Line of Wickert leaders enters fourth generation

LANDAU, Germany—The lineage of leadership continues for hydraulic press manufacturer Wickert Maschinenbau GmbH, as the great-granddaughter of founder Jakob Wickert officially joins the management team at the 200-person company.

Stephanie Wickert, 33, has been managing the company alongside Stefan Herzinger, a co-managing director at Wickert who will continue as sales and technical manager, since Sept. 1.

She represents the fourth generation to lead Wickert, a transition that is expected to occur over time.

Her father, Hans-Joachim Wickert, said Stephanie will focus on promising future growth markets—such as fuel cells, thermal insulation materials and semiconductors.

"An entire series of successful projects in these industries demonstrates that we have the ability to implement efficient manufacturing solutions for an array of different customers with our press systems," she said.

After serving as managing director for 46 years, Hans-Joachim Wickert will continue to serve on the advisory board at the company.

The company's work force grew from 12 to 190 employees under his leadership.

"We constantly monitor what is happening in the market and continue to develop our products," he said. "This way, we succeed in combining stability and growth. Thanks to our highly skilled technicians and engineers, I have confidence that we will continue to be successful well into the future."

Hans-Joachim is credited with numerous innovations, including development and production of clean room presses for the pharmaceutical industry and automated heat treatment systems for the automotive industry.

Stephanie Wickert currently heads human resources, marketing and corporate development. Purchasing, accounting, controlling and IT responsibilities will follow.

She will focus on digital marketing and improving human resource development, as well, she said.

"Alongside economic issues, social responsibility is close to my heart—toward our staff, society and my home region in Germany's Southern Palatinate. This is why my goal is to continue our family business as a successful and sustainable enterprise so that I too can pass it on to future generations."

Stephanie Wickert joined the company in 2018.

Wickert Maschinenbau has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1901, when the company constructed presses for the wine and fruit industry.

With more than $44.6 million in annual sales, Wickert manufactures hydraulic presses that range anywhere from 5-300 tons and has installed entire press lines weighing more than 1,000 tons.

Applications for Wickert's machinery include the production of pharmaceutical sealing plugs, safety parts in automotive braking systems and bi-polar plates for fuel cells.

Other applications useful for the company's presses include e-mobility, laboratories and research facilities.