Young dual leadership at Wemhöner: Barth and Wemhöner will take over from 2026!

Young dual leadership at Wemhöner: Barth and Wemhöner will take over from 2026!

The wind of change is blowing strongly through the halls of Wemhöner Surface Technologies GmbH & Co. KG. From 2026, the company will work under a young dual leadership team who will provide a breath of fresh air and new perspectives. Florian Barth, who took over responsibility for the technical area in mid-2023, and authorized representative Kathleen Wemhöner will jointly manage the company's fortunes. Heiner Wemhöner, who has led the company as managing partner since 1987, is gradually withdrawing from operational management. This realignment comes after a particularly festive year in which Wemhöner celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Florian Barth, 40 years old, is no stranger to the industry. He started his career at Wemhöner in 2012 after studying mechanical engineering in Aachen. With a broad spectrum of knowledge, ranging from the design department to project planning and sales, he was appointed to the position of technical managing director due to his suitability. He will now run the business together with Kathleen Wemhöner, born in 1991, and has therefore taken the helm at a crucial phase.

Challenges for the future

But the challenges are great. The current situation in mechanical engineering shows a tense picture. According to production only 26% of companies rate the situation as very good or good, while 32% rate the situation as bad or very bad. Trade tensions and geopolitical conflicts contribute to uncertainty. In the future, Barth and his team will also have to fight against increasing competitive and cost pressure.

What is particularly striking is the high export rate of over 90%, which has established Wemhöner as an internationally active company in over 80 countries. Around 300 people work at the headquarters in Herford, while around 200 people work at the location in Changzhou, China. While some companies in North America see optimistic sales opportunities, people in Germany and China are looking at the markets with skepticism, which doesn't exactly help to calm things down.

Secure position in the global market

One of Barth's central tasks will be to consolidate Wemhöner's unique position in international competition and to increase process efficiency. In the furniture industry, where the company operates, there is a lot of room for innovative solutions, such as in the area of ​​lightweight construction, on which Sebastian Plate from the Lightweight Construction Interest Group (Igel) made interesting comments. Although a breakthrough in this area is still pending, the potential is enormous.

So the signs point to change and innovation. With Barth and Wemhöner at the helm, it will be interesting to see how the company develops over the next few months, especially in an industry that is currently struggling with many uncertainties. But with a good hand in leadership, Wemhöner could steer a course for success even in stormy times.