German family businesses celebrate major industrial anniversaries

Two German family-owned manufacturing companies are celebrating significant historical milestones.

Stahlbau Merten GmbH in Unna marked its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1926 as a locksmith shop by Heinrich Merten, the company has evolved over four generations into a modern enterprise specializing in conveyor technology, plant engineering, metal construction, and municipal technology. The company noted that the total amount of steel processed over its century of operation is equivalent to the weight of approximately five Eiffel Towers.

A. Obenauf GmbH & Co. KG in Bad Harzburg-Eckertal celebrated 140 years of operation. Originally founded in 1886, the company transitioned from wood pulp to recycled paper processing in 1959. The business recently underwent a leadership transition, with Alexander Wietasch taking over management in 2024 as the first non-family successor, following the Neidhardt family's long-term leadership.