Schnitzer Group sets course for the Future
Andreas Kohler and Marius Schindler join the Management Team
Very good news from the Schnitzer Group! From 1 January 2025, Andreas Kohler and Marius Schindler will actively join the management team. Over the next two years, they will be familiarized with strategic tasks and fully involved in management decisions. This will be followed by the complete handover of management responsibility in 2027. At the same time, Peter Schnitzer and Peter Kienzle, with their many years of experience and technical expertise, will remain with the Schnitzer Group team in an operational and advisory capacity.
Peter Kienzle and Peter Schnitzer
Continuity and innovation in harmony
With the founding of the Schnitzer Group by Peter Schnitzer in 1992 and the appointment of Managing Director Peter Kienzle in 1999, the company has established itself as a reliable partner for international development projects. In addition to the German locations in Wangen, Kornwestheim and Weissenburg/Bavaria, the global presence in Europe was expanded with independent subsidiaries in China, Switzerland and the USA. Today, the team consists of 60 colleagues, who support technical development projects and deliver innovative solutions, primarily in the automotive industry. With the upcoming generational change, customers are guaranteed continuity, reliability and new impetus.
Strong managers from our own ranks
Andreas Kohler and Marius Schindler have been part of the Schnitzer Group for many years and bring with them extensive experience and in-depth technical expertise.
- Andreas Kohler began his dual study program in industrial engineering at the Schnitzer Group in Kornwestheim in 2012. He was then drawn to China. It was to be 10 years, first as a technical project manager, then five years as Managing Director at Schnitzer Consulting Shanghai. At the turn of the year, the Altusried/ South Germany native returned to Wangen with his small family.
- Marius Schindler, an industrial engineer from Owingen/ South Germany at Lake Constance, has been with the Schnitzer Group since 2009. After an internship and bachelor's thesis at the Wangen site, he also decided to move to Shanghai. After three years in China, he started in Kornwestheim in 2014 as deputy local director. With extensive international management experience, he is largely responsible for successful customer key accounting.
The two new managing directors combine outstanding professional expertise, commitment and flexibility to successfully manage the Schnitzer Group with its international teams in volatile times. Both have their hearts in the right place and are likeable team players.
Marius Schindler and Andreas Kohler
Kohler is succeeded by Palma - strengthening the international focus in Asia
Leo Palma, part of the Schnitzer Group since 2016, took over the management and the 10-strong team in China and Thailand in January. With his in-depth knowledge of the market, the mechanical engineering graduate is driving growth in this important region, Asia/Pacific.
Ready for the future
The planned change has been carefully prepared to ensure that reliability, quality and innovation remain the Schnitzer Group's hallmarks. With a clear strategic direction and a strong crew, we are optimistic about the coming years.
Contact: andreas.kohler@schnitzer-group.com, marius.schindler@schnitzer-group.com
New CEO of Schnitzer Consulting Shanghai
Leo Palma and Andreas Kohler
Leo Palma takes over: Change at Management Level for a strong Future
Schnitzer Consulting Shanghai, an important part of the Schnitzer Group since 2007, has undergone a change in management as of 1 January 2025. Andreas Kohler, who has made a significant contribution to the success of the company in China as CEO, will remain with the Schnitzer Group and will continue to be available to our customers as a contact person with his many years of experience. He is handing over his responsibilities in China to Leo Palma, an experienced mechanical engineer who has been carefully prepared for his new role since 2023.
Global presence and local expertise
With a team of ten highly qualified engineers based at the German Centre in Shanghai and a strong international network, the Schnitzer Group continues to set standards in Asia. Our customers benefit from our global reach, strong internal collaboration and the highest quality standards - without language barriers.
Leo Palma brings a fresh perspective and in-depth technical expertise. His focus is on combining the Schnitzer Group's proven values with innovative approaches to provide our customers with the best possible solutions in a dynamically changing business world.
Schnitzer Group Team Asia
Your partner in Asia
Our team in China and Thailand is at your side with passion, many years of experience and flexibility - for technical expertise and sustainable success.
We look forward to shaping the future together with you!
Contact: leo.palma@schnitzer-group.com
CV Leo Palma
Leo Palma was born in Uzbekistan in 1986 and moved to Germany with his family in 1995. After graduating from high school in Ravensburg/ South Germany, he trained as an IT businessman and then studied mechanical engineering at RWU Ravensburg-Weingarten. His studies were already very international, with semesters abroad in Thailand and the USA.
In 2016, Leo Palma started working as a project engineer at the Schnitzer Group in Wangen. He has been living and working in Shanghai since 2019, initially as a project manager and later as deputy managing director. Leo Palma has been working as CEO Asia since January 2025.
#learningfromfriends: Schnitzer Group Academy
Schnitzer Group expands seminar area
For many years, Schnitzer Group experts have been regularly booked as speakers by our customers - be it on topics such as quality assurance, sampling, mould technology, etc.
With the founding of the Schnitzer Group Academy, companies can now book targeted training courses in a variety of areas of expertise. The current range includes topics such as quality management, tool technology - injection moulding tools, injection moulding technology, automotive project management, transfer and progressive tools, casting technology and gauge management.
The seminars take place either at the Schnitzer Group's premises in Wangen, Kornwestheim, Weissenburg and Shanghai - or directly at our customers' premises. Experienced specialists from the team impart sound theoretical knowledge and supplement it with many practical tips from everyday working life. The motto is: From practice for practice
Contact: ulrike.schnitzer@schnitzer-group.com