Wanzl becomes part of the “Mittelstand alliance” Maschinenraum

Leipheim / Berlin

Wanzl, the global digital and technological innovation leader for retail solutions, is becoming part of Maschinenraum. The alliance of more than 50 SMEs as well as university partners and other innovators is working together on the digital transformation of German Mittelstand. Wanzl wants to use the exchange with other members of Maschinenraum to share ideas on how to deal with current and future challenges - such as on the topics of innovation management and corporate culture.

Started in 1947 as a manufacturer of wire shopping carts, Wanzl is now a global digital and technological innovation leader for retail solutions - the company has over 4,600 employees at 12 locations worldwide. As a total solutions provider, Wanzl creates unique shopping experiences; the company's business areas also include Material Handling, Access Solutions, Airport and Hotel Services. 

Shopping of the future - digital, sustainable, and customer-focused.

"For Wanzl, digitization is one of the central factors of the development roadmap. For us, this also means creating new networks and intensively exchanging ideas with other companies about the opportunities as well as challenges of digitalization. Maschinenraum offers us the perfect platform for this. On the one hand, we benefit from the learnings of the members, and on the other hand, we contribute our own experience. In this way, we can jointly find our own digital path for Germany as a business location without copying Silicon Valley," explains Andreas Starzmann, Managing Director Technology at Wanzl GmbH & Co. KGaA.

"Digitization and sustainability have a very high priority in Wanzl's corporate strategy. I am convinced that with our innovation ecosystem of successful medium-sized and family-owned companies, we can actively support the company in its further development process in order to continue to act as an innovative pacesetter for the retail industry in the future. In addition, the Maschinenraum members will benefit from Wanzl's know-how and previous experience," says Tobias Rappers, Managing Director of Maschinenraum.

About Maschinenraum:

Maschinenraum, a shared innovation ecosystem from Mittelstand for Mittelstand, unites German SMEs and family businesses to boldly shape the future. Already more than 50 family-owned companies - including Viessmann, Fiege Logistik, Dussmann Service and Paracelsus Kliniken - have joined Maschinenraum to jointly drive the digital and sustainable transformation of SMEs.

About WANZL:

Wanzl has been the engine of retail since 1947. Starting out as a manufacturer of wire shopping carts, the company is now a global digital and technological innovation leader for retail solutions. As a total solution provider, Wanzl creates unique shopping experiences. These can be innovative products such as smart shopping carts and goods presentation systems, digital solutions, but also creative store concepts such as 24/7 stores and fulfillment formats. In addition, the company's core competencies include individual logistics solutions from the Material Handling business segment, fully automated access and visitor management systems from the Access Solutions business segment, and premium products for airports and hotels from the Airport and Hotel Services business units. With over 4,600 employees, 12 international production sites, 27 sales offices and around 50 representatives, Wanzl stands by its customers worldwide as a high-performance, value-oriented family company. REALIZED BY WANZL.