With the takeover of the company from the Thuringian city of Stadtilm, Munich-based VTC Group member Europoles is further expanding production capacities for tapered and cylindrical steel lighting poles. 'With the additional production location we are strategically well positioned to serve the growing needs of the steel lighting pole market', stressed Torsten Rehfeldt, Lighting Division Manager at Europoles. Some 50,000 poles can be produced annually at the specialised plant in Stadtilm. 'We are pleased to welcome a competent and qualified team under Europoles Group. With its nearly 30 years of experience and commitment to quality, reliability and service, Franke Industrie GmbH fits in seamlessly with the corporate vision of Europoles', Rehfeldt added.
For the approximately 30 employees of Franke Industrie GmbH the takeover by Europoles comes as good news: the location will be maintained and the employees can stay. 'We are very satisfied. It was important for us to find a solution that secured the future of Franke's employees at the Stadtilm location and gave them good prospects', said insolvency practitioner Dr Dirk Herzig from the law firm Schultze & Braun. 'We are convinced that we have found this solution with the sale of the operations to Europoles.'
Europoles Group is Europe's leading manufacturer of poles, towers, columns and supporting systems. Europoles processes the materials concrete, steel and fibreglass-reinforced plastics (FRP) with both established and state-of-the-art technologies and at the same time unites them in hybrid pole forms. The company from the Upper Palatinate employs around 1,200 people worldwide and operates several production facilities in Germany and Switzerland as well as plants in Poland and Oman.
Image: © herabros. Photography & design; Photographer: Norman Hera