05.07.2022

Generation change at Kunze

Karl Kunze founder of German sales and rental company Kunze has handed over the full management of the business to his son Charly.

Charly Kunze was appointed as managing director of Kunze and Kunze Rental & Service at the end of last year, but will now take over the business entirely. The decision is somewhat driven by Karl’s ill health, as well as the desire to carry out an orderly transition from one generation to the next.
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Charly Kunze (L) with his father Karl

In recent years, the company has been busy transforming the way it does business, a process that has accelerated this past year as Charly Kunze became more active in his management role. The changes have included a complete update of its after sales service, including the setting up of a service network across Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It currently has four independent partners in Germany, two in Switzerland, and one in Belgium, and has set up its own service operation near Graz in Austria.

In terms of its headquarters in Bruckmühl - south east of Munich, in Bavaria - Kunze has built a new warehouse and offices and added more yard space at its existing premises in preparation for a major upgrade and greater volumes in its sales business. At the same time the company joined System Lift, the association of independent rental companies last year in order to boost its rental business. It has also acquired a new plot of land to cope with the planned growth and expansion over the next few years.
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The Kunze team

Charly Kunze has been keen to drive the sales side of the business forward and in order to do so conducted a thorough review of its suppliers and the brands it represents. When it comes to truck mounted platforms, Kunze has represented Italian manufacturer Socage for some time, but has now added the French manufacturer Klubb to its range, largely for its van mounted lifts. Speaking of the move Charly Kunze said: “With Socage we have a down to earth manufacturer by our side. An advantage of Socage is its own after sales company, which can always take care of the challenges of our customers backed up by the service we provide.”

Kunze also plans to strengthen the relationship it has with Platform Basket, where it has been actively selling both its spider lift line and special road rail self-propelled boom lifts. It has also added scissor lifts from Turkish manufacturer ELS, low level platforms from Faraone and spider cranes from BG Lift. It has also been building a glass handling operation and has signed up Dutch manufacturer Grip Lifting. The specialist and custom built products will be sold through a new business Kunze Spezialmaschinen.

“The company is on very solid ground, thanks to our father's commitment. My brother and I, as well as our entire team, want to continue on his path in the future and believe that the family and camaraderie we have can bring out the best in our team. We are excited about what lies ahead and want to continue offering our customers the best service and products,” added Kunze

Karl Kunze founded Kunze in 1988, as an aerial work platform dealer covering southern Germany, and particularly Bavaria. He later added a second company, Kunze Rental and Service, initially to rent out a single trailer platform he had acquired. Today the company runs a fleet of more than 120 platforms.