Notícia

On 23 May 2025, Friedr. Freek GmbH celebrated its 75th anniversary - a milestone in the history of the Menden-based electric heating specialist, which has stood for quality, precision and innovation in electric heating since 1950. In a festive setting, employees, cooperation partners and guests looked back on an eventful and successful company history - and at the same time forwards: the generational change in the management was also celebrated.

From the early days to the present

What began in 1950 with the manufacture of simple open wire heating elements for fans and mica-insulated flat heating elements for the household appliance industry was, from the mid-1990s onwards, further developed together with like-minded heater manufacturers and under scientific supervision into a future-oriented innovation and cooperation network. On the basis of this business model, Freek today serves international markets with a full range of innovative industrial heating elements. For decades, the Freek name has stood for technical excellence, reliability and close cooperation with customers in a wide variety of industries - driven by a committed team and a family-like working environment.

Passing the baton in the management team

A central highlight of the anniversary celebration was the official handover of the management from Wolfgang Kaiser to his son Jan Kaiser, who together with his uncle Stefan Kaiser will form the new management duo. After more than three decades at the helm, Wolfgang Kaiser looks back with gratitude:

"It fills me with pride to see how our family business has developed. It has been an eventful time of change at Freek with a fantastic team. From a local and regional supplier to the household appliance industry, we have intelligently networked and developed into a global player and full-range supplier. With Jan, responsibility is now being taken over by someone who knows our values, lives them and will continue to develop them. I am very curious to see which new impulses he will set and am delighted now to be able to follow this path from the outside."

Jan Kaiser, who previously worked as Product Manager at igus GmbH and has been taking on responsibility in the company since 2023, looks to the future with optimism:

"I am looking forward to continuing our successful path together with you - our strong Freek team. Succession in medium-sized companies is not always easy. All the more reason for me to be grateful for your openness towards me and my ideas. Our combination of experience, innovative strength and passion is the basis for sustainable, positive company development. Let’s tackle it together!"

Stefan Kaiser also took the opportunity to share his view of the past and the future:

"Even after 75 years, Freek remains firmly in family hands and a guarantor of continuity, trust and a family-like working environment. With our clear focus on quality, technical advancement and partnership-based cooperation, I look positively towards Freek’s future in the coming years and am very much looking forward to shaping it together with Jan and all of you as a team."

Festive atmosphere late into the night

True to the motto of our senior boss Wilhelm Kaiser, "Those who work together should also celebrate together", the dance floor was opened after the formal handover by a true master of her craft, DJane Mira Falkenstein. Various surprise acts from the Freek team rounded off an eventful evening that continued in high spirits late into the night.

This text is machine-translated. Original text is German.