With the arrival of Dr Johannes Schmalz, the vacuum specialist from the Black Forest is securing its succession in the fourth generation and strengthening its strategic focus on digitalisation, new business areas and customer orientation.
J. Schmalz GmbH, headquartered in Glatten in the northern Black Forest, is expanding its management team: Dr Johannes Schmalz (39) has been the new Managing Partner since May 2025. Together with Dr Kurt Schmalz and Andreas Beutel, he will form a three-person management team in future.
For the traditional family business, this step means securing the long-term management of the company in the fourth generation. Johannes Schmalz brings with him a wealth of experience in the fields of digitalisation, robotics, strategy and corporate management - most recently, he held a management position at an international electronics group and founded his own technology start-up.
Responsibility for digitalisation, strategy and new business areas
In his new role, Dr Johannes Schmalz is responsible for IT and digitalisation, new business and corporate strategy. He wants to combine innovation with the established values of the family business: „Despite all the economic and technological interests: The focus must always be on people,“ emphasises the 39-year-old.
During an initial tour of the company premises, the doctor of engineering was warmly welcomed by the approximately 1,800 employees worldwide, including the teams at 31 international locations, according to reports.
Continuity with fresh impetus
For Dr Kurt Schmalz, who has been with the company for 45 years, the succession plan is a significant step:
„All my professional life, I have put my heart and soul into the company and successfully built it up together with my brother Wolfgang. I will be 70 years old this year. I am particularly pleased that Johannes has joined the company, which will ensure the long-term stability of Schmalz as a family business.“
Source: J. Schmalz GmbH
