(Bielefeld/NRW, June 27, 2023) On January 1, 2023, the Managing Board of German intralogistics solution provider Dürkopp Fördertechnik GmbH (DFT), located in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, was joined by two new members: Johannes Holas and Dirk Bockelmann. With the expanded Management Team, the company continues on their course of international growth and further strengthens the ties between them and their parent organization, the KNAPP AG, in Hart bei Graz, Austria.
Since January 1, 2023, Johannes Holas and Dirk Bockelmann have been the newest members of the DFT Managing Board and holders of a general commercial power of representation. Both members will support the existing Managing Board consisting of Sigurd Völker (Managing Director) and Helmut Schmitz (power of representation). Johannes Holas is responsible for corporate strategy and integration with the KNAPP group, while Dirk Bockelmann leads sales and marketing. Together with the existing members of the board, they will drive the company’s position on the international market.
“DFT has undergone impressive development over the last years,” explains Dirk Bockelmann. “I’m excited about having the chance to actively take part in shaping the future of the company. My main areas of concern are creating the required conditions necessary for ongoing internationalization and driving the profitable growth of DFT as a member of the KNAPP group.”
“Integrating our company into the software and process landscape of the KNAPP group opens up many opportunities for DFT,” says Johannes Holas. “Since DFT became a member of the KNAPP AG in 2010, the market has changed considerably, and our companies have worked on joint projects many times. Now is the right time for more integration to give both companies a new competitive edge.”
Johannes Holas has over 11 years of leadership and management experience at the KNAPP AG, headquartered in Hart bei Graz, Austria. In the course of his career, Mr. Holas has worked in many areas, from solution design to systems engineering and, until recently, as VP of the Fashion Business Unit, shaping the success story of the KNAPP AG as an internationally successful technology provider.
With 19 years of leadership and management experience at Wincor Nixdorf, NCR and Becton Kickinson (Rowa), as well as in services operations, services sales and later as the head of international sales, Mr. Bockelmann has made a major contribution to the companies’ global expansion to new regions and markets.
“Having Mr. Bockelmann and Mr. Holas on board is an important milestone for DFT,” says a satisfied Managing Director Sigurd Völker. “With them joining our team, we have gained two experienced and charismatic leaders for the future of DFT, who will support us in the targeted implementation of our growth strategy on an international scale.”
About DFT
With systems for transport and sorting of flat-packed and hanging goods, Dürkopp Fördertechnik GmbH is the market leader in Europe in the fashion sector. Their customers include Marks & Spencer, C&A, Next, Brax, arvato, Primark, Walmart/ASDA, Zalando, K-Mail-Order and Miss Etam. DFT has been part of the KNAPP group since 2010 – a consolidation that stands for successful collaboration and combines the expertise and industry know-how of both companies.