New management at Meiller

After 20 years at the head of Meiller Aufzugtüren, Wolfgang Nothaft has retired at the end of June 2023.

The 65-year old business graduate has been managing director of Meiller since 2003 and directly responsible for the operational departments distribution, design and development, production and purchasing.

Before this, Nothaft was head of distribution and authorised signatory at Pfeifer Seil- und Hebetechnik. Positions previous to this were overseas distribution management at Rational AG and export management at Schneider Rundfunkwerken. In addition, he was guest lecturer at the Kempten University of Applied Sciences for strategic company management and foreign marketing.

Nothaft devoted himself to working in an honorary capacity as member of the board of management of the VDMA Trade Association Lifts and Escalators, in the German Committee for Lifts, in the working groups 1 and 6 of the European standardisation organisation CEN and in the Codes and Standards Committee of the European Lift Association.

Switched to the Advisory Board of the Meiller company group

On 1 July, he has switched to the Advisory Board of the Meiller company group and be self-employed as a business consultant. In addition, he will continue to be on the Advisory Board of the LIFTjournal.

"Originally, I actually wanted to be an artist and then ended up more by coincidence in business management," Nothaft revealed. "But at the head of Meiller, I was very much able to realise my creativity. If you are in charge of a company, you have to look ahead and a picture of the future of the company has to arise - similar to an artist."

New dual leadership

Klaus Schafranietz (left) and Christian Dressler. Photo: © Meiller Aufzugtüren

In future, Meiller Aufzugtüren will be under the dual leadership of Christian Dressler and Klaus Schafranietz. The previous plant manager and authorised signatory Schafranietz will manage the departments technology and production. The 60-year old has already been at Meiller for 35 years, 25 of these at Meiller Aufzugtüren.

Klaus Schafranietz studied vehicle technology at the Munich University of Applied Sciences and initially worked as test engineer in the vehicle superstructure department. He then moved to the door sector as head of lift door production with a focus on plant development, mechanical and production technology. Later he took over the plant management (work preparation, purchasing, quality assurance) before becoming technical director, including development/design. In 2008, he became authorised signatory.

Klaus Schafranietz would like to stand for stability in the company with his experience. "I was able to successfully accompany Mr Nothaft in the management of Meiller Aufzugtüren and I would be very pleased if our customers showed me the same trust as Mr Nothaft was able to enjoy during his long tenure."

Spokesman of the management

Christian Dressler has been second managing director at Meiller Aufzugtüren since 1 January. The 41-year old took on the role of management spokesman there and jointly leads the company together with Schafranietz as technical managing director.

After studying business administration at the University of Passau, Dressler began his professional career in the lift sector in the Otis Germany second brand, initially in new lift distribution, then branch manager and finally as sales director Germany. In 2014, he switched to the door automation sector and was employed there in a management position at KOS Spezialtüren (record Group), record Türautomation and at Gilgen Door Systems.

At Meiller Aufzugtüren, Christian Dressler would like to further expand its position as premium manufacturer in niche segments, promote digitalisation in the company and as a result sustainably expand its market position internationally. "We have a great team of very committed and expert employees with whom we have the best possible foundation for successfully mastering future challenges with customer relationships based on partnership."

More information: meiller-aufzugtueren.de