January 9, 2026 12:15

After four decades at the helm of the Reifenhäuser Group, a specialist in extrusion plant engineering, Ulrich Reifenhäuser has stepped down from his operational role as managing director, while continuing to serve as a member of the advisory board, thereby making his extensive industry experience and strategic vision available to management.

Last year, he resigned as chief sales officer (CSO), handing over to Marcel Perrevort (read article).

“Ulrich Reifenhäuser has been a lasting source of inspiration not only for the Reifenhäuser Group but for the entire plastics industry,” the company said in a statement. “His open approach and genuine attention to people — employees, customers and partners — make him a truly special figure.”

Leadership of the German company will in any case remain in the hands of the founding family, with CEO Bernd Reifenhäuser and Chief Digital Officer Jan Karnath, the latter having joined the group in 2024 as the first representative of the fourth generation of the Reifenhäuser family.

Founded in 1911 and headquartered in Troisdorf, since 1948 the Reifenhäuser Group has designed and built machinery and lines for plastics extrusion, with a specialization in films and nonwovens. It employs 1,750 people across eight plants in Germany and the United States.

Biography. Born in 1956, Ulrich Reifenhäuser began working in his father’s company at just 16, starting in the extruder manufacturing department. After earning a degree in economics from the University of Cologne, he launched his professional career in 1983 at Krupp Industrietechnik, serving as divisional controller in the hydraulic hammers division.
He joined the family business in 1986, initially as head of controlling, before taking on responsibility for finance and human resources. In 1993, he was appointed managing director in the commercial area, eventually expanding into sales.
Over the years, Reifenhäuser has played a leading role in shaping the industry, serving as chairman of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association within the VDMA and as president of the K Trade Fair in Düsseldorf. His contributions were recognized with his induction into the Plastics Hall of Fame — an honor that also pays tribute to his father, Hans Reifenhäuser, who received the award posthumously in 2014.

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