BARTEC’s Future is Global and Digital

Interview with CEO Dr Martin Schefter on the Development of BARTEC as s Global Company with Strong Roots in Europe

You have been with BARTEC since 2017 – what was your vision for the company when you first became CEO?

From the beginning, I saw the potential for BARTEC to become an innovation leader. By 2017, the financial restructuring was largely complete, and I aimed to build the company in a way that would allow it to fully realize its potential. Unfortunately, the crises of the time set us back several times on that path. All the more gratifying is that today we are once again well-positioned and have the best conditions to become the digital industry leader in the Ex sector.

How has BARTEC developed since then?

A crucial step was developing a DNA for BARTEC that enables change. We have become younger and more dynamic, building a management team with a healthy mix of young talents and experienced leaders who are united behind this vision.

Over the years, BARTEC has grown significantly through various acquisitions, but these were not sufficiently integrated. Integration was an important measure to allow us to operate cohesively and consistently as one company. Of course, BARTEC’s success story can only be written together with our employees. The ‘ONE BARTEC’ mission statement has helped us develop a shared spirit and live our values of performance, customer centricity, and dedication across all locations. We are proud that our over 1,000 employees in around 50 branches are increasingly creating synergies and celebrating successes together.

Another significant milestone for BARTEC is the clear divisionalization of the company. By reorgannizing the value chain under the leadership of five business units, we can further enhance efficiency and cohesion within the company. Each business unit will be responsible for its own profits in the future, and cooperate closely with the sales units in our four regions. This creates a clear structure of responsibility and enables the business units to respond more quickly and flexibly to market changes. By bringing everyone together regularly, we strengthen mutual support beyond the business units and make BARTEC more resilient.

Our goal is to establish BARTEC as a leading player in the digital transformation of the Ex sector.

Where do you see BARTEC in five years?

In times of uncertainty and transformation, safety plays a crucial role. The current market situation offers significant opportunities to grow in alternative energy sectors and we are committed to support our clients with the safe implementation of new technologies. In five years, I see BARTEC as a global player leading the digital transformation in the Ex sector. We will continue to invest in innovative technologies and the digitization of our processes and products.

While we continue to nurture our customer base in the European home markets and support the safe implementation of sustainable energy forms, we will also expand our international markets. The USA, in particular, will be a significant revenue driver. When you look at BARTEC’s development, our expertise in specialized safety solutions stands out. With the Customize-to-Order approach, we continue to focus on proactively anticipating the individual needs of our customers and offering them tailored solutions.

However, through a higher degree of standardization and automation, we can achieve much greater production efficiency. With our strategy programme, the ‘Full Potential Plan’ and a clear digital focus, BARTEC is well-positioned for a profitable and safe future.