Company:
Wifag Polytype Holding AG

Industry:
Mechanical and plant engineering, packaging systems for the production of metallic packaging solutions

Turnover:
Approx. CHF 320 million

Number of employees:
1200

Situation at the client’s company:

• Economic difficulties of the group after a Buy & Build M&A strategy
• Difficult integration and management of various business units
• Risky orders

Company headquarters:
Switzerland, Fribourg

Internet:
www.wifag-polytype.com

FRAMEWORK PARAMETERS

Role: CEO ad interim

Period (duration):

• 02/2015 to 01/2016 (12 months)

Area of responsibility:

• International corporate group with 18 locations
• Corporate development, strategy and turnaround

TASK

• Development of a sustainable group strategy for locations, products, organization and markets
• Create and implement a restructuring and turnaround plan
• Eliminate corporate risks and transform the group

MEASURES

• Site closures or relocations, staff reductions, process optimizations, organizational development and quality assurance
• Expansion of the service portfolio in the plant in Thailand
• Performance improvement for purchasing, production, sales & service
• Synergy bundling within the group for the production of drying systems, conveyor technology, storage, printing machines, necking machines and components, including site relocations and technology transfer
• Restructuring and sale of business units and investments to secure financing
• Exploration of M&A opportunities for the group with the Board of Directors and Foundation, as well as commencement of due diligence phases

SUCCESSES

• Adoption and implementation of the group strategy “3-dimensional packaging solutions and digital print”
• Repositioning and expansion of the production plant in Thailand, including product and technology transfer
• Carve out and establishment of the Digital Printing business unit. Marketing and acquisition of two OEM customers
• Sale of business units and investments

SPECIAL CHALLENGE

• Finding and implementing synergies within the group
• Intercultural task and change processes
• Avoiding insolvency