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After Sales: Greater availability, higher efficiency, long term reliability

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Corporate, Energy, Environmental Technology, Grab Technology, Uncategorized.

To ensure that machinery and industrial plants continue to operate efficiently, reliably and profitably over the long term, METZEN is strategically expanding its After Sales division. With Olaf Köster as Director After Sales, the company is strengthening its expertise in spare parts management, maintenance, asset servicing, plant modernisation and technical support, providing customers with even more comprehensive support throughout the entire lifecycle of their equipment.

The true performance of machinery is not determined at commissioning, but during day-to-day operation. Unplanned downtime, increasing efficiency requirements and growing cost pressures present operators with significant challenges. This is where professional after-sales services create real added value.

“Our goal is not to support customers only when a problem occurs. We want to make plant availability predictable and work closely with our customers to unlock long-term efficiency potential.”

Olaf Köster, Director After Sales, METZEN Industrie Service

Spare Parts Management: Respond Quickly, Minimise Downtime

When a production line comes to a standstill, every minute counts. METZEN supports its customers with the rapid sourcing and supply of spare and wear parts. Fast response times, a strong supplier network and the targeted assessment of critical components help minimise production interruptions and ensure long-term plant availability.

Together with plant operators, METZEN develops tailored spare parts strategies to reduce risks at an early stage and improve supply security over the long term.

Benefits for operators:

  • Reduced response and downtime periods
  • Improved supply security
  • Planned spare parts strategies
  • Greater production reliability

Maintenance and Asset Servicing: Ensuring Reliable Plant Operation

Regular maintenance and servicing activities form the foundation of safe and efficient plant operation. METZEN assesses equipment conditions, identifies wear at an early stage and develops customised maintenance concepts to prevent failures, increase operational reliability and safeguard long-term plant performance.

Benefits for operators:

  • Increased operational reliability
  • Fewer unplanned shutdowns
  • Extended asset lifespan
  • Improved planning of maintenance activities and costs

Plant Modernisation: Future-Proofing Existing Investments

Not every technical challenge requires a new investment. METZEN supports companies in adapting existing plants to new requirements and enhancing their technical capabilities. Through component upgrades, the integration of new plant sections or modifications to changing production processes, existing systems can often be optimised cost-effectively.

Targeted modernisation measures help secure investments over the long term while improving productivity, energy efficiency and operational reliability.

Benefits for operators:

  • Extended plant service life
  • Increased productivity and efficiency
  • Improved operational reliability
  • Protection of existing investments

Technical Support and Maintenance Assistance: Fast Help When It Matters Most

Downtime, repairs and personnel shortages often require fast and flexible solutions. With experienced specialists for installation, maintenance and technical service assignments, METZEN provides support exactly where it is needed. Whether carrying out planned maintenance work, plant modifications or responding to unexpected faults, METZEN’s teams ensure efficient execution while keeping downtime to a minimum.

By combining technical expertise with hands-on experience, METZEN offers customers rapid support and a reliable partner for long-term plant operation.

Benefits for operators:

  • Fast support in the event of faults and repairs
  • Flexible personnel support during capacity shortages
  • Specialist expertise for installation and maintenance work
  • Reduced downtime
  • Increased operational reliability and plant availability

After Sales as Added Value for Customers

A strong after-sales service helps ensure stable production processes, reduces operational risks and improves the long-term profitability of industrial plants. For this reason, METZEN develops tailored service concepts covering everything from spare parts supply and maintenance through to plant modernisation and technical support services.

Through the strategic expansion of its After Sales division, METZEN is strengthening customer support across the entire plant lifecycle. Sustainable success is built on more than high-performance machinery alone—it requires a partner committed to maintaining that performance over the long term.

This is exactly what METZEN stands for with its full lifecycle approach—from planning and manufacturing through installation and commissioning, and far beyond.

When 767 kilometres make history. Guinness World Record for the Viking Link. Powered by precision and welding expertise from METZEN.

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Energy, Uncategorized.

