Schattdecor AG, the global market leader for printed decor paper, celebrated its "return to Thansau" and the inauguration of its new headquarters complex at the south German location with 500 guests from all over the world. For company founder Walter Schatt, the May event was the "culmination of 22 years of company history", since it was also during the ceremony that he officially passed the presidency to Reiner Schulz, his deputy to date.

Back in 1985, when Schatt laid the foundation stone for a company that was to become the global market leader 13 years later, he did so with the intention of enriching "the European market with a highly productive and efficient decor printing operation". Nevertheless, by 1993 the company was in the throes of a "globe-spanning tour de force", founding subsidiaries in Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, China and Brazil in quick succession. To return to the present day, Schattdecor generated consolidated sales of €420 million in the past financial year alone, producing 105,000 metric tons of decor paper and 200 million square metres of foil with the help of 1,300 employees working at twelve production facilities all over the world.

During the main foreign expansion phase, the parent operation in Thansau had to take second place to the new subsidiaries until construction of a new headquarters complex could no longer be delayed. A circular, six-storeyed office building connected to an entrance hall by a 40-metre-long skywalk is the focal point of the new headquarters complex that has since come about. An underground car park and a logistics building have also been built at the site's southern end. Altogether the company has invested over €40 million in the glass and steel buildings designed by the Munich architect Bernd Obersteiner.

The change in Schattdecor's uppermost management took its start back in 1997, when Reiner Schulz (49) was made CEO. Now that the presidency has officially been passed to Schulz, the 65-year-old company founder – whose merits as a responsible entrepreneur were underscored at the inauguration event by Rohrdorf's mayor Fritz Tischner – will be able to take things a little easier after 50 years of professional activity. Meanwhile, his successor looks forward to "guiding a company with such a unique corporate culture to the future". However, as he pointed out to the employees and business partners attending the inauguration event: "The future is something we have to help shape".

At the event, Father Dr. Albert Ziegler, a Swiss theologian who has stood at the side of the company's management as an advisor for many years, referred to Schattdecor's corporate philosophy and how it places people at the focus of all activities. As he said in his speech, the "Made by Schattdecor" label not only vouches for the quality of the decor paper produced by the company but also stands for values such as reliability, trust and mutual esteem.

The premiere of a chamber opera performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni not only provided the inauguration ceremony with a finishing touch but also marked the start of a whole week of activities in celebration of Schattdecor's new headquarters complex in Thansau.

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In the case of any questions, please contact:
Schattdecor AG
Corporate Communications
Bernd Reuss, M.A.
Phone: ++49/(0)8031/ 275-2779
Fax: ++49/(0)8031/ 275-2500
Email: b.reuss@schattdecor.de

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