March 6, 2026 11:40

The Executive Board of VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery, the group within Germany’s engineering federation representing manufacturers of machinery and equipment for the plastics and rubber industries, has elected Sandra Füllsack (pictured), Managing Director of Motan Holding, as its new chairwoman.

The German executive succeeds Ulrich Reifenhäuser, who is stepping down from the association’s board after 32 years and handing over the baton to his younger brother, Bernd. Another family succession, this time across generations, involves Rainer Zimmermann, CEO of AZO, who is leaving his seat on the board to his son Lukas.

Ulrich Reifenhäuser served on the Executive Board for three decades and chaired the association for 18 years. He also presided over K in Düsseldorf, the sector’s leading trade fair.

“Ulrich Reifenhäuser (pictured)  is a role model when it comes to being courageous in times of ever-changing geopolitical and economic challenges, actively shaping the future with confidence and working to ensure the sustainability of the rubber and plastics machinery industry,” commented Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery. “His ability to bring people together has always advanced our common mission.”

His departure from the association’s inner circle coincides with his resignation from operational duties within the Reifenhäuser Group, announced earlier this year. The family will continue to be represented in the company by CEO Bernd Reifenhäuser and Chief Digital Officer Jan Karnath, who joined the group in 2024 as the first representative of the founder’s fourth generation.

According to VDMA’s preliminary figures, the plastics and rubber machinery sector ended 2025 with orders down by around 2% and turnover lower by about 6% compared with the previous year.

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