At the latest meeting of the Supervisory Board of the KNAPP AG, a Styrian technology company, the position of board chair was handed over to the next generation of the founding family. Dr. Herbert Knapp and Dr. Günter Knapp, who have respectively been the chairman and vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board since its founding in 2009, are now passing the mantle to the next generation of the founding family. Both of them will remain involved with the company as members of the Supervisory Board.
Tanja Knapp and Sigrid Hofmann assume the chair
Tanja Knapp and Sigrid Hofmann, both granddaughters of company founder Günter Knapp, will assume leadership of the Supervisory Board. They have both been part of the board for many years – Tanja Knapp since 2012 and Sigrid Hofmann since 2015 – and have grown into their new roles over this time. “My family is now in its fourth generation of being part of this company. Over the years, it’s become part of our DNA, in a way,” says Sigrid Hofmann. “We will continue to take good care of our family company together.”
As the chair of the Supervisory Board changes hands, the KNAPP AG remains true to its principles: an active family company that thinks and acts in generations. Tanja Knapp adds, “We’re taking over this position at a time where reliability and long-term thinking are more important than ever. Our goal is to preserve our family’s values while keeping our eyes on the future.”
A stable, forward-looking family company
The KNAPP AG was founded in 1952 by Günter Knapp. His sons Herbert and Günter Knapp were always at his side to provide advice. After his passing in 1989, they took over responsibility for the strategic orientation of the company, which was incorporated as a public limited company in 2009. In 2018, the Knapp and Bartenstein families bought out the shares of the Japan-based Daifuku Co., Ltd. Since then, the Knapp family has held a 71.6 % stake in the company and the Bartenstein family a 28.4 % stake – a stable ownership structure that forms the foundation for long-term partnerships and strategic continuity.
The proprietor families have focused on their role of providing strategic guidance and upholding the company values. The new leadership of the Supervisory Board is a clear sign for the KNAPP AG’s commitment to remaining a family company with a strong foundation of experience, trust, and the promise to secure a stable, steadfast future.
Successful operational management
Since inheriting the company from its founder, the Knapp family has opted for external operational management – a decision that has proven its worth over the years. Since 2012, the management team has consisted of CEO Gerald Hofer, COO Franz Mathi and CFO Christian Grabner, along with Executive Vice Presidents Bernhard Rottenbücher and Heimo Robosch. This long-standing group brings continuity, trust and long-term success to the company.
Today, with 3,877 installations worldwide and an export rate of over 98 percent, KNAPP is one of the leading providers of intralogistics solutions on the international stage. The company now employs around 8,300 people, 4,300 of whom are in Austria. In the fiscal year 2024/25, KNAPP achieved a turnover of 1.98 billion euros.
About KNAPP
KNAPP is the technology partner for intelligent value chains. Headquartered in Austria, the KNAPP group provides all-in-one solutions for automation and digitalization, from production and distribution to the point of sale. Excellent service and long-term collaboration make KNAPP the strong partner behind the success of their customers in the healthcare, retail, food retail, fashion, wholesale and industry sectors.
Press contact
Daniela Tulezi
KNAPP AG
Tel. +43 676 8979 8719
presse@knapp.com
www.knapp.com/newsroom