food

processing
53
How did Mesutronic become the success
story that it is today?
An Interview with Karl Heinz Dürrmeier, Managing Director, Mesutronic Gerätebau GmbH
Mesutronic Gerätebau GmbH was started in March 1993 with five employees and a production
area of 250 square metres. In the first year we had a turnover of approximately h435,000. In its
first expansion in 1966 the facilities were doubled to 500 square metres; and 25 employees
produced a turnover of h1.9 million. In 2000 the production facilities were again doubled to 1000
square metres; and the turnover with 42 employees reached h3.7 million.
Karl Heinz Durrmeier, Managing Director, Mesutronic
Gerätebau GmbH
The Mesutronic plant in
Kirchberg-Hackenfeld, Germany
The area of mill protection and
regrind inspection in the plastics
industry, as well as plant used by
the textile industry, were the most
important applications to start
with. And our many patents paved
the way for our route to
technology leadership. The food
industry had been in our sights
since the beginning because of the
potential for growth. From 1994
we addressed the needs of the
food industry with specialist
product development. The latest
result of this is the Aluscan
detection system which, by using
magnetic field sensors, detects
the smallest particles of iron and
stainless steel in aluminiumpacked
products.
How has the structure of your
business changed?
At the start of 2005, the 63-strong
workforce moved into a new
facility in Kirchberg-Hackenfeld
with 2,500 square metres of
production space and 800 square
metres of office space. With an
investment of h2.8 million the
capacity had yet again doubled
our previous position.
In the past year, we have
produced some 2,500 metal
detection systems in our
The latest result of this
is the Aluscan detection
system which, by using
magnetic field sensors,
detects the smallest
particles of iron and
stainless steel in
aluminium-packed
products.
manufacturing plant. Mesutronic is
today represented in more than 40
countries throughout the world by
trade outlets or sales and
marketing partners. Our export
percentage varies between
50–60%. A further 20–25% goes
through resellers abroad.
What factors have influenced
your growth?
Our enormous growth over the
past few years shows that the
Mesutronic strategy works. The
products are well-received in the
market. The increasing demand for
quality in just about every industry
is an important reason for the
overall increase in demand.
Turnover in 2004 rose to h7
million, up 38% on the previous
year. This leap in volume has been
made possible by bulk orders,
both in Germany and abroad. For
example, the largest single order
we secured last year was for 60
units.
Where do you see potential for
expansion in the future?
Mesutronic aims for organic
growth. Our successful path, to
grow from developing our core
skills, has proved itself. The
existing product portfolio is
expanded on an ongoing basis,
and further developed. And we
see plenty of potential for growth
in the future. The goal is to
consolidate the business over the
next few years, and to optimise
our return on investment. In the
long run, nothing has been, or is,
more important to us than the
food spring 2005