Panels & Furniture Asia November/December 2021

IN PERSON
and participation in exhibitions timeand
cost-intensive, if not impossible.
“Beyond that, the increasing raw
material prices and transportation
costs represent uncertainties and put
a great strain on our customers and
their budget planning,” he added.
Köhler also faced such restrictions
as he settled into his new role.
He was subjected to a mandatory
14-day quarantine when moving
from Singapore to Bangkok, where
Scheuch Asia’s headquarters is
located. However, the restrictions did
not dampen his interactions with his
customers, partners and colleagues.
He shared: “Following a few weeks
filled with introductory video calls
with our customers and partners
in South East Asia, I flew off to our
headquarters in Austria, where I
met many of my colleagues for the
first time and had the chance to
familiarise myself with the different
business units and departments. For
the next couple of weeks, I hope to
be able to meet as many customers
as possible face-to-face, and look
forward to working towards our goals
with my team of Scheuch Asia.”
said that the same development
is not seen in South East Asia.
He cited an example where the
standards for fine dust emittance in
South East Asia “are not stringent
enough”, thus impacting the
opportunities for the company to
offer the Scheuch LIGNO product
line. Scheuch LIGNO is the sister
company of Scheuch Asia, and it
offers a range of air and exhaust
gas cleaning products involved in
the wood processing industry and
furniture production.
Even so, Köhler emphasised
that Scheuch Asia’s strengths
lie in their extensive product
portfolio, the technical knowhows
and high-quality standards,
as he concluded: “Throughout
the years, we have established
ourselves as a provider of high
performing, reliable solutions
that are ‘Made in Austria’. This
is the result of a high degree of
in-house manufacturing and a
focus on product innovation and
continuous improvement.” P
Beyond his plans for Scheuch Asia as the new managing
director, find out more about Mirko Köhler — his
qualifications, hobbies and roots.
1
He
2
He
3
Having
4
He
is equipped with a Master of Science (MSc)
and a Master of Business Administration (MBA)
degrees, and during his studies he focused on
water and wastewater treatment and flue gas
cleaning. He is also well-versed in the industrial
minerals and paper industries, and in the
introduction of complex European technologies
into Asian industrial processes.
is born in Germany but has been based in Asia
since 2006, with his career in international sales
leading him from Singapore to Hong Kong, then
back to Singapore. Now, he is based in Bangkok,
where he and his wife enjoy exploring their new
home.
lived in South East Asia for 16 years, he
feels it has become his second home: “I feel
very connected to the people and the different
cultures. I would like to use this connection to
further expand the sales and partner network of
Scheuch Asia.”
enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking,
trekking, cycling and golf. Besides physical
activities, he enjoys watching theatres and
musicals.
OPPORTUNITIES IN SE ASIA
With regards to wood processing and
wood-based panel opportunities
in South East Asia, Köhler said that
Scheuch Asia sees such opportunities
present mostly in Thailand and
Vietnam, where there is a “healthy
pipeline” of new investments.
He continued: “In the medium
term, we are also looking at tighter
environmental regulations which will
create opportunities for our latest
flue gas cleaning products, such
as our two-stage wet electrostatic
precipitator with condensation
module, the Scheuch seka.”
Despite seeing a “very positive
development” in the wood
processing industry in Europe, Köhler
Scheuch seka at Green River (Thailand)
Panels & Furniture Asia | November / December 2021 25