Koehler Energy Group grows with joint venture to more than EUR 100 million turnover and almost 300 employees
Reliable supply of customers for material and thermal biomass ▪ New major supplier for biomass in German-speaking countries
The Koehler Group and the Zollikofer Group announce that Koehler Renewable Energy will acquire a 60% majority stake in the Zollikofer Group with effect from July 2021, subject to antitrust review, for the long-term supply of raw materials for biomass power plants. The Koehler Group has set itself the goal of producing more energy from renewable sources than is needed for paper production by 2030. The takeover is being made in order to be able to supply the already existing and further planned biomass power plants with biomass in the long term. Zollikofer is an international logistics and trading company for sawmill by-products as well as used, forest and energy wood, with headquarters in Bad Wurzach.
Sustainable fuel helps achieve "Koehler Promise 2030
In order to achieve its "Promise 2030", the Koehler Group has been relying on sustainable energy with Koehler Renewable Energy (KRE) since 2012. Numerous projects in the fields of wind power, photovoltaics, hydropower and combined heat and power have already been implemented across Europe. Only recently, the family-owned company announced that it will convert its power plant in Oberkirch to biomass as part of its sustainability strategy. The use of biomass instead of coal will thus reduce CO2 emissions by more than 150,000 tonnes per year. The group of companies already owns several wood farms for the production of material and thermal wood chips to ensure that its biomass power plants are supplied with regional fuel. Kai M. Furler, CEO of Koehler, states: "The joint venture is intended to secure the required quantities of fuel for our biomass power plants in the long term. In Zollikofer, we have found a strong partner who, as a family-owned company like us, is pursuing long-term, ambitious growth targets in material and thermal recycling."
Joint venture creates strong biomass supplier in German-speaking countries
The Zollikofer Group was founded in Bad Wurzach in 1966 and has since developed into a major supplier for the processing, trading and logistics of wood and wood products, especially sawmill by-products and bark products, recycled wood and biomass for thermal and material recycling. Wilfried Zollikofer, Managing Director at Zollikofer, emphasises: "The cooperation with Koehler
gives us planning security with regard to the purchase of our biomass and thus enables us to grow further in the future." The Zollikofer brand will remain on the market.
With this significant step, the Koehler Energy Group grows to more than 100 million EUR annual turnover. In total, the company employs more than 300 people.
www.koehler.com
