GERMANY – On December 4th Wrede Industrieholding announced it has decided to search for an investor or new partner for its “Decorative Surfaces” division: Interprint. The family owned group reached this decision as they saw no interest in the new generation to lead the company in its continued path of success.

Since its foundation in 1969 Interprint has grown into one of the world’s leading decor printers with around 1.300 employees, more than 350 million euros turnover and production facilities in Germany, Poland, Russia, China, Malaysia, USA, and Brazil. Over the past ten years turnover has more than doubled and current investments for extending service and production capacities are at a record high level, totaling more than 50M euros during this and the following fiscal year. Investments include, among others, a new service center building in Arnsberg, and production expansion in the USA, Russia, and China.

Thomas Wrede, managing director of Wrede Foundation and until 2015 managing director of Wrede Industrieholding, explained, “After intensive assessment and discussion we reached the understanding that the next generation will not take over responsibility for Interprint. My grandfather built up a sawmill, my father built up Duropal, I have built up Interprint, and the next generation shall build up something new and of their own. No one should be pushed into a role that is taken on only based on a sense of duty and tradition. In the end this would harm everyone.”

Against this background, Wrede Industrieholding together with Interprint management and supported by a renowned management consultancy firm, has started a process to find the right partner that will accompany and actively support Interprint on its path into the future.

“We, the Wrede family and I personally, are very much aware of the great responsibility we have. Once we have found an appropriate and passionate successor for the shareholder role sometime in the next year, it is still to be decided if we will jointly continue or place all shares in their hands,” Thomas Wrede explains. “When selecting an investor or partner, our top priority will be to ensure the future growth and worldwide expansion of Interprint group.”