The future-oriented activities are taking place against the backdrop of a challenging economic environment. In the 2024 fiscal year, the MAPAL Group recorded a sales decline of 6.3 percent to €551 million. The reasons for this include weak economic conditions and ongoing uncertainties in key sales markets. The outlook for the current 2025 fiscal year remains very cautious. “After an unsatisfactory first half of the year, we are currently expecting a further sales decline of up to five percent,” explains Dr. Jochen Kress, Managing Director of the MAPAL Group.

As part of this development, the workforce structure was adjusted to the changed market conditions. Vacant positions were not refilled, meaning that the MAPAL Group closed the 2024 fiscal year with 4,850 employees. In addition, targeted capacity reductions will take place in 2025 at the Aalen, Altenstadt, and Pforzheim sites. Thanks to socially responsible solutions, compulsory redundancies were largely avoided. “As a family-owned company, we feel a special bond with our employees,” emphasizes Dr. Kress. “This decision was therefore very difficult for us. But it was necessary to safeguard the long-term competitiveness of the MAPAL Group.”

At the same time, the company is implementing numerous measures to strengthen its future viability. In the automotive industry, the Generic Component approach is paying off: For strategic components, MAPAL independently develops prototype parts with corresponding machining processes, without specific customer orders, and then quickly adapts them to individual customer requirements. This approach was implemented, for example, in cooperation with a machine tool manufacturer for the production of stator housings – a key component in electromobility. In addition, MAPAL continuously delivers product innovations and optimizations for all components relevant to cutting operations in order to generate productivity advantages for customers. For example, the established machining of valve seat rings in combustion engines has been made significantly more efficient with HNHX indexable inserts. In the field of fluid technology, the company is expanding its portfolio to respond even more precisely to customer needs with intelligently combined solutions. In the aerospace sector, strategic decisions are showing results. Dr. Kress: “By consolidating all global activities in final assembly within the GOA department, we have become significantly faster and more efficient – both towards the customer and internally.”

The Aalen site is also currently undergoing modernization with an investment of around four million euros – a clear commitment to the company’s headquarters, which serves as both head office and production site. To ensure high efficiency, short delivery times, and optimal capacity utilization, MAPAL is restructuring its production setup. On a structural level, the company headquarters is also being realigned: since June 2025, MAPAL Aalen has been operating as an SE & Co. KG. At the same time, René Güntner has joined the MAPAL Executive Team as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

With these steps, the MAPAL Group is consistently aligning itself with the requirements of the future – while remaining true to its commitment to actively shape change and combine customer proximity, innovative strength, and competitiveness.

René Güntner is the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the MAPAL Group. In his role, he assumes responsibility for the areas of financial accounting, controlling, purchasing, and facility management. “With his many years of leadership experience and solid expertise in internationally active companies, René Güntner will provide valuable impetus for the strategic development of the MAPAL Group. We are very much looking forward to working with him,” says Dr. Jochen Kress, Managing Director of the MAPAL Group.

Most recently serving as Executive Vice President Finance, Güntner (45) was responsible for group accounting, controlling, IT, the economic management of international subsidiaries, as well as contract and risk management. “I see myself as both a financial executive and a sparring partner for all business units,” he says. “Open dialogue and cross-departmental cooperation are key success factors in this regard.”

René Güntner succeeds Matthias Cöster, who has left the company by mutual agreement.

Source: MAPAL