Stemmer Imaging: positive end of a business year and an era

Stemmer Imaging achieved turnover of 88.7 million Euros over the 12 months of the business year that has just ended. After adjustment for exchange rates, this means a growth of 6 per cent for the company, which is active in 19 countries. Explaining the positive result, managing director Christof Zollitsch says: "The biggest increase as a percentage was realised by our branches in Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It was unfortunate that a substantial growth, especially in the UK but also in Sweden, has been offset due to the depreciation of the local currencies against the Euro."

In his words it is particularly pleasing that the portion of turnover attributable to customer services has increased further in the preceding year: "We have extensive resources in this area that enable us to significantly reduce the effort that our customers have to put in to solve their image processing tasks. Our range of services increases our customers' profitability and thus represents a major criterion for co-operating with Stemmer Imaging as a preferred partner for all aspects of image processing."

The close of the business year 2016/17 also represents the end of an era: company founder Wilhelm Stemmer has sold his shares in the company with effect from 30 June 2017 and is retiring from the operative business. 75.04 per cent of the shares are now held by Munich-based AL-KO AG, parent company of the internationally active AL-KO KOBER SE. As part of the transaction, the proven management team acquired 24.96 per cent of the shares.

Explaining why he has taken this step, Wilhelm Stemmer says: "I have been an entrepreneur for 44 years and am now 73 years old. It was time for me to find a sustainable succession plan to ensure the continuation of my life's work. With AL-KO AG as the majority owner, Stemmer Imaging will continue to be able to tap into future markets and expand them further. From now on Martin Kersting, who has been a partner in the business until now, will control the fortunes of Stemmer Imaging as managing director together with Christof Zollitsch, who I also appointed managing director back in 2001. So I know that the company is in the best hands for the future and I wish both of them and indeed the entire workforce all the best for the future."

For further information about Stemmer Imaging please visit www.stemmer-imaging.co.uk.