“Growth means opportunities for all of us.”
A challenging environment, major strategic steps, and ambitious goals: with the integration of PI and its consistent focus on profitable growth, HOERBIGER is continuing its transformation. In this interview, CEO Thorsten Kahlert discusses the first half of 2026, the goals and priorities for the current year, and why growth makes HOERBIGER an attractive employer.
Thorsten, how did the first half of 2026 go?
The first half of 2026 went according to plan. With the successful completion of the PI acquisition at the end of March, we closed the largest acquisition in HOERBIGER’s history and thereby significantly accelerated HOERBIGER’s transformation. I am particularly impressed by the competence and dedication of our teams worldwide. We continue to see that our core businesses are performing steadily despite a market environment that remains challenging.
What is the Executive Board focusing on in the current fiscal year?
There are three key topics for the year. First and foremost is PI: successfully managing the integration, maintaining our business strength, and strategically driving growth in attractive future markets – these are our top priorities. At the same time, we are consistently investing in our core business. We aim to return to organic growth by expanding our market share and tapping into new growth areas. And we remain committed to very strict cost discipline as a key lever for ensuring financial stability and building the Group’s resilience in a volatile business climate.
What goals have you set for 2026?
External conditions remain demanding, with high volatility, geopolitical uncertainties, and limited predictability. Nevertheless, we are resolutely pursuing our strategy of profitable growth. For the fiscal year 2026, we are aiming for low single-digit revenue growth with stable profitability.
Why do you think growth is so important?
For us, growth is not an end in itself. It is a necessity. As a group owned by a foundation, we are independent of the capital market and can consistently align our decisions with a long-term perspective. But that also means we must finance everything we invest in – whether in innovation, acquisitions, or our employees – through our own resources. That is why profitable growth is our most important goal. It secures our independence and our long-term viability, and makes us a stable, attractive employer.
Can you explain why growth makes HOERBIGER an attractive employer?
Sure, because that is something that is very important to me personally. Growth is not just a financial metric. Growth means opportunities – for every single person in the company. Imagine a company that is not growing. It is stagnating. What happens then on the P&C side? Little to nothing. Positions are filled, structures are rigid, and anyone who wants to advance their career has to leave the company. That is the opposite of what we want at HOERBIGER. When a company grows, new tasks, new roles, and new areas of responsibility are constantly emerging. Our North Star 2030 puts it very clearly: HOERBIGER aims to be a top employer where people can grow both personally and professionally. This is only possible if the company itself grows as well. Growth equals opportunity – this is not just a textbook formula; it is a reality we live by every day. And ultimately, it is one of the strongest reasons why people join HOERBIGER and why they stay.