Brake port. Conversion from break bulk to bulk cargo port
1887
Agreement between Bremen and Oldenburg to compensate for the disadvantages of the Weser correction for Brake and Nordenham. Bremen must pay correction fees for sea goods and a port railway freight for all goods transported by rail
1887 - 1895
As a result of the deepening, the lighterage business disappears—break bulk goes back through Bremen. Johann Theodor Müller has to plan a new business basis for the Brake port. By shifting from break bulk to bulk cargo [especially grain], the port is revitalized
1888 - 1914
The Brake port benefits from the general economic upturn and population growth. The Weser correction leads to larger drafts and competitive railway freights
1892
Construction of the Strompier to provide a docking point for ships in the river, so they don’t have to go to Bremen
1911
Construction of the first concrete silo with two pneumatic elevators and a handling facility for Chile-Salpeter, also in bulk
1914 - 1918
During the port blockade in World War I, the port comes to a standstill and success collapses
1926
Conversion of the bucket elevators to state-of-the-art pneumatic elevators to increase the efficiency of the grain handling facility
1934
Construction of the first grain drying plant
1937 - 1948
Hans Müller establishes a branch with a transshipment operation in Bremen, creates an inland shipping company, and expands the Brake crane operation
1940 - 1958
Construction of two concrete silos with ventilation cells in the Suka system design to accommodate and handle the increased grain volumes
1953
Purchase of the Bremer-Besigheimer oil factories in the Bremen Holzhafen. Today the headquarters of J. MÜLLER Weser
1953 - 1967
Expansion of J. MÜLLER's grain facilities in Bremen
1959
Start of the expansion of the Brake port into one of Northern Europe's most significant breakbulk ports
1960 - 1963
The fourth Weser deepening leads to increased sea traffic, necessitating the expansion of the Strompier. This is followed by the land consolidation of the North Pier, creating new open storage areas and rail capacities
1966
Start of handling fishmeal as a specialized feed for the agricultural and aquafarming industries at the Bremen location
1968
Construction innovation – Multi-purpose hall for rain-sensitive bulk cargo in three sectors, served directly from seagoing vessels via movable roofs and rotary cranes
1972
Modernization of the Agri Terminal in Brake – 5 large storage cells with 35,000 tons, new conveyor systems with 600 tons/hour, storage volume of 465,000 tons. The construction of the over 90-meter high round silo increases storage capacity from 35,000 tons to 210,000 tons
1973
Worldwide premiere – Commissioning of the pneumatic discharging device with 600 tons/hour pipe discharge capacity
1975
The port area gained through the repositioning of the dike is equipped with handling facilities for bulk and break bulk cargo
1980
Introduction of sulfur handling
1981
Construction of a feed storage facility with 14 bin silos, including a card-controlled self-service system for automated truck loading
1989
Merger with Bachmann to form the MÜLLER & Bachmann Silo Community with a 120,000 tons capacity for grain and feed in Bremen. 14 years later, J. MÜLLER acquires the Bachmann shares
1998
14.7 hectares of the abandoned barracks site are converted into port area, and the expansion of the Brake port in the crane operation area is completed, making it one of the most significant breakbulk ports in Northern Europe
1999
Acquisition of Karl Gross Silo GmbH in Brake. The Agri Terminal in Brake invests 23 million euros in the construction of 55,000 tons silo capacity. At Holzport Bremen, the conversion of grain silos allows for the handling of coffee
2003
Start of the construction and expansion of the BLC Brake Logistics Center for the steadily growing timber export business
2003
Purchase of the business shares of “Weser International Commodities” and renaming to J. MÜLLER Weser GmbH as a specialist in commodity logistics for raw coffee and cocoa
2005
Start of the development of the 27-hectare Brake North port expansion area with a 450-meter heavy-duty quay for handling steel products and wind turbines
2008
Conversion of the GmbH & Co. KG into J. MÜLLER Aktiengesellschaft as a small public company, remaining 100% family-owned by the Müller family
2010
Commissioning of a process-controlled warehouse connected to the silo facility for 40,000 tons of bulk goods with an integrated self-service truck loading system
2011
Commissioning of the silo expansion [5,700 tons] for fishmeal at J. MÜLLER Weser in Bremen. Further automation and expansion of the self-service operations in the coffee business
2012
Implementation of a comprehensive approval procedure under the Federal Immission Control Act for the Brake port
2013
Commissioning of the new silo at the agricultural terminal. Around 47,000 tons of additional storage capacity created. Largest single investment in the company’s history
2014
Acquisition of the Hansakai handling operations in Bremen
2015
Formation of the joint venture company B-LOG Bulk Logistik GmbH, specializing in truck bulk transports, particularly for feed and grain
2016
All handling operations related to agricultural, bulk, and forestry products are consolidated under the newly named J. MÜLLER Agri + Breakbulk Terminals GmbH & Co. KG, including inland shipping, customs clearance, and Brake Ships Agency. The newly founded J. MÜLLER Stahl + Projekt Terminal GmbH & Co. KG handles project, wind turbine, and steel operations at Niedersachsenkai
2016
Commissioning of the newly built central silo control room for process optimization
2016
Expansion of the KV Terminal and commissioning of the new portal crane at the Hansakai handling operations in Bremen
2017
Acquisition of the grain handling facility [GVA] in Bremen
2017
Merger of J. MÜLLER Agri + Breakbulk Terminals GmbH & Co. KG at Brake and J. MÜLLER Weser GmbH & Co. KG at Bremen into J. MÜLLER Weser GmbH & Co. KG, Brake
2018
Merging of J. MÜLLER Stahl + Projekt Terminal GmbH & Co. KG and J. MÜLLER Service with J. MÜLLER Weser
2021
200 years of J. MÜLLER
Takeover of crane operations at Brake seaport
