Dirk Gladiator has retired

IMP, EMP, GEGIS, FAIR@Link, PRISE, and German Ports—these terms have long been part of the technical vocabulary in the freight forwarding industry. The names represent key platforms and cargo community systems for seaports and airports. Dirk Gladiator helped shape them. A mechanical engineer by trade, he has been applying his engineering expertise to the flow of information in logistics to push its digitalization since the 1980s. 

In 1985, Gladiator joined DAKOSY as part of a work-study program, becoming the eighth member of what is now a staff of 220. After completing his studies, he developed the GEGIS hazardous materials information system, which DAKOSY continues to operate on behalf of the City of Hamburg to this day. There was a compelling reason for its creation: a warehouse fire involving hazardous materials in the Port of Hamburg. The documentation was stored in a card index file, where there were discrepancies between the paper records and the actual inventory. “Fortunately, more hazardous materials were documented than were actually stored in the warehouse,” Gladiator reports. This learning experience led to the creation of GEGIS, which started out as an ISETEC research project before it was put into full operation in 1990.

In 2002, Gladiator joined DB Systems, Deutsche Bahn’s IT service provider, but returned to DAKOSY in 2004 after a little over two years. His visionary yet conceptual work on IT platforms has remained a central theme throughout his career. Gladiator took over the PCS department and played a key role in designing and launching the Import and Export Management Platforms for the Port of Hamburg. He also helped launch PRISE (Port River Information System Elbe), a digital platform designed to optimize ship traffic in the Port of Hamburg and its connecting waterways. 

Starting in 2010, the Hamburg native found himself increasingly pulled away from his Hanseatic home toward Europe’s largest air cargo hub. The goal was to establish an Air Cargo Community System at Frankfurt Airport while working in collaboration with the local community, modeled after the system in the Port of Hamburg. He clearly remembers a popular saying from that time, “In Frankfurt, trucks fall from the sky” — a phrase that was commonly used at the airport back then. “To our great surprise, there was no advance information available regarding cargo handling. This gave rise to the idea of establishing a Cargo Community System, which is now known as FAIR@Link,” Gladiator says with a smile. “I figured it would take five years to implement the change, but in the end it took over ten.” Yet it is precisely his optimism, perseverance, and persuasiveness that wins over everyone involved, and he never rests until he knows all participants are on board. 

The results are clear to see. In 2024, DAKOSY and Fraport established the joint venture allivate to ensure FAIR@Link’s long-term viability and to strategically develop the platform in collaboration with the local community. Gladiator became one of the two managing directors. 

He continued to commute between Frankfurt and Hamburg through to his retirement. His last major project also took him to the northern seaport area more and more often. Under the name German Ports, he spearheaded the introduction of a cross-port digital release system. The moment when competitors from the northern seaports sat down together for the first time to define a uniform, standardized process — one that equally covers Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven and effectively combats drug smuggling — remains unforgettable for him.

Alongside his professional activities, Gladiator has served as a lay judge since 2023—a volunteer role he will continue to hold in retirement. He is also active on the board of the Nordkirche, an association of churches in Northern Germany. He plans to devote more time to other activities that have taken a back seat until now. He has promised his daughter that he will participate in this year’s 10-km Alster Run. And in his vegetable garden, he’s already looking ahead to this year’s harvest. “Two years ago, I planted asparagus, which will be ready to harvest for the first time this year.” And instead of flying to Frankfurt every week, he and his wife are driving their camper van to the North Cape for several weeks.