With the Schwaigern-based Soehnergroup, iwis acquires a specialist for high-precision hybrid components

Through its subsidiary iwis mechatronics GmbH, Munich-based iwis SE & Co.KG has acquired Soehnergroup, which is made up of Walter Söhner GmbH & Co. KG (Schwaigern, Germany), GRW Technologies Inc. (Grand Rapids, USA), Soehner Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (Suzhou, China) and Soehner S.R.L. (Timisoara, Romania). The acquisition is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

Soehnergroup was founded 55 years ago by Walter and Rosemarie Söhner and is headquartered in Schwaigern. It has a workforce of 1100 and is targeting sales of around 200 million euros for 2021.

An international technology leader, the group is a production service provider and development partner with its own production facilities. It specializes in the manufacture of custom, technologically complex stamped parts, multi-component and composite parts (plastic/metal compounds) and complex hybrid parts and assemblies. Technologically, it is in an excellent position to make the most of the opportunities that will arise from various mobility concepts and regenerative power generation in the future. At all its locations, Soehnergroup offers a wide range of services along the entire value-added chain of tier 1 and OEM customers and has been a strong partner of choice for decades.

A modern, sophisticated portfolio of high-tech products, networked and highly automated production plants and a supremely qualified workforce mean that customers can rely on a wealth of long experience that focuses firmly on optimal, cost-efficient system solutions that deliver accurate repeatability over millions of cycles. The group’s USP is “quality” – in a holistic sense: technical capabilities, problem-solving skill, innovativeness and reliability.

The components and complete solutions that are manufactured are found in many areas of our day-to-day lives: Alongside the primary automotive and renewable energy markets, products go to the industrial sector, the electronics industry and areas as diverse as sanitaryware, medical engineering and consumer goods. By integrating Soehnergroup, iwis will acquire further production expertise and engineering know-how in the field of hybrid components. These complementary capabilities make it possible to implement a forward-looking strategy aimed at intelligent mechatronic products.

Andreas Wagner, CEO of iwis smart connect GmbH, will additionally assume the CEO function at Soehnergroup. At the same time, Holger Bodenstein will become Managing Director at iwis smart connect. He will take over the areas of responsibility for development and sales from Andreas Wagner. Holger Bodenstein has been working successfully at iwis for more than 15 years in various positions. As Managing Director at iwis smart connect, Jürgen Fochler continues to be responsible for SCM, Purchasing, Logistics, Finance, Human Resources, IT and QMB. We wish all of them continued success and would like to thank them for their great commitment.

Johannes Winklhofer thanked the Söhner family for their lives’ work: “We are acquiring a family business with very special capabilities. We are well aware of the considerable responsibility we are taking on. Soehnergroup will retain the greatest possible degree of independence.”