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Bergisch Gladbach, 12 March 2024

INDUS invests in the future field of infrastructure networks

- INDUS portfolio company HAUFF-TECHNIK acquires all shares in HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM
- Specialist in the development and production of passive components for fiber-optic infrastructure

HAUFF-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG, a subsidiary of stock exchange listed INDUS Holding AG, has acquired the remaining 50% stake in HAUFF- TECHNIK GRIDCOM GmbH and is now sole shareholder of the company. HAUFF- TECHNIK GRIDCOM develops and produces passive components for the fiber-optic infrastructure in Rosenberg and Heidenheim. These include PoP (Point of Presence) stations that act as main distributors and connect central fiber-optic cables to fiber-optic distributors in the Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) or Fibre to the Home (FTTH) area. These nodes are crucial for the comprehensive expansion of the fibre optic network, especially when developing new construction areas. HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM’s product portfolio also includes network distributors and fiber-optic distribution boxes for the “last mile” infrastructure to the customer. In addition, HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM offers fiber-optic connection boxes to create termination and transfer points in immediate vicinity to the user in buildings or outdoors. With around 60 employees, HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM generates an annual turnover of around EUR 21 million.

“The increasing demand for higher bandwidths and faster internet continues to drive the network expansion,” says Dr. Jörn Großmann, the INDUS Board member responsible for the Infrastructure segment. “We recognized the potential of this growth market at an early stage and strengthened our portfolio company HAUFF-TECHNIK by acquiring the young, innovative HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM. This investment has paid off.” HAUFF-TECHNIK has held a 50% stake in HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM, formerly ZWEICOM, since 2016. HAUFF- TECHNIK, a manufacturer of sealing systems for cables, pipes and building entries, has been part of the INDUS Group since 1986 and generated annual sales of around EUR 93 million in 2023.

“Thanks to our strong position as a provider of building entries, we have been involved in fiber-optic network expansion projects for many years,” says Dr. Michael Seibold, Managing Director of HAUFF-TECHNIK. “In this shared market, HAUFF-TECHNIK and HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM benefit from their complementary product ranges.” Ralf Hammer, former co-owner of HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM, adds: “In the joint venture with HAUFF-TECHNIK, HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM has significantly increased its sales in recent years. As the new sole owner, INDUS Holding provides the financial strength in the background for further development in a highly dynamic environment.”

Jörn Großmann: “By acquiring the remaining shares in HAUFF-TECHNIK GRIDCOM, we are expanding our growth cluster of infrastructure networks, which includes HAUFF-TECHNIK, WEIGAND Bau and TSN Turmbau Steffens & Nölle, as planned. We want to continue to grow in our defined future fields in 2024.”

Axel Meyer

COO Engineering
Axel Meyer (German citizen, born 1968) has been a member of the INDUS Board of Management since October 2017.

Until joining INDUS, he held various management positions at Schuler AG, most recently as Managing Director of Schuler Pressen and Head of the Service Division of the Schuler Group, Goeppingen, Germany.

Previously, Axel Meyer worked as a member of the Board of Management of the international management consultancy IMAGIN Prof. Bochmann AG, Eppstein im Taunus, Germany. He started his professional career in the Schuler Group's Solid Forming Division, initially in global sales and later as Division Manager.

Axel Meyer studied industrial engineering in Germany and the USA and earned a Master of Mergers & Acquisitions (LL.M.) at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management while working. 

Gudrun Degenhart

COO Materials Solutions
Gudrun Degenhart (German citizen, born 1970) has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS since October 2023.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the management and development of portfolio companies in Europe, USA and the Asia-Pacific regions.

Before joining INDUS, Gudrun Degenhart was CEO for the German portfolio companies of the international service group ISS. She previously worked for the thyssenkrupp Group, including as CEO of the international business unit for special lifts and as CEO of Materials Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. She gained experience in medium-sized companies as a board member of the construction technology company Schöck.

A graduate in business administration, she began her career by building up the Central and Eastern European activities of the construction specialist Lindner Group. 

Dr. Jörn Großmann

COO Infrastructure
Dr. Jörn Großmann (German citizen, born 1968) has been a member of the INDUS Board of Management since January 2019.

Up until joining INDUS, he worked for the Dutch group Aalberts Industries, with his last position being the sole managing director of Impreglon, Lüneburg, Germany.

He previously held various positions at the Georgsmarienhütte Group, initially becoming managing director of Mannstaedt, Troisdorf, Germany and later managing director of GMH Edelstahl Service Center Burg and GMH Engineering. Before Dr. Großmann became the managing director of Buderus Feinguss, Moers, Germany, he worked as a development engineer and as a technical director for Doncasters Precision Castings, Bochum, Germany.

He studied material sciences and earned a doctorate in the field of natural sciences.

Dr. -Ing. Johannes Schmidt

CEO
Dr. -Ing. Johannes Schmidt (German citizen, born 1961) has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS since January 2006. He has assumed the position of CEO since July 2018.

Dr. -Ing. Schmidt was previously the sole managing director of ebm-papst Landshut, Germany, a manufacturer of ventilation motors and fans. During his tenure there, his main achievements included advancing the development of new product platforms and the internationalization of production sites.

Dr. -Ing. Schmidt began his career at Richard Bergner, a manufacturer of electrical instruments from Schwabach, Germany. He initially led product development before rising to the position of managing director during his 12 years at the company.

Schmidt, who studied mathematics, gained an engineering doctorate in mechanics from the Technical University of Darmstadt. 

Rudolf Weichert

CFO
Rudolf Weichert (German citizen, born 1963) is the CFO of INDUS.

Before joining the INDUS Board of Management in June 2012, he was a Partner at KPMG for nine years. He spent three of these years in Detroit, Michigan, United States, where he worked mainly with companies in the engineering, and materials trading industries.

Mr. Weichert, who holds a masters degree in business administration, worked for KPMG for about 20 years, primarily in the firm’s Duesseldorf office, where he worked mainly with multinational manufacturing corporations.