Our strengths – assuming responsibility, exploiting opportunities, driving innovations forwards – are crucial, particularly in turbulent times. Only these will enable us to continue to exist in the long term. 

2025 has not been an easy year for Germany's industry. Economic recovery failed to materialize in the light of weak demand, geopolitical uncertainties, and high energy costs.

Bischof+Klein was also unable to buck this trend completely. For 2025 as a whole, we are only anticipating order receipts on a par with the previous year. Within the GROUP, we have nevertheless succeeded in compensating for a lack of volumes and cost pressures by means of efficiency programs and improvements in purchasing. We will maintain this direction in order to continue stabilizing our profitability in 2026.

Our new employee magazine cites numerous examples of how we are successfully overcoming challenges. One of this year's highlights was our "gallery walk" series of events: this clearly showcased the diversity of our product range in a practical and inspiring way with clear stimuli for successful cross-selling. Diversity that establishes bonds, strengthens, and opens up new business opportunities for us.

We can also look back with pride at further milestones: winning the WorldStar Packaging Awards, a successful international Supplier Day, awards for our trainees, investments in new lines in Konzell, Telford, and Walce as well as successful environmental and energy efficiency audits in Pont-Audemer. Together, we are shaping the future – in all areas of our company.

All of these successes are only possible with your commitment, your ideas, and your willingness to take new approaches. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this!

We want to resolutely continue this approach in 2026 with our "New Way of Selling," more efficient processes, and above all by asking how we can work together even better. Because we can only achieve great things together.

We head off into the new year full of energy and convinced that, together, we can achieve more than we can possibly imagine today.

First, however, we would like to wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Erik Edelmann, Karsten Pax, Hanns Martin Kaiser, Wald Westerlinck