Daniel Erni, CEO of Hunkeler, has left the company as the integration between Hunkeler and Muller Martini picks up speed.
It is Erni’s second departure from Muller Martini. He had been sales director of the business for three years leading to 2009 when he left to mechanical engineering business Ruag. He returned to Hunkeler as sales director in 2016 becoming CEO in January 2023. He was part of the team during the integration following Muller Martini’s acquisition of the business at the end of 2023.
He departs with thanks for his contribution to the merger of the two companies which will be complete by the end of this year ahead of the Hunkeler Innovation Days in 12 months time. The Hunkeler brand will be retained and its business will continue unchanged says the company. Muller Martini has redesigned its website as part of the process; Hunkeler’s remains unchanged.
However, Hunkeler’s manufacturing has moved to a Muller Martini factory at Zofingen. This is a response to weakening demand around the world, exacerbated by tariffs in the US and currency fluctuations. “Global customers’ willingness to invest has weakened and at the same time global uncertainties have increased” says Muller Martini.
The consolidation has meant a change in location for 200 Hunkeler staff, but Muller Martini has assured them that there will be no forced redundancies. Numbers will reduce through natural wastage.
Customers will not notice any difference says the company although responsibility for Hunkeler sales and support has passed to Muller Martini subsidiaries. “Nothing really changes,” says head of sales for the UK, Ireland and Iceland, Dave McGinlay. The sales UK team has been strengthened through the appointment of Darren Cartwright from Friedheim International a year ago and more recently by the appointment of Dane van der Walt, previously project manager, who has become regional sales manager and Elliott Parnell has joined as regional sales manager after almost seven years at Henry Ling, latterly as bindery manager.
