Heller's headquarters and factory in Nürtingen, GermanyH.I.G. Capital is taking a significant stake in the
Heller Group, the machine tool and manufacturing system manufacturer. The partnership will open up many new opportunities for Heller in the areas of investment, efficiency improvement, product development and international market development.
Heller CEO Dr Thorsten Schmidt said: “The partnership with H.I.G. is a milestone for our company. H.I.G.’s additional financial resources and global network will enable us to more rapidly achieve our strategic goals. Our aim remains clear: to secure and expand our innovation leadership in the market to reach new industries and customers.”
The partnership with H.I.G. Capital represents a significant development for Heller and opens up numerous prospects for the future. Heller and H.I.G. plan to invest additional funds in the development of innovative technologies. The expansion of digital solutions will enable Heller customers to organise their production even more efficiently and flexibly. These include artificial intelligence on the machine, the digital twin and other simulation and analysis tools, combined with the continued expansion of automation solutions for the networked production environment.
Heller will continue to invest in environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient production technologies to meet the growing demand for sustainability. This also includes the development of energy-efficient machines and processes, and will expand the company’s existing product portfolio to address new industries.
Flexible production systemsHeller’s high-precision machines are specifically designed to meet the needs of diverse industries, including mechanical engineering, aerospace, energy, defence, commercial vehicles and e-mobility (structural components). The integration of additional manufacturing modules and flexible production systems meets the increasing demand for customisation and batch size flexibility.
Heller will continue to expand its sales and service subsidiaries to be closer to customers in strategically important regions. Regional partnerships and joint ventures will be used to provide customised solutions for specific market needs. Close cooperation with leading companies in a variety of industries will enable Heller to develop customised solutions.
Pictured right: Dr Thorsten Schmidt, CEO, Heller GroupH.I.G. brings extensive experience in operational improvement to companies. Heller will benefit from this expertise to optimise processes — targeted measures will be taken to make internal processes more efficient and increase the company’s agility. Investments in ‘state of the art’ production methods and the digitalisation of internal processes will further increase competitiveness.
Christian Kraul-von Renner, managing director of H.I.G. Capital, explained: “Heller is a technology jewel. We are impressed by the engineering capabilities, the expertise of the workforce and the competence of the management. The company has been around for over 130 years and we are confident that it has a bright future ahead of it. We look forward to working with the Heller family and the management team to realise the full potential of this company. Our goal is to further strengthen Heller’s role as a global leader in innovation and to expand the success of the company on a sustainable basis.”
Nicole Pfleiderer and Marc Heller, representing the fourth generation of the family owners, emphasised: “This partnership allows us to actively shape the company’s transformation, while preserving our roots. Together with H.I.G., we are laying the foundations for sustainable growth and success.”