Klöckner & Co is striving to become the leading one-stop digital platform for steel by 2025, Kallanish hears from the German-based steel distribution group.
Klöckner claims a pioneering role in digitalisation, and in the next phase of its digital transformation intends to focus on automating internal processes. It says its aim is to link the physical and the digital side of the business more closely, thus greatly reducing manual interventions along the value chain, what it dubs “zero touch”.
This will also involve pooling key Klöckner & Co digital and IT competencies under the roof of its kloeckner.i unit. In this context, kloeckner.i will build up a second innovation hub in the US to better fulfil the local requirements for digitalising the business.
The company’s target is to more than double its pre-pandemic level of operating income, and sustain this, by 2025. Its new corporate strategy, “Klöckner & Co 2025: Leveraging Strengths”, was presented at Wednesday’s annual general meeting by incoming chief executive Guido Kerkhoff. Kerkhoff, formerly ceo of thyssenkrupp AG, is assuming the position from 13 May.
The group’s board will also get an additional member in Bernhard Weiss, as chief executive officer Europe. For the past several years, Weiss has been ceo of the French country organisation, where his accomplishments include a successful restructuring. As of 1 June, the management board will thus consist of Guido Kerkhoff, ceo; Oliver Falk, cfo; John Ganem, ceo Americas; and Bernhard Weis, ceo Europe.
Christian Koehl Germany
