Anniversary
50 years
of the Phoenix Mecano Group
1975–2025
My father founded the Phoenix Mecano Group 50 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a truly global enterprise. Historian Christoph Kohler visited key players and pieced together the most interesting excerpts from the interviews to form an oral history.
Benedikt Goldkamp
There are continual tensions inherent in the way we operate. Many of the tensions are a desired outcome of our decentralized management culture. And we know that we can rely on the bonds developed over the past 50 years which hold us together: our DNA, culture, and values.
Rochus Kobler
In the early days of Phoenix Mecano AG, there was Phoenix Inter Guinée in Conakry. In the vehicle trade with Guinea, a deal to supply minibuses worth 3.1 million deutsche marks was completed at a profit. The overthrow of the government in April 1984 meant that expected follow-up orders have not yet been placed.
Phoenix Maschinentechnik AG Annual Report 1983/1984
As we had no serious competition (in the enclosures business), we competed with ourselves and served the market with two companies (Bopla and Rose) that fought it out between themselves. It had become clear that it was almost impossible, with a standard product range, to achieve a market share of more than 50–60% with one company alone.
Dr. Goldkamp, presentation to Berliner Bank, 1992
In terms of shareholder structure, Dr. Goldkamp was a pioneer in Switzerland. At the time, I didn’t know of any listed family company that hadn’t set aside registered shares with restricted transferability for itself. Dr. Goldkamp waived any such transfer restrictions. That was also a sign of strength. He relied on persuasion, not power.
Heinz Winzeler, representative of Bank Vontobel during the IPO
In the beginning, “German engineering” was important (in China) in order to raise the bar in terms of quality and precision. But the Chinese are eager to learn and, above all, fast! Mistakes are accepted. The only thing that isn’t accepted is doing nothing. If I wanted to develop a new handset, it took 18 months in Kirchlengern and nine months in Jiaxing. Time to market! That was a decisive factor in the Chinese market, alongside cost.
Dr. J. Gross, Head of DOT Group
Perhaps we should also see the saturated and sometimes stagnating markets of Europe as an opportunity, an incentive. It requires excellence and uniqueness. Whether in terms of technology, costs, or service, we need to hone our uniqueness. I see further potential there, and if we can pull it off, we will grow even if everyone else doesn’t.
Dr. Lothar Schunk
The book, entitled “Success Is Always Yesterday’s News”, is published by NZZ Libro, priced at CHF 43.
ISBN 978-3-03980-029-2