Making HR fit for the future
Andreas Knapp to join Kludi as Head of Corporate Culture & Human Resources
Andreas Knapp (49) will join the German fittings specialist Kludi (www.kludi.com) on 1 August 2022 from the Wickeder Group. Knapp was born in Dortmund and studied law and political science. He will assume the newly created position of Head of Corporate Culture & Human Resources at the premium brand for bathroom and kitchen fittings. He will therefore be responsible for HR strategy and management at the Kludi Group both in Germany and at the company’s international sites. His tasks will also include continuing the development of culture at the business, which has grown over the course of almost a century. “Thanks to his experience at internationally active manufacturers, Andreas Knapp is perfect for this role”, says Julian Henco, CEO of the Kludi Group. He knows the metal processing industry inside out and has a deep understanding of the needs of the people who work there.” For Kludi, the newly created role marks the beginning of a strategic expansion of the management team to secure its future competitiveness.
Winning the battle for skilled workers
Kludi is planning further additions to its HR department with two new positions. With these additions, Kludi is responding to the challenges posed by the growing lack of skilled workers. “Following the acquisition by RAK Ceramics, we are now part of a globally active, multicultural group”, explains Henco. “This is important for the Kludi brand, as it allows us to both remain true to our roots and tradition while also become smarter, more diverse and more cosmopolitan. Several measures are already being prepared that will reinforce our positioning on the international market.” These could also help make the company more attractive as an employer, particularly to young people in the region.
Kludi – The Sauerland-based fittings specialist
Kludi - the fittings specialist from the Sauerland region of Germany
Kludi GmbH & Co. KG - founded in 1926 in the Sauerland region - stands for almost 100 years of experience in the development and manufacture of high-quality fittings for bathrooms and kitchens. This tradition as a fittings specialist has given rise to the claim that Kludi products combine excellent manufacturing quality "Made in Germany", maximum functionality, innovative technologies and first-class design in a unique way. Time and again, Kludi has given important impetus to developments in the bathroom and kitchen with pioneering solutions. Around 170 inventions and 100 patents can be attributed to the medium-sized company with its headquarters in Menden. It is no coincidence that Kludi has received many awards for this, most recently the "German Innovation Award", the "Red Dot Design Award" and as one of the "TOP 100 Innovators" in the German SME sector.
Kludi fittings are not only used in countless private houses and flats, but also in many prestigious projects such as the L'Oréal "Horizon J1" German headquarters in Düsseldorf, the elegant Kayumanis Private Villa & Spa Hotel in Yangshuo, the five-star "Sheraton Grand Krakow" hotel in Krakow, the "Karolinenhof" residential complex in Regensburg or the trendy "Urban Loft" boutique hotel in the heart of Cologne.
The Kludi family has around 900 employees in sales and production companies in eleven countries in Europe and Asia. In addition to the fully integrated main plant in Menden, Kludi manufactures its fittings in Hornstein/Austria and Diósd/Hungary as well as in the United Arab Emirates. From there, they are exported to over 100 countries. Kludi has been part of the RAK Ceramics Group since 2022. You can find out more about Kludi - the fittings specialist from the Sauerland region - at www.kludi.com.