For 26 years, Martin Schmitz was literally the mastermind behind Deutenberg. Now, at the age of 65, the managing partner of Deutenberg Drahttechnik GmbH is retiring.
"I don't have any children to whom I could hand over the business," says the entrepreneur, so he does it like his predecessor: He sells it - to the owner of a competitor.
"I was looking for a strong partner and found him in WDM." The Wolfshagener Draht -und Metallverarbeitung is "strong in mass production, we have a high technical portfolio," Schmitz sees the company in the merger to form the new WDM-Deutenberg Holding on the way to becoming the market leader in Europe. Overall, there are only a handful of companies of this type.
It is important for Schmitz and his successor Peter Staab to emphasize that no jobs are at stake - on the contrary, the company is on an expansion course: "We want to further expand the good market position of both companies, hire more employees and future-proof the three locations.”
In order to be able to react to the increasing volume of orders, the partner companies will benefit from a synergetically interlinked network of three locations. In addition to Ense, these are Leisnig in Saxony and Groß Pankow in Brandenburg. In addition, the company intends to increase its staff - both through new hires and a change in the management level.
By mutual agreement, the managing partner Martin Schmitz handed over his office to his successor Peter Staab. From now on, he will be supported by a team of experienced executives from the partner companies involved, he writes in a press release. “WDM-Deutenberg Holding also has two investors with international expertise on its side – the investment company Gimv and private equity firm Cross, which owns the merged partners.“
"From a personal and entrepreneurial point of view, I am more than satisfied with the decision," emphasizes the outgoing managing director Martin Schmitz and adds: "The merger is the next logical step in the success story of our company. I would like to thank the employees, all partners and suppliers for the long distance that we have covered together.”
Source: Soester Anzeiger, Klaus Bunte