Extrusion International 2-2025-USA

24 Extrusion International 2/2025 INDUSTRY NEWS Course for Constant Growth and Technological Leadership Kautex Maschinenbau is embark- ing on an innovative and sustain- able future under the leadership of its new CEO. With a clear strategy, a focus on the further development of economic technologies and the development of new markets, the company is providing structured impulses for global growth. The ex- pansion of the technical center and the development of new product segments are intended to reposi- tion Kautex as a leading provider in the eld of ef cient mechanical engineering for plastics processing. Kautex Maschinenbau System an- nounced the appointment of Eike Wedell as its new Chief Executive Of cer. With over 35 years of expe - rience in plastics technology, Eike Wedell brings a combination of in- dustry knowledge, leadership and innovative spirit that will lead the company into a new era of growth and sustainability. “Kautex is a company with a glob- al reputation in the plastics indus- try and enormous potential. I look forward to working with the team to develop new technologies and implement a sustainable growth strategy that will bring Kautex back to the top,” says Eike Wedell at the start of his new position. As a long-standing expert in plas- tics technology and with a clear plan for sustainable development, We- dell sees the circular economy as one of the key challenges of the future. “Visions are a reach for the stars. However, the next achievable steps are clear to me: the entrepreneurial success of Kautex and the establish- ment of a stable organization after turbulent years. This will provide se- curity for our customers, but also for the families of our employees. It will also accelerate the development of sustainable technologies that save our customers money and protect the environment.” In order to achieve these goals, Wedell is planning an intensive ex- amination of the company's previ- ous working methods. A central strategic focus is the development of new markets and product segments. To this end, tar- geted investments are being made in adjacent technologies, among other things. Eike Wedell explains: “I have three main priorities: I want to ensure that employees are proud of their Kautex products and that everyone has the goal of producing the most economical blow molding systems – in time and exceeding ex- pectations. Secondly, we will massively ex- pand our technical center to serve not only as an innovation center, but also as a central location for fur- ther training and exchange. It will become a place where employees, customers and partners can come together to work on forward-look- ing solutions.” Wedell's third focus is on the de- velopment of a new product seg- ment that will help to balance out market uctuations. The focus will be on technologies that address both sustainable materials and in- novative elds of application, for example in the circular economy and in the area of renewable ener- gies. The aim of this initiative is to reduce dependence on traditional markets and at the same time open new growth opportunities. In his management work, Eike Wedell relies on a cooperative man- agement style based on trust, per- sonal responsibility and teamwork. “The greatest success is when my team can say: We did it together”. In addition to a lean organization and more ef cient processes, opti - mizing the ERP system will also be a top priority, which will have a posi- tive impact for our customers. “Our current standard of living would be inconceivable without plastics, but the industry has so far failed to consistently implement the circular economy. We want to make our contribution here and I will con- tinue to strongly promote this. That is why we are also part of R-Cycle,” says Wedell. It is clear to him that innovation, sustainability and close cooperation with employees, cus- tomers and partners are the pillars of Kautex's future success. Eike Wedell is convinced that the common path into the future re- quires commitment and a willing- ness to change. “Success comes through participation. We want to be a reliable problem solver and partner for our customers and busi- ness partners.” With the appointment of Eike Wedell as CEO, Kautex Maschinen- bau System GmbH is optimistic about the future and is setting clear signals for growth, innovation and sustainability. Kautex Maschinenbau www.kautex-group.com Jwell Machiery Co. Ltd. www.jwell.cn Eike Wedell