The Viking Link is listed in the Guinness World Records. At 767 kilometres, it is officially the longest land and subsea high-voltage direct current interconnector in the world. This distinction marks a milestone in European energy engineering. The connection between Great Britain and Denmark enables the distribution of renewable energy to more than 1.4 million households and stands for technical precision at the highest level.

METZEN Industrie Service at its Gochsheim site contributed to this world record. For the converter stations, METZEN manufactured transformer covers and high-precision aluminium welded components. In close cooperation with Siemens Energy, components were produced that withstand extreme conditions and ensure long-term operational reliability.

The added value of the Viking Link is measurable. Power flows can be controlled flexibly between both countries, bottlenecks are balanced, and renewable energy is integrated efficiently. The benefits are particularly clear in the management of Danish wind surpluses. In the past, these often led to negative prices or grid congestion. Today, they can be exported to Great Britain with precision and economic efficiency. This stabilises the grids and increases market efficiency.

The interconnector strengthens security of supply, supports the reduction of CO₂ emissions and contributes to more stable electricity prices. The Guinness World Record recognises not only the length of the project, but also the technical excellence that made it possible.

The Viking Link is a European flagship project. With its manufacturing and welding expertise, METZEN demonstrates how industrial precision plays a decisive role in turning technical vision into a world record.

When It Matters. Our Credo.

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Energy, Environmental Technology, Grab Technology, Uncategorized.

True partnership becomes apparent under pressure. When plants fail, risks increase, and time is short, experience, clarity, and reliable action are what count. “When it matters” is METZEN’s credo and reflects the mindset that guides everything we do.

More than 30,000 completed projects demonstrate this reliability and measurable results. Our customers operate in industries where process safety is critical, such as the circular economy, the energy and raw materials sector, and food production. These conditions demand the highest standards in technology, availability, and responsibility.

To meet these demands, our Senior Engineers, experienced specialists with in-depth industry knowledge, analyse complex technical systems, assess risks, and identify optimisation opportunities. Working closely with our customers’ teams, they provide the foundation for informed decisions, even under time pressure or in exceptional situations.

The importance of this approach is most evident when unexpected events occur. After the collapse of two silo structures, METZEN was on site within a very short time, developing a safe dismantling strategy and implementing it under challenging conditions. Speed alone was not decisive; it was the ability to assess risks correctly and act in a structured way.

We view technical complexity as the starting point for sustainable solutions. We approach engineering with foresight, guiding the process from precise site surveys to ready-to-implement installations. Modern tools and proactive project planning provide early certainty and minimise later interventions during operation.

This systematic approach also proves its value in critical situations. After a major fire in a fertiliser plant, METZEN quickly developed an emergency plan that combined repairs, temporary solutions, and the use of existing supply chains. Production could be resumed faster than expected, avoiding prolonged downtime.

At METZEN, solutions are individual, not standardised. Our plants and machinery are designed based on a deep understanding of each customer’s production logic. Functionality, efficiency, and sustainable long-term performance are always at the centre of our work.

When standard solutions are insufficient and causes are unclear, our Senior Engineers go on site immediately, assess the situation themselves, and take targeted action. One example is an assignment on a gravel dredger in the middle of a lake, where damage could only be identified through direct inspection. This illustrates our principle: problems are not evaluated from a distance—they are solved.

This approach is reflected in our processes. Supported by an experienced assembly team, systematic quality management, and a reliable network of long-standing suppliers, we deliver solutions on time, safely, and efficiently, even under difficult conditions.

Our work does not end with commissioning. We continue to support plants, optimise processes, and safeguard performance over the long term. Whether during operation, strategic projects, or exceptional situations, METZEN ensures that solutions work.

When it matters.

 

Interview with Lars Netzel, CSO of METZEN Industries “When it matters – METZEN delivers.”

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Corporate, Energy, Environmental Technology, Grab Technology.

Executive Summary

METZEN stands for premium engineering, consistent customer focus and technical excellence. In this interview, CSO Lars Netzel speaks about productivity in consulting, prioritisation, deal flow, customer value, digitalisation, AI initiatives, sustainability and the unique strength of METZEN’s teams.

“Technology creates speed. Expertise builds trust. People make the difference.”

