Schwarzmüller has a new boss

Schwarzmüller has had a turbulent year and a half: In December 2022, Beate Paletar took over the entire Innviertel vehicle body manufacturer and bought the shares from her cousin’s children. Less than three months later, the chairman of the board, Roland Hartwig, left his post after seven years. This was followed by a three-person management team, headed by Thomas Biringer as interim boss.

This is all history, Paletar has completely realigned the board. As reported, Biringer moved to the Leonding fire department supplier Rosenbauer, where he is supposed to make production faster and more efficient.

Wolfgang Muhri is now at the helm at Schwarzmüller. The Innviertler leading company informed about this on Thursday. He is supported by CFO Daniela Lorenzer and Sales Manager Maik Spindler. Muhri, born in 1972, brings experience in the industry. He was head of the agricultural machinery manufacturer Vogel & Noot and held leading management positions at the automotive suppliers Magna Steyr and ZKW. Sole owner and chairwoman of the supervisory board Paletar showers roses on the new management. “I have high expectations. The restructuring of the company at the end of the Corona crisis was successful, as the positive result for 2023 shows. Now we are concentrating entirely on our vehicles and their sales,” says Paletar. The focus can now be placed more strongly on the operational business again.

Muhri sees Schwarzmüller as prepared – “with well-positioned production sites, a wide range of vehicles from a single source and innovative strength in sustainability and lightweight construction”.

“No significant growth”

This year is likely to be a difficult year for the leading company. As reported, sales fell from 446 to 390 million euros in the previous year according to preliminary figures. The geopolitical crises remain and the market situation is tense. “We do not see any significant growth for 2024,” the company says. Most recently, 7,600 trailers were manufactured, 2,999 fewer than a year earlier. The group employs 1,950 people.