October 20, 2021 | Bill Esler
Freudenstadt, Germany—Shareholders of the Freudenstadt, Germany-based Bürkle Group have appointed Jan Sickmann CEO.
With a background in mechanical engineering, Sickmann takes over management of the group of Bürkle companies together with the other managing directors. The company says this will strengthen the management team and consolidate its market position, as well as expand international growth in a period of dynamic market changes.
“Bürkle is an excellently positioned company with strong technology and solution competence. With the highly motivated and innovative Bürkle team, we will consolidate operations and then further expand our international market position,” Sickmann says. In the wood manufacturing industry, Bürkle roll and spray coating systems, laminating, thermoforming, and automated storage systems are used in production of furniture, flooring, doors, and wall panel. Bürkle North America is listed among exhibitors at IWF 2022 next August in Atlanta.
Sickmann has more than 20 years of experience in international mechanical engineering and plant construction, and was most recently founder and managing partner of Impreos, a consultancy responsible for interim management and for delivering the Impreos Performance Programs.
He began his career at printing press manufacturer Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, and has held various management positions at AEG Power Solutions, KUKA, McKinsey & Company, Roland Berger, and Voith Industrial Services. With additional background as a business economist, he has worked in national and international management positions for market-leading companies in robotics, automation technology and for system manufacturers in the PV industry. His focus was on market and technology-oriented growth strategies.
With active support and in close coordination with its Munich-based private equity partner Auctus Capital Partners, Bürkle says its management is facing the challenges of the market with economic tailwinds in the coming months. The focus on the three growth areas of wood-based material finishing, photovoltaics, and printed circuit boards is intended to continue the success story of recent years. This the company says is being supported by an individual strategic orientation of each business area, and further technical innovations.
International Woodworking Fair
Tuesday–Friday
August 25–28, 2026
Georgia World Congress Center
285 Andrew Young International Blvd
Atlanta, GA 30313