Change of managing director at Walther Flender -
Future-orientated and yet aware of tradition
After around 90 years of company management, the owner family Schmidt is placing the management of the company in the hands of two family-independent managing directors, thereby securing the future-oriented direction of the company. Since 1 March 2024, the Walther Flender company has been managed by Ralf Neumann and Wolfram Schäfer.
Drive solutions from the previously owner-managed family business Walther Flender have been keeping machines in motion since 1935. In recent years, Walther Flender has consistently deepened its manufacturing expertise and is now one of the leading experts in the field of timing belt drives and SKID conveyor technology.
In the past, Walther Flender initially only manufactured the timing belt pulleys and completed the drive systems with purchased timing belts. However, thanks to the high level of technical expertise acquired in over 25 sectors and a significant expansion of the Research & Development department, Walther Flender is now able to produce timing belts itself using an innovative manufacturing process. These are timing belts that are specially tailored to the requirements of individual industry-specific applications - such as paint compatibility in the automotive industry or approval in the food industry.
The company now manufactures high-precision, application-optimised timing belt drives and heavy-duty idlers at a total of 5 production sites in Europe and Asia. Securing the future of the company, which currently employs around 220 people, is a top priority for both the owner family and the new management team. As a result, the company structure has been adapted to ensure that Walther Flender will continue to be a secure employer and a stable service partner - both for its own employees and for its customers. This includes the appointment of an independent management team.
Although independent of the family, Ralf Neumann and Wolfram Schäfer have been closely associated with the company for many years. In the past, both have held responsible positions at Walther Flender as Head of Production (Ralf Neumann) and Head of Business Development (Wolfram Schäfer).
Both will continue to lead the company on its path to becoming an innovative manufacturer of drive components, while remaining true to the company values that have been practised for several generations. Like the owner family, the new management is committed to a high level of social responsibility and sustainable economic growth.
It is precisely this combination of innovation and tradition that will ensure that Walther Flender can continue to offer its customers the optimum drive for their individual applications.
