Minister-President Daniel Günther Pays Visit to Mid-Sized Technology Company in Wedel
Defense technology and technological innovation are extremely important to Schleswig-Holstein – Vincorion serves as a prime example of a growing mid-sized company.
On Wednesday, Schleswig-Holstein’s head of state, Minister-President Daniel Günther, visited the medium-sized technology company Vincorion in Wedel. During his tour, he learned about the mid-sized enterprise’s latest technological developments and emphasized the importance of the defense industry for the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. CEO Kajetan von Mentzingen personally showed the minister-president around the company’s production facilities.
With approximately 800 employees, Vincorion is a mid-sized enterprise active in the fields of defense technology and civil and military aviation that specializes in innovative and sustainable solutions. These include, among other products, the GTD chaser weapon stabilization system, which is used in modern main battle tanks such as the Leopard 2, and the company’s new electric rescue hoist, the ERH premier, which will offer exceptionally high safety standards for air rescue operations.
“Everyone deserves to be safe – that is our vision here at Vincorion,” explained CEO von Mentzingen. “Our mission is to develop technologies that protect people in the most challenging situations and that are also innovative. With the next generation of stabilization systems and rescue hoists that we are presenting here, we are demonstrating truly cutting-edge technology.”
“Schleswig-Holstein has the potential to become a leading location for innovative and future-oriented industries,” said Minister-President Günther during his visit. “Companies like Vincorion are proof that important key technologies are being developed and produced here that both contribute to Germany’s security architecture and create economic stability and jobs.”
Dieter Holst, CFO of Vincorion (left), Kajetan von Mentzingen, CEO, and Minister President Daniel Günther (right) in front of the new ERH premierV rescue hoist.
Safety a Key Issue
In the field of civil aviation, the company focuses on innovative solutions that prioritize safeguarding the lives of first responders and the people they are rescuing. One example of this is the ERH premier rescue hoist, which has been redesigned with safety as the top priority.
This hoist, for example, is equipped with a sophisticated feature known as backstop shock absorption, which reduces the strain on both the rescuer and the person being rescued in the event of the hoist stopping suddenly. In addition, it offers the ability to cut the cable at the push of a button in an emergency.
The company’s GTD chaser weapon stabilization system is also designed with safety in mind. This system makes it possible for the crew of an armored vehicle such as the new Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 to remain completely inside the well-protected hull, instead of being exposed in the rotating turret. This significantly increases the soldiers’ safety, as recent conflicts have shown that drone attacks are an increasing threat.
Efficiency a Key Factor
In addition to safety, efficiency is also an important consideration for Vincorion. The company develops particularly powerful and reliable generators that optimally meet the needs of the troops. These technologies are part of VINCORION’s commitment to developing innovative and forward-looking solutions that enable the company to play an important role in the modernization of the armed forces.
“Germany aims to be the first climate-neutral industrialized country by 2040. To achieve this, policymakers, civil society, and every sector of the economy needs to pull together. Here we see that sustainability also plays a role in the defense industry,” said Minister-President Günther on the sidelines of the visit. “It is encouraging to see that companies like Vincorion are finding innovative ways to meet both safety and environmental requirements.”
Vincorion develops and produces key technologies, that contribute to Germany’s security architecture.
Growth and Innovation at the Wedel Site
Vincorion is a growing company that continuously invests in research and development at its location in Wedel. The Wedel site benefits from its proximity to leading universities such as the Wedel University of Applied Sciences and the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, both of which Vincorion works with in the areas of research and training.
“Our headquarters in Wedel is a center of innovation that pushes the boundaries of technology,” explained CEO von Mentzingen. “We not only develop products for today’s challenges, but also think about the future at the same time.”
How Government and Industry Work Together
Another key topic of the visit was the government’s role in promoting industry. Minister-President Günther emphasized that the state government would continue to work on improving the underlying conditions for companies in order to promote innovation and growth in Schleswig-Holstein.
During the visit, the question arose as to what the government could do to support small and medium-sized industrial companies. In this context, von Mentzingen mentioned topics such as improving the predictability of military procurement and accelerating the procurement process. The government could also specifically support medium-sized defense technology companies when awarding military contracts.
At the same time, von Mentzingen emphasized that the industry itself also bears responsibility, for example, by investing in research and development and ramping up production to high volumes when corresponding contracts have been awarded.
“The defense industry plays a vital role in national security, and it creates valuable jobs and strengthens technological innovation in Schleswig-Holstein. We will ensure that innovative companies like Vincorion receive the support they need to continue their work,” said Günther.
Minister President Daniel Günther (left), Kajetan von Mentzingen, CEO of Vincorion, and apprentice Can Budancir, who was honored for his outstanding work.
Shortage of Skilled Labor Presents Challenges and Opportunities
The current challenges posed by the shortage of skilled workers in the metalworking and electrical industries were also discussed during the visit. In times of a shortage of skilled workers and labor, as well as difficult collective bargaining negotiations, it is important to find solutions that benefit both sides, said the minister-president. Employees need to be offered attractive working conditions and fair wages, while at the same time, companies must remain competitive.
Vincorion also emphasized its role as an attractive employer in the region. The company plans to expand its workforce at its three German locations, in Altenstadt in Bavaria, in Essen, and in Wedel. “Vincorion is an extremely attractive employer. These new jobs are not only highly skilled, but also future-proof. We are looking for employees in a truly high-tech field who will push rescue hoist technology to its limits. These are jobs for highly qualified specialists,” explained CEO von Mentzingen.
Media Contact:
Florian Hanauer
PR-Manager
VINCORION Advanced Systems
Feldstraße 155
22880 Wedel
Tel. 04103 60 – 2250
Mail: florian.hanauer@vincorion.com
About VINCORION
VINCORION is a technology company that specializes in innovative power systems for safety-critical applications, including generators, electric motors, and drives, gensets, power electronics, and hybrid power systems. As a partner to the civil aviation, security and defense, and rail industries, VINCORION develops and manufactures solutions tailored to its customers’ specific requirements on the basis of an in-depth dialog. A high-performance customer support team provides assistance and service to users of the company’s own products and those from third parties throughout the entire product life cycle. With approximately 800 employees at sites in Germany, and the United States, VINCORION generated revenues of approximately 163 million euros in 2023.
For more information, visit our website www.vincorion.com or X and LinkedIn.
