Semperit veteran Aichberger named CEO of new acquisition Rico Group

THALHEIM BEI WELS, Austria—Rico Group GmbH, acquired by Semperit A.G. Holding in August, will move forward with Thomas Aichberger as CEO.

Aichberger previously was manager of Semperit's purchasing department for five years and also has held engineering and management positions at the automotive supplier Nemak and the mining group Sandvik.

Aichberger officially became CEO Aug. 1.

"The goal of offering our customers a technically convincing solution and supporting them along the way to the finished product is pursued with great enthusiasm and commitment (at Rico Group)," Aichberger said. "The team effort is impressive."

Aichberger has a background in engineering and two decades of experience in global production companies and supply chains.

Already Aichberger said he has visited Rico sites in Switzerland and the U.S.

"With its new owner, Rico will continue the growth strategy it has pursued to date, benefiting from both unchanged independence and support from Semperit," the company said.

Rico will look to expand production at all its sites, Aichberger said.

"The planned qualification and recruiting initiatives have a very high priority for us as a management team," he said. "After all, this is the only way we can successfully implement our growth plans."

The Rico Group takes elastomer and plastics projects from idea to completion, working together with its customers "to bring technically demanding tasks to series maturity."

Semperit, based in Vienna, has seen the growth of the silicone market in Western Europe and the U.S. and is making a major investment in the material with Rico.

Semperit closed on the $216.4 million purchase July 31.

"The acquisition of Rico is another important step in implementing our growth strategy with a focus on global leadership, innovation and technology," Semperit CEO Karl Haider said following the purchase. "Semperit thus achieves technology leadership in liquid silicone and high-end mold production and strengthens its industrial core business."

Haider added that the acquisition fits perfectly with Semperit's new, streamlined industrial rubber goods-only philosophy.

"This goes along with servicing high-growth sectors such as health care and industrial household applications," Haider said. "The acquisition is value-enhancing and also increases our presence in the North American market."

Rico serves industrial customers in the health care and life science, household and sanitation, electrification and mobility sectors.

The company was founded 29 years ago in Thalheim and offers highly complex, precise custom solutions in high volumes. The group consists of five companies, with three in Austria and one each in the U.S. and Switzerland.

With about 500 employees and annual sales of about $100 million, Rico brings to Semperit "global technology leadership" in LSR. Semperit plans to leverage Rico for its core industrial business, especially as it relates to increasing its share of the North American market.