PART 1 – PRODUCTIVITY IN CONSULTING

 Focus on what truly matters

Question: How do you define productivity in the consulting process?

Lars Netzel: Productivity means achieving more with the same time resources – more customer interactions, more projects, more results. It is not about doing more things, but about doing the right things. Productive consultants plan consciously, set clear priorities and generate significantly higher output from the same input. Focus directly improves consulting quality.

The right customers, not too many customers

Question: What role does customer selection play?

Lars Netzel: Customers differ in their strategic and economic value. Success comes from focusing energy on customers who are both relevant and profitable. Quality over quantity is our principle. This is how we ensure real value for our customers. At the same time, only those who are active have the freedom to choose. Sales quality therefore emerges from quantity. Put simply: those who have many options can select the best ones. This applies not only to us, but equally to our customers when choosing solution providers.

 

Consulting quality equals deal flow

Question: What does consulting quality mean to you?

Lars Netzel: A professionally managed consulting process is fast, structured and efficient. We call this deal flow. The smoother the process, the more orders per unit of time and the higher the productivity. The greatest and fastest growth potential lies in structuring consulting processes, for both our customers and our company. Shortening the consulting process while maintaining the same high quality excites the customer. The desired outcome, or the potential process optimisation, is implemented faster, and the improved earnings situation on the customer side takes effect earlier.

PART 2 – STRUCTURE, SELF-MANAGEMENT & CHALLENGES

Self-management as a success factor

Question: How important is self-management?

Lars Netzel: Strong self-management ensures that our Senior Engineers operate in their optimal performance range, neither underchallenged nor overloaded. This creates focus on value creation. Of course, there are peak workloads. What matters is recognising these temporary phases and returning to a productive flow state. Do we always succeed? No. But our open and transparent communication helps us identify issues early and respond together as teams.

Challenges in technical sales

Question: Where do you see the greatest challenges?

Lars Netzel: Our projects are technically complex, sometimes time-critical, and often involve customised or one-off solutions. This is exactly where our strength lies: we deliver when it matters. Calmness, experience, mental presence and the ability to guide customers through different scenarios, even during ongoing projects, are key strengths of our Premium+ consulting approach. These are core challenges in technical sales. “They can do it,” our customers say about us, and I say the same about our teams. Another major challenge is the often practised principle of “One Face to the Customer.” We always consult individually, either through a single contact or via team selling. Our consulting model is consistently aligned with customer needs, whether that requires one specific Senior Engineer or a team of Senior Engineers with complementary expertise.

PART 3 – CUSTOMER LOYALTY & CASE STUDIES

Customer loyalty through results

Question: How do you build sustainable customer loyalty?

Lars Netzel: Through transparent, measurable success. Our case studies show real challenges and concrete solutions. Transparency is the foundation of respectful and long-term collaboration. My fellow Managing Director, Andreas Groth, described this perfectly in his blog: long-term success requires trust, and trust only grows through honesty and transparency. I fully agree. This is also the working environment we cultivate within our teams. Our METZEN Code clearly and concisely describes this model of success.

PART 4 – THE FUTURE: STRATEGY, SUSTAINABILITY & DIGITALISATION

Future strategy

Question: Where is METZEN heading?

Lars Netzel: We clearly focus on high-value engineering: demanding projects, premium systems and sustainable solutions. This allows us to use our consulting expertise to create tangible value for our customers. For us, consulting expertise also means optimising existing premium customer installations or fine-tuning established solutions.

Let me illustrate this with a real customer requirement. One of our long-standing customers in the food industry produces mochis, traditional Japanese rice cakes. The customer uses a production line from a Japanese premium manufacturer that is well established in the bakery industry. The product quality is excellent, but the output per hour needs to be increased. The limiting factor is the sorting process before product placement. These are exactly the challenges we address with our individual Premium+ solutions. This is our Senior Engineering DNA and a core element of our future strategy.

The third pillar of our future strategy is the co-creation approach. In short, solution quality improves when our customers and our teams co-create on equal terms. We intend to strengthen this approach further. METZEN continues to evolve. In the current financial year, we successfully integrated GERWIN as a METZEN brand. The value lies, among other things, in the Senior Engineering expertise within this unit. By combining this experience with our existing Senior Engineering teams and approaching new projects across business units, we create Premium+ solutions for our customers. We call this Co-Creation 2.0.

