Fenja Grote takes over management of KLINGER A.W. Schultze
When Fenja Grote began her apprenticeship at KLINGER A.W. Schultze 13 years ago, she never dreamed that she would one day be the Managing Director of the company with 90 employees.
When the young Fenja Grote was faced with the choice of employer to start her apprenticeship with in 2011, the company’s close proximity to her home was not the only deciding factor. “I actually grew up not far from the company, and the short commute to work was appealing. But even more important was that I wanted to work in an industry that contributes to protecting the environment.” That’s why Fenja opted for the sealing specialist, which makes a vital contribution to reducing emissions. It was convenient that the KLINGER A.W. Schultze site was just around the corner.
Contacts mentioned in the article:
Fenja Grote, Managing Director of KLINGER A.W. Schultze
KLINGER A.W. Schultze was founded in 1878 in Hamburg, Germany, and is now based in the Schleswig-Holstein city of Geesthacht.
While Fenja became familiar with all the departments during her apprenticeship, her specialization in wholesale and foreign trade soon saw her join the commercial team. With her affinity for numbers and a quick grasp of new concepts, she quickly found her way around the company, although it did take a while to gain an overview of the wide range of products at KLINGER A.W. Schultze. “This was a subject which I had to first familiarize myself with and where I needed to acquire technical expertise. It’s important to persevere and to not let things put you off,” the new Managing Director advises her young colleagues.
This perseverance served Fenja well along her own career path: joining the Purchasing department in 2013, her activities quickly expanded to include Sales and Distribution, and she became a management assistant in 2017. Beside her work at KLINGER A.W. Schultze, she focused on further training, completing a bachelor’s and then a master’s degree in business administration. Willpower saw her through the ardors of a studying at night: “When I start something, I see it through to the end. Giving up is not an option,” she says. A community of like-minded people who met in the evenings after work to study together proved a great help for Fenja.
Fenja Grote has been the Managing Director of KLINGER A.W. Schultze since January 1, 2024, making her the second woman to hold this position at the KLINGER Group.
Change of perspective
On-the-job learning was also an important aspect, not least when she took over the commercial management, complete with power of procuration, at KLINGER A.W. Schultze in 2019. “That’s when I realized that my own perspective doesn’t necessarily always match other people’s. So you try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and develop a basic understanding to find a workable solution,” she says about her initial experience in management. In her new position as Managing Director, she can now put these lessons learned to good use: challenges like technological change and a sustainable future are top of the agenda for KLINGER A.W. Schultze’s first female boss.
Focus on digital transformation and sustainability
Regarding technological change, Fenja’s focus will first and foremost be on digitalization. “In production, we are still very much reliant on paperwork, and we want to change that. We also want to step up product development to better serve new markets, such as hydrogen,” she says. Regarding sustainability, Fenja aims to focus on process optimization and proactively reducing carbon emissions. Supporting her is long-serving Managing Director Maik Lorenz, who provides her with advice and assistance, backed by his many years’ experience.
Fact box
Did you know ...
… that KLINGER A.W. Schultze was founded back in 1878 in the northern German city of Geesthacht as a manufacturer of rubber and asbestos packaging? Today, the company offers a wide range of products and is specialized in gaskets and special-purpose gaskets with high temperature resistance and aimed at minimizing emissions, and leakage reduction.
… that the Egraflex Steelflon Waveline WLP gasket is one of KLINGER A.W. Schultze’s most successful products? This special gasket is employed to maximize leakage reduction and minimize emissions for environmental protection, safety and efficiency.
… that many of the innovative solutions from KLINGER A.W. Schultze result from the company’s close contact with customers? When solving problems at customers’ premises, the developed products are always assessed for potential benefits for other customers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What industries buy sealing solutions from KLINGER A.W. Schultze?
KLINGER A.W. Schultze supplies customers in the chemical, petrochemical, mechanical and plant engineering, shipbuilding, engine construction, and energy sectors, among others. Its primary customers are in the manufacturing industry.
In what materials are KLINGER A.W. Schultze gaskets available?
The product spectrum comprises gaskets made of fiber, graphite and PTFE as well as metal and elastomers. The extended product range further includes packaging, thermal insulation, textiles and plastics.
What types of gaskets does KLINGER A.W. Schultze produce?
KLINGER A.W. Schultze is specialized in the development and production of special gaskets, especially ones made of fiber materials, graphite and PTFE compounds.
What does KLINGER A.W. Schultze offer in the field of hydrogen?
Being a volatile gas, hydrogen needs effective sealing during extraction, transportation, and storage to prevent leaks. The Egraflex Steelflon Waveline WLP gasket from KLINGER A.W. Schultze achieved exceptionally low leakage rates with hydrogen in the DIN EN 13555 leakage test and has significantly lower leakage rates than other sealing methods.
