The newly founded SAUERESSIG Group GmbH is taking over the Matthews Packaging and Surfaces divisions. The focus is on continuity, customer proximity, and international orientation.
The SAUERESSIG Packaging and SAUERESSIG Surfaces divisions now have a new ownership structure. As part of a management buyout (MBO), Markus Pennekamp and the existing management team took over on 16 December 2025. SAUERESSIG Group GmbH, the newly founded holding company, forms the heart of the internationally networked group of companies, uniting its locations in Europe and Asia. From Vreden, operations will continue with an unchanged focus on customer proximity, continuity, and innovation.
Commitment to continuity
“We are taking on entrepreneurial responsibility with complete conviction – because we believe in our employees, our locations, and our customers,” explains Markus Pennekamp, Managing Director. “The MBO is not just a strategic step — it is a clear commitment to long-term partnerships, continuity, and future viability.”
This step is supported by investors from the region and partners with a strong regional network who place particular emphasis on sustainable investments. “Our employees were also able to participate in the financing – an opportunity they made impressive use of,” says Markus Pennekamp. “The cooperation of all those involved contributed significantly to the successful realisation of the MBO.”
A step back to the roots and forward
The packaging and surfaces divisions are deeply connected to the Saueressig brand. In 2008, Matthews International Corporation, a US-based company, acquired the SAUERESSIG Group, marking the beginning of a period of strategic growth. During this time, UNGRICHT GMBH + CO KG (2017) and AKG Ahler Gravuren GmbH (2022) were also integrated into the group. Through a management buyout, these traditional companies are now uniting under the SAUERESSIG Group umbrella to form a strong, internationally positioned group.
This marks a return to the company’s entrepreneurial roots, while also paving the way for independent and forward-thinking development. The operational structure will remain completely unchanged. Customers and partners will not experience any changes to existing products, services, or contact persons. However, according to the management, the MBO creates new opportunities for innovation, digitalisation, and cross-location collaboration.
With around 790 employees worldwide, the group has a strong international presence. This includes the headquarters in Vreden with SAUERESSIG Vreden GmbH and AKG Ahler Gravuren GmbH, UNGRICHT GMBH + CO KG in Mönchengladbach, as well as Polish branches in Poznań and Warsaw. This network is complemented by a location in Surabaya, Indonesia.