MILESTONES

The success story of the POLYTEC GROUP

1986 Friedrich Huemer founded the POLYTEC company with the production of snow groomer finishers in a rented hall in Schlüsselberg. A lot has changed since then. From a single production facility, the POLYTEC GROUP has grown into a leading developer and manufacturer of pioneering plastic solutions, operating across four continents and employing around 3,000 people.

Here you can see the most important milestones in the success story of the POLYTEC GROUP:

Foundation of the POLYTEC GROUP

The first order for POLYTEC involves the production of moulded polyurethane components (e.g. finishers for snow groomers).

Entry into the automotive sub-supply industry

The purchase of f/o/r Kuststofftechnik results in POLYTEC’s entry into the automotive sub-supply industry. Friedrich Huemer hands over the management of POLYTEC INDUSTRIAL to his wife Ulrike.

Capvis investment

The Swiss private equity fund Capvis takes a majority interest in POLYTEC with a 67% participation. Friedrich Huemer retains the remaining shares and the company’s real estate.

Expansion in the injection moulding field

The takeover of today’s POLYTEC PLASTICS’ locations in Idstein and Lohne results in expansion in the engine compartment product portfolio.

Expansion in interior area series business

The acquisition of seven plants in a single transaction constitutes the largest step in company history to date. For POLYTEC this means significant expansion in interior area business.

IPO on the Vienna Stock Exchange and departure of Capvis

In the spring of 2006, POLYTEC is admitted to the Vienna Stock Exchange. At the same time, Capvis sells its entire stock to free float shareholders and Friedrich Huemer again becomes the largest core shareholder.

Major increase in fibre composite competence

The IPO is also followed by significant company expansion. The takeover of four locations belonging to Menzolit-Frebron, the dominant competitor, leads to a substantial increase in fibre composite competence.

Sale of four Peguform locations

As a result of the global economic crisis, the four Peguform locations purchased in the previous year have to be resold. This results in the loss of the EUR 50 million in liquid funding used for the acquisition.

Sale of POLYTEC INTERIOR

Following the setback of the Peguform takeover and resale, POLYTEC rebuilds an independent financial structure through the sale of its INTERIOR business. The financial preconditions for new potential acquisitions are thus restored.

Further selective acquisitions

POLYTEC is able to expand for the first time since the financial crisis with the takeover of two locations in the Netherlands from voestalpine Plastic Solutions.

Strengthening of the global presence

Up to this point, POLYTEC had grown solely through acquisitions or the enlargement of existing locations. However, in 2016 the company moved into new territory with the building of a plant in Tinajin, China and hence the expansion of its global presence.

A generation change at POLYTEC

Friedrich Huemer hands over the management of the POLYTEC GROUP to his son Markus.

POLYTEC SOLUTION FORCE
Launch of POLYTEC SOLUTION FORCE as a holistic approach to market development. It combines technological diversity and translates it into customer-focused solutions.

Sale of the INDUSTRIAL division

The largely independently managed unit is sold – thereby separating the company from its original founding and niche business.

At the same time, the POLYTEC GROUP is consistently focusing on its strategy as a comprehensive provider of highly complex plastic solutions for the automotive industry, as well as on sophisticated modules for other sectors. These knowledge- and technology-intensive components do not overlap in substance with the activities of the INDUSTRIAL division.

Opening of South Africa Plant

With the expansion of its production footprint on the African continent, the POLYTEC GROUP is underpinning its strategic approach of following selected customers in attractive growth regions.