SKYLOTEC has developed from a single company into a globally active group of companies. Founded in 1947, the family-owned company from Neuwied is now one of the world's leading manufacturers of fall protection systems and is considered the innovation leader in its sector. For this, SKYLOTEC has now been honoured by the Sparkasse Koblenz with the Founder's Prize in the category "Creative Corporate Achievement". At the award ceremony in the Apollo Kinocenter in Koblenz, Managing Partner Dr. Kai Rinklake and Managing Director Alexander Merl accepted the award.
What began in 1947 with the production of grinding baskets for mine rescue and safety harnesses for the mining industry has developed rapidly to the present day. A single company has become a group of companies with eleven branches worldwide and around 950 employees. And SKYLOTEC from Neuwied has developed into a global player as a manufacturer of fall protection. Since the turn of the millennium, the second-generation family business - Wolfgang Rinklake, the father of today's managing director Dr. Kai Rinklake, took over the company from founder Eduard Kaufmann in 1982 - has been on a growth course. As an employer, SKYLOTEC is also firmly rooted in the Middle Rhine region. The company's development in recent years is exemplary and serves as a model for other companies in the region. Against this background, SKYLOTEC has now received the Sparkasse Koblenz Founder's Prize in the category "Creative Corporate Performance". This is awarded to entrepreneurs or companies that have mastered a special challenge in an extraordinary way.
"The products 'Made in Germany' or 'Made in Europe' combine maximum safety and performance," said Sparkasse Chairman Matthias Nester at the award ceremony in the Apollo Kinocenter in Koblenz. Nester also praised the special spirit that prevails in the family business and always leads to new developments. "Although the employees are spread over many countries around the world, they are all united by a common understanding of values, which includes an open, family-like approach, a high willingness to learn and perform, and a goal-oriented, passionate attitude towards work, in the sense of 'how can we do it better'?"
Employees with a big stake in growth
"It is an integral part of our corporate culture that we accept challenges and are never satisfied with the status quo. That's why our employees have also played a big part in why we've been so successful so far. We are proud that this has been honoured by the Founder's Prize," says Dr. Kai Rinklake, Managing Partner at SKYLOTEC. On its way to becoming one of the world's leading manufacturers of fall protection systems, which is regarded as an innovation leader in its industry, the family business experienced not only many highs but also lows - for example in 2000 at a time when Dr. Kai Rinklake had taken over the management from his father Wolfgang Rinklake. At that time, he decided - unlike many competitors at the time - not to focus on cutting costs and moving production to Asia, but on quality and innovation. Thus, a lot was invested in development and an international sales organisation was established. This path was to prove extremely successful. In recent years, the product range and brand awareness have grown through the acquisition of various companies. At the same time, the company has always maintained its independence. "This is how we want to remain in the future. We want to maintain and create secure jobs where people can feel good for a long time," says Rinklake. The goal is therefore also to gain further market share and grow profitably.
The Founders' Prize is awarded by Sparkasse Koblenz in partnership with the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts (HwK), the Koblenz Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), the Rhein-Zeitung, the Wirtschaftsjunioren Mittelrhein, Radio RPR and TV Mittelrhein. The prize is a non-material award; against this background, all prize winners received certificates, and SKYLOTEC also received 500 euros for celebrations at the company.