Sustainability

Question: What role does sustainability play?

Lars Netzel: Sustainability means durable solutions, energy-efficient systems and resource-saving technology. We build systems designed for the future. Our customers want efficient solutions, and efficiency ultimately equals sustainability. For us, sustainability is also closely linked to modern ways of working and modern tools. Sometimes it starts with small things. Personally, I have not printed a single document in this financial year.

PART 5 – DIGITALISATION & AI INITIATIVE 2026

AI as an accelerator

Question: How do you use AI?

Lars Netzel: In 2026, we will launch a comprehensive AI training initiative. AI enables faster processing, greater precision, automated pre-analyses, validated data and optimised processes. At the same time, we are deliberately broadening our capabilities as a company. We invest in employees with strong AI expertise and follow a clear AI roadmap that we are already implementing consistently over two financial years. A logical step was the creation of the role of AI & Analytics Engineer. I am particularly pleased that we were able to fill this position with a woman.

What matters most is that digitalisation liberates sales. It frees our consultants from administrative tasks and creates more time for customers. The core task of our sales organisation remains unchanged: turning contacts into opportunities and opportunities into sustainable customer solutions.

Artificial intelligence is already part of METZEN’s daily work. I invite you to read my white paper on this transformation process, which will be published in the METZEN blog at the beginning of 2026.

PART 6 – THE HEART OF METZEN: OUR COMMUNITY

The expertise of our Senior Engineers

Question: With all this progress, what remains the most important factor?

Lars Netzel: Personally, I find the term “resource” outdated. Batteries may be power resources, and incidentally, this is a business area we equip with Premium+ solutions. We will report on a very exciting project implementation in the coming financial year.

The heart of METZEN is our community – our people, who fully identify with our brand promise: METZEN is your partner for solving complex challenges in industrial plant and machinery engineering. We deliver results, from analysis to implementation. We are building the industry of the future. We design and manufacture individual solutions to make our customers’ processes more efficient and more sustainable. Precise, fast and decisive.

Closing statement from the CSO

“We deliver Premium+ solutions with speed, precision and a genuine passion for consulting depth. A great customer experience is never accidental. It is the objective of our consulting. And that is why we are the partner you can rely on when it really matters.”

 

2025 – A year of many records for METZEN

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Corporate, Energy, Environmental Technology, Grab Technology.

2025 was a year of decisive growth, bold decisions and clear investments in the future. Above all, it was a year that delivered tangible value. Everything we expand, invest in and evolve serves one purpose: to execute projects with greater performance, safety and efficiency.

Strong growth – A stable outlook for the future

METZEN looks back on a record year. The company’s total output grew by around 70 per cent in 2025, reaching an unprecedented level. This remarkable growth reflects the trust placed in us by our customers and confirms the long-term viability of our strategic direction. It secures our position as a high-performance partner with strong investment capability, offering our customers lasting stability and our employees clear prospects for the future.

Record-level investments – Delivering direct value for our customers

In 2025, METZEN invested in its capabilities on an extraordinary scale. The focus lay on strengthening our technical expertise, expanding production capacities and driving digitalisation forward with determination. The acquisition of Gerwin Silotechnik GmbH and G&S Oberflächentechnik GmbH has strengthened METZEN strategically. Our customers now benefit from an expanded value chain, from engineering and manufacturing to surface and corrosion protection solutions – all from a single source.

Another focal point was the modernisation and expansion of our machinery portfolio. At the Gochsheim site, a new state-of-the-art boring mill was commissioned. This new bed-type milling machine enables large-scale, high-precision machining with significantly enhanced performance. For our projects, this results in higher precision, the ability to process larger components directly, shorter throughput times and even greater process reliability.

The Sonsbeck site was also strengthened through the addition of another boring mill. This table-type machine expands local capacities sustainably and increases flexibility in manufacturing. With this, METZEN meets the growing demands for availability, on-time delivery and machining depth.

