In the year of its 75th anniversary, SKYLOTEC continues to grow. Now the manufacturer of protective equipment has also positioned itself for the future in the area of management. From now on, this will consist of a duo: in addition to owner Dr. Kai Rinklake, Alexander Merl will also act as Managing Director in the future. The long-standing sales manager and authorised signatory will continue to lead his previous area of responsibility, but will also be given new areas of responsibility with the topics of occupational health and safety as well as compliance.
SKYLOTEC's 75-year history is a prime example of how growth also means change. Founded in 1947 as a small business with seven employees, the German manufacturer of protective equipment has grown into a group of companies with twelve locations worldwide and around 950 employees. In order to remain on course for success in the future, the family-owned company is making a pioneering change in terms of personnel: in addition to owner and managing director Dr Kai Rinklake, Alexander Merl is also acting as managing director with immediate effect. SKYLOTEC is thus relying on a duo that has worked together closely and in partnership for 20 years. “This decision not only broadens our management team. It also expressly acknowledges Alexander Merl's many years of commitment and the trusting cooperation. We have co-written the recent history of the company together and would like to add further chapters to it,” says Dr Kai Rinklake.
„Alexander Merl (right) represents SKYLOTEC as Managing Director alongside Dr Kai Rinklake.“
Contributing to growth for 20 years
Alexander Merl has been working for SKYLOTEC as Sales Manager since April 2000. “During this time, he has not only contributed significantly to steady increases in turnover, but has also worked with great passion and extraordinary commitment on the holistic development of the group of companies,” says Dr Kai Rinklake. In recent years SKYLOTEC has expanded its market share in all areas. Most recently, for example, development and production capacities have been continuously expanded. For example, SKYLOTEC took over ActSafe, the global market leader for motorised winches, and Aludesign from Italy, the largest European manufacturer of carabiners with the associated “Climbing Technology (CT)” brand. In 2020, the family-owned company also added respiratory protection to its product range and has since been producing medical face masks and masks for light respiratory protection.
Alexander Merl will - as before - be responsible for the areas of sales and marketing, and his personnel responsibility for around 80 employees will also remain unchanged. In his new function as Managing Director, he will also be responsible for occupational health and safety and compliance management.
Another change goes hand in hand with the previous one: Christian Schunk, Head of Finance, who is responsible for the successful implementation of the corporate structure and the financing of new acquisitions, has been appointed authorised signatory. “This will make us even more flexible in the areas of finance and personnel. Christian Schunk has already been working closely with the management since 2015 and, together with his team, masters almost every challenge in the growing group with increasingly complex issues,” says Dr Kai Rinklake.