Oliver Sonst is the new Managing Director at Stahlo Stahlservice

A change at the top of Stahlo Stahlservice: effective on 1 October, Oliver Sonst is to assume executive management of one of the largest and most advanced steel service centres in Europe. His appointment reflects the new strategic focus on future goals – technology leadership in high-tech steel processing, strong partnerships in the automotive industry, and expansion in eastern European markets.

A company is embracing the future: this year will see Stahlo commissioning a new plant in Gera, boasting production technology unsurpassed in Europe. The new-build facility not only doubles the number of systems in operation in Gera, but also increases capacity to 400,000 metric tons of steel annually. Stahlo had already significantly extended its service portfolio in late 2018 with its acquisition of Blech-Service Nordhausen. A key business objective is expansion in eastern European markets. The new Managing Director of Stahlo, who takes up the reins on 1 October, will be addressing a number of major tasks.

The new man at the helm has the experience and expertise for the challenges ahead: in recent years, Oliver Sonst oversaw the growth of Welser Profile GmbH, headquartered in Austria, following his appointment as CEO in 2014. Previously, he had held a variety of senior international executive positions at Benteler Distribution Germany and the Erbslöh Group – where he consistently prioritised the development of leading-edge technology and customer centricity.

In his new role, beginning in October, Oliver Sonst will head up a company with headquarters in Dillenburg, and further sites in Gera and Nordhausen, plus subsidiaries and sales offices in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Benelux: “In Mr Sonst, we have recruited an experienced manager with an excellent reputation. He has already written a number of success stories in the steel and automotive industry. And he stands for growth,” states Professor Friedhelm Loh, Owner and CEO of the Friedhelm Loh Group, to which Stahlo belongs.

“It is an exciting task that I am very much looking forward to,” says Oliver Sonst. “Stahlo has a unique, end-to-end manufacturing skillset backed by state-of-the-art production technology. It is a reliable partner and a family-owned business that combines passion with intelligence. I am convinced that we are about to begin a new chapter at Stahlo, and will strengthen our market position.” Oliver Sonst studied engineering with a focus on manufacturing, lives in Münster and has three children.

Oliver Sonst succeeds Guido Spenrath, who will be leaving the company to take on new challenges outside the Friedhelm Loh Group. Friedhelm Loh emphasized the management’s gratitude for his contribution and many years of dedication, and expressed their best wishes for his future.

Stahlo Stahlservice GmbH & Co. KG is one of Germany’s largest and most advanced mill-independent steel service centres. It offers a complete portfolio of products and services for all key sheet metal materials. At its plants in Dillenburg, Gera and Nordhausen, Stahlo manufactures diverse sheet metal products, including slitted coils, contoured and cut-to-size blanks, plus standard and cut-to-size sheets – in line with its customers’ specific needs, and in all grades, including high and ultra-high strength steel.