In parallel, substantial follow-up investments in digitalisation were implemented. Upgrading the ERP system, extending further IT applications and introducing modern document management systems have made processes faster, more transparent and even more reliable. The outcome: streamlined workflows, strong traceability and maximum planning security.

Growth within the team – Expertise as a success factor

This year, METZEN grew to around 400 employees. This development reflects our targeted expansion of knowledge, capacity and innovative strength. Our customers benefit from stable teams, deep experience and specialised expertise across every project phase.

The management team was also strengthened. The executive board was expanded with Marcel Funk and Dr Mark Herriger. The leadership circle grew further with the appointments of Adrian Hense as Director Material Handling and Hanna Buhmann as Head of Talent Management. This clear organisational structure ensures swift decision-making, strong reliability and a consistently customer-focused approach.

A crucial pillar for the future is the investment in our own emerging talent. Across all sites, METZEN currently offers around 30 apprenticeships – with numbers continuing to rise. This ensures long-term expertise for our projects.

Laying the foundation for the future

In 2025, METZEN not only increased performance but also established the foundations for sustainable growth. Technology, digitalisation, organisational structures and personnel were all aligned with long-term resilience. This provides certainty that METZEN will remain a financially stable, technically strong and reliable partner in the years to come.

A clear commitment to Germany

METZEN is firmly committed to its German locations. All major investments in production, IT and organisational development were made at our sites in Germany. For our customers, this means the highest quality standards, short communication paths, transparent processes and dependable supply chains.

Growth markets in focus: “Mineral Processing”

With the integration of Gerwin Silotechnik, we are purposefully entering the future market of mineral processing. Considerable investments are expected in this sector in the coming years. METZEN is exceptionally well positioned, with comprehensive system and plant expertise, strong in-house manufacturing depth and proven project capability. This enables reliable planning, high scalability and economically sustainable solutions.

Conclusion: 2025 – A strong year for METZEN. An even stronger commitment to our customers

2025 stands for growth, investment and determined progress. Above all, it represents our clear ambition to remain a reliable, high-performing and future-ready partner in machinery and plant engineering. With cutting-edge technology, strong teams and a clear strategy, we are building the foundation for the long-term success of our customers.

 

METZEN strengthens customers through smart investments

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Corporate, Energy, Uncategorized.

With a clear future strategy and targeted investments in state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, METZEN consistently enhances its performance with a single goal: to further expand the sustainable success of our customers. A current example of this is the expansion of the machinery fleet at the Gochsheim site with a new, highly precise drilling machine – the MTE bed milling machine, type RT-V 3500.

Investments That Directly Benefit Customers

Technological excellence is crucial today for productivity, quality, and delivery reliability. With the new MTE bed milling machine, METZEN specifically strengthens its manufacturing capabilities in Gochsheim. The powerful machine enables precise and flexible machining of large components, offering high rigidity, excellent accuracy, and ideal conditions for demanding industrial applications.

Thanks to the high-performance NC rotary table, heavy workpieces can be safely and accurately positioned, allowing complex machining operations to be completed in a single setup. This ensures high precision, shorter lead times, and maximum flexibility in production.

These performance characteristics open up entirely new possibilities for the precise machining of large, heavy, and complex components.

The investment in the new drilling machine provides customers with direct added value:

  • Higher precision: Tight tolerances and reproducible accuracy, especially for large components

  • Greater flexibility: Machining complex geometries from a single source

  • Shorter lead times: More efficient processes through modern CNC technology

  • Improved cost-effectiveness: Optimised production reduces unit costs and increases planning reliability

  • Future-proofing: Capacity reserves for growing production volumes

In demanding sectors such as machinery, plant, and special machine construction, this means that projects can be realised faster, more safely, and more economically.

Strengthening the Gochsheim Manufacturing Hub

With the new drilling machine, METZEN is strategically strengthening the Gochsheim site as a high-performance manufacturing hub. Customers benefit from expanded machining capabilities, higher delivery reliability, and process stability – from prototype to series production.

METZEN invests where it creates the greatest value for customers: in cutting-edge technology, process reliability, and sustainable performance. In this way, we continue to secure clear competitive advantages for our customers.