For 80 years, Lehmann-UMT GmbH has stood for innovative strength, perseverance and close ties to customers and employees. From small beginnings in the post-war period, founded on 16 June 1945, it has developed into a global company that is now regarded as a specialist in filtration, conveyor technology and environmental technologies. The management looks back with pride – and at the same time looks ahead with courage. ‘We have always seen our customers' problems as an incentive to develop new solutions,’ says Titus Lehmann (owner and managing director) in an interview. A look at the history, present and future of a company that combines tradition and modernity.

80 years of company history and its significance for Titus Lehmann

The roots go back to 1945, when the company was founded under the most difficult conditions after the war. ‘My grandfather literally started from scratch – with agricultural supplies such as beet cutters,’ says Titus Lehmann. Formative changes followed during the GDR era with expropriation and nationalisation, until the company returned to family ownership after reunification in 1990 through Heinz and Thilo Lehmann. In 1998, the third generation, Titus Lehmann, founded his own company, Lehmann-UMT GmbH. In 2014, Lehmann Maschinenbau found itself in financial difficulties. Titus Lehmann quickly realised that he would buy Lehmann Maschinenbau, its products, employees and assets with Lehmann-UMT.

‘Today, we look back with pride on three generations that have shaped the company – and the fourth generation is already waiting in the wings.’

This year is also significant because it marks the company's 80th anniversary. However, Titus Lehmann added: ‘It's not just an anniversary that we celebrate and then tick off – it accompanies us throughout the whole year.’ It was particularly moving to celebrate this event with employees, customers and partners. At the same time, the anniversary is an opportunity to introduce new products and technologies. ‘Our team has not only looked back, but has also done a lot for our customers – further developing the StingR filter, launching a new system, the high-pressure separator, which squeezes residual liquids out of the sludge from filtration, and thus actively shaping the future.’

The company's adaptation to changing market conditions and technological developments over the decades

‘We don't determine the market – our customers do that with their requirements,’ emphasises Titus Lehmann. ‘Our customers' problems motivate us to develop new products.’ This has resulted in many innovations, such as the patented StingR filter with automatic backwashing, which can reliably filter the finest particles down to two micrometres. The development of this unique product took a full six years. However, the company is not only represented in filter technology, but also in transfer technology with expedition equipment and polar sleds at the South Pole in the ‘eternal ice’. ‘We produce environmental technology systems based on our twin-screw extruder for the biogas and peat substitute sectors.’

Our vertical range of manufacture is also a factor in our success: everything from design to the final product is done in-house. ‘This makes us flexible and allows us to respond quickly to new challenges,’ says operations manager Jonathan Gehmlich.

The corporate culture at Lehmann-UMT

‘We are not a hierarchical company where one person calls all the shots. We make decisions together and give our employees responsibility,’ explains Managing Director Titus Lehmann. The company is spread across several shoulders. This philosophy, combined with a family atmosphere, openness and flat hierarchies, has shaped the company. Employees are involved in decisions and play an active role in shaping the company. ‘That is our DNA: combining tradition and innovation – as a team.’ All of this enables the company to tackle different markets.

Current projects and innovations

Particular attention is paid to sustainable solutions: innovative filtration systems that return liquids directly to the production process. ‘Last year, we tapped into a new field in filtration, namely plastics processing for spectacle lenses, as well as a filter system for the gear industry, which copes with enormous chip volumes and still filters to a fineness of less than 5 micrometres.’ Another new product from Lehmann is the high-pressure separator, ‘which means that less liquid has to be disposed of, but remains directly in the plant, thus saving money,’ says Jonathan Gehmlich. ‘Our systems not only save customers tens of thousands of euros annually, but also make an important contribution to conserving resources.’

Environmental technology has been further developed in recent years. The technology of the twin-screw extruder has been taken to a new level. ‘In 2023, we moved the 110 kW extruder to a new platform, offering longer service life, higher throughput and thus cost optimisation for our customers,’ says Titus Lehmann. For the wood fibre sector, the 180 kW extruder was developed back in 2024, which has more power and throughput to break down fibres that are difficult to break down. ‘This year, we introduced the 240 kW extruder to the market, giving us a complete range for recycling fibres, peat substitutes and the like,’ says the managing director.

When you look to the future, where do you see Lehmann-UMT in the next 10 years?

The vision is clearly international: ‘We are equipped with state-of-the-art products and competitive on the global market,’ Titus Lehmann makes clear. ‘Our products are already in use worldwide – from India to Antarctica.’

Lehmann-UMT GmbH is also represented at many trade fairs. In the field of filter and conveyor technology, they will be represented at GrindingHub and AMB next year. In the field of environmental technology, too, some trade fairs will not be complete without them, such as the World Biogas Expo.

In future, Lehmann-UMT intends to focus even more strongly on automation and intelligent networking of machines. The aim is to make processes more efficient, less energy-intensive and more customer-oriented. ‘We are convinced that our innovative solutions will enable us to continue to play a leading role on the global market in the coming years,’ says Jonathan Gehmlich.