New management for strategic business unit Wienerberger Piping Solutions (WPS)

Ulrich Horn has taken over as Managing Director of the strategic business unit Wienerberger Piping Solutions (WPS) in Germany. The unit comprises Frechen-based Steinzeug-Keramo GmbH and its export organizations, and Bad Zwischenahn-based Pipelife Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG.

In this function, he now leads the management of both companies. The organization of the Group divisions stems from a realignment in infrastructure management.

Steinzeug-Keramo and Pipelife have been coordinating their market orientation closely for some time and share their resources in product and market management. The two companies offer their product range jointly, together forming the largest and most diverse range in their sector in Europe, with ongoing development of the range very future focused.

In the realigned structure, the WPS organization in Germany is assuming responsibility for the plants in Bad Schmiedeberg (Steinzeug-Keramo) and Bad Zwischenahn (Pipelife) as well as the export markets in Southern Europe and Eastern Europe as well as the overseas business.

Horn has many years’ experience in international construction supply, having held important positions with Dutch facade manufacturer Trespa, the Lafarge Group in France, and the Belgian Etex Group.

Bernd Ebbers, CEO of the two German organizations, will be leaving the company at the end of the year and will continue his career outside the Wienerberger Group.

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Tom Deckers recently took over the management of Wienerberger Piping Solutions (WPS) Infrastructure Belgium. As part of the group restructuring, this includes both Pipelife in Kalmthout and Steinzeug-Keramo in Hasselt, bringing the operational activities of both subsidiaries within the scope of his responsibility.

Deckers will focus mainly on expanding the companies’ role in the infrastructure sector and extending the range of solutions for storm water and smart water management. Looking to the future, Steinzeug-Keramo Belgium and Pipelife Belgium will also be closely aligning their market focus and products and will offer a broad joint product range.

From his career as Regional General Manager of Atlas Copco and Managing Director at Aertssen and Michielsens crane rental business, Deckers brings a wealth of market and professional experience to the table.