125 candles on the anniversary cake, a turnover of around 85 million euros and a lifetime achievement award: at the Munk Group, based in Günzburg and Leipheim, one highlight followed the next in the 2024 financial year. For the eighth time, the technology and innovation leader for access solutions came first in the PVH vote for factory equipment. The success is set to continue: With clever product innovations, unbroken demand for safety made in Germany and a new customer and visitor centre opening in spring, all signs point to further growth.
‘What a year 2024 will be and what a start to our anniversary year ‘125 years of Munk’! Our annual turnover has risen to a new record high of around 85 million euros, all business areas are flourishing and taking ever greater steps towards energy self-sufficiency. A clear sign that professionals in trade, industry and in aid and rescue organisations can continue to rely on us as a strong partner in the future. And thus on maximum safety and optimum functionality, day after day,’ says Ferdinand Munk, owner and Managing Director of the Munk Group.
125 years of Munk
The year 2024 marked a milestone for the Munk Group that only very few companies reach: founded in 1899, the family business has now entered its 125th anniversary year. Ferdinand Munk's great-grandfather Leopold Munk originally founded the company as a wainwright's workshop, but quickly specialised in the manufacture of fire service and garden ladders. Over the generations, the Munk Group has developed into a technology and innovation leader for access equipment and mobile container solutions. Today, the company employs over 450 people in its home district and has over 20 sales partners worldwide. The Munk Group has always manufactured exclusively ‘made in Germany’.
Award for a lifetime's work
Ferdinand Munk personally also had a special reason to celebrate: together with his wife Ruth Munk - also a long-standing Managing Director - he was honoured with the special award for lifetime achievement at the Oskar Patzelt Foundation's Grand Prize for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Ferdinand Munk has managed the Munk Group since 1982; annual turnover has since increased 680-fold.
PVH winner for the eighth time
The technology and innovation leader for access equipment took first place for the eighth time in the Production Connection Trade (PVH) poll in the operating equipment product range. Top marks were awarded in such important categories as product innovation, delivery capability and data and digitalisation quality.
Responsibility for the environment
The Munk Group also plays a pioneering role in sustainability: The company recently invested in more efficient production and is pursuing a transformation concept for maximum energy self-sufficiency. The Munk Group is already saving over 540 tonnes of CO2 per year. Further projects are planned in order to become climate-neutral without offsetting measures. In 2024, the Munk Group was certified according to the international environmental standard ISO 14001 for its environmental management and received the Günzburg district's environmental award for companies.
From practice for practice
Ferdinand Munk sees close dialogue with users as an important factor in his company's 125-year success story: ‘The wishes and suggestions of professionals are the best inspiration for demand-oriented innovations. We listen carefully and pay attention to details during product development in order to offer users real added value in their everyday lives,’ says Munk.
The new Ergo platform for rolling scaffolding in 2024, for example, shows how this added value pays off in practice: it is made of a composite material and is therefore not only more durable, but also up to 40 per cent lighter than conventional rolling scaffolding platforms. Thanks to its low weight, it significantly reduces the strain on workers during assembly, conversion and dismantling - and therefore also the risk of accidents at work.
Customised solutions are booming
Customised special solutions from Munk Günzburger Steigtechnik also continued to gain in importance last year. ‘The occupational health and safety of employees is the most valuable asset for any company, and preserving it is priority number one. We are happy to support our customers in this and work with a project team to perfectly customise our special constructions to their individual needs,’ says the owner and Managing Director.
With the online product configurators on the Munk website, customers can also design customised solutions such as stairs and platform stairs, bridging steps, fixed ladders and now also roof bridging in just a few clicks. The Munk Group is constantly developing its configurators, offering more and more functions and customisation options. The services are available at www.munk-group.com/konfigurator.
From expert to expert
In 2025, the family-owned company will once again be presenting all the highlights from its access and rescue technology programme at the leading trade fairs in its various target sectors: ‘Trade fairs such as Logimat in Stuttgart, Florian in Dresden and A+A in Düsseldorf are of immeasurable value to us: this is where we make new contacts, exchange ideas and obtain valuable suggestions from experts in the field. This makes the trade fairs the ideal platform for presenting ourselves as a technology and innovation leader. After all, despite all our digital services, it is our in-depth personal advice that makes the difference for many customers,’ says Munk.
In addition to the various leading trade fairs, on-site presence with customers and specialist retail partners remains a key factor in the company's service and sales concept: the Munk Group's office and field service teams are always available to their customers personally as a competent partner. As part of the popular roadshow product demonstrations, the access equipment experts will also be on the road again in 2025 to advise their customers personally on site.
Innovations for greater safety
The latest innovations from Günzburg and Leipheim will be on show at the trade fairs and roadshows in 2025. The new FlexxTower SGX single-person scaffolding is now available: in the SGX version, the 1.80 metre long scaffolding has three levels instead of two and enables working heights of up to 9.55 metres. The FlexxTower SGX is equipped with the Ergo platform on all levels and complies with DIN EN 1004 thanks to its safety railings. The new three-tier version of the rolling scaffold can also be assembled by just one person without any tools.
Also new are the modular folding step stool platform, which combines two ML folding steps with a hook-on platform, and a plug-in stepladder that can be accessed from both sides.
New customer and visitor centre opens in spring
From 2025, customers will be able to experience and test new products such as the FlexxTower SGX as well as tried-and-tested classics such as the FlexxLift mini access platform and the TRBS-compliant ladder range directly from the manufacturer and closer than ever before: in spring, the Munk Group will open its new customer and visitor centre at its home base in Günzburg, offering professionals a completely new experience.
The Munk Group has recently invested over 30 million euros in its locations, and the new customer and visitor centre is now the next important building block for the ‘future of Munk’. Ferdinand Munk is already planning further projects: ‘There is no sign of a dip in our growth to date, the order situation is consistently good. However, we do not want to rest on our laurels, but will continue to invest in ‘Safety. made in Germany’ in the coming years.
