Magdalene Höltke (Magda) is Senior Vice President Global Wheel. Wheelabrator, part of the Norican Group, has strengthened ist global leadership. Magda takes over from Heinrich Dropmann as part of a planned succession process. Heinrich, who has been with Wheelabrator for over 30 years, will remain with the company but will focus on sales and business development, bringing his extensive knowledge and experience to Wheelabrator's global customer base.
About Magda Höltke
Magda is a PhD in Organic Chemistry and an MBA and has spent the majority of her career in surface engineering and automotive coatings. She spent nearly 15 years at BASF Coatings in strategic leadership, R&D and technical roles. Most recently she was Technology Director at PETER/LACKE Group with European responsibility.
Based at Wheelblast's global technology center in Metelen, Germany, Magda will lead the entire global Wheelblast business from innovation strategy and technology development to sales and business growth.
Lars Priess, President of Wheelabrator, comments: "Magda joins the company at a pivotal time in Wheelabrator's 100+ year history. Wheelblasting plays a key role in the manufacture of many products, from cast iron cookware to vital components for infrastructure and the automotive industry. Since the beginning of this century, new demands have been placed on the blasting process: increasing automation, improved sustainability, radical efficiency.
"There are also completely new products to deal with: 3D-printed parts, battery housings for electric vehicles, new energy infrastructures. All of this means that we need to put innovation at the heart of our Wheelblast offering - in new, faster ways. And that's exactly what I've asked Magda to do. I am delighted that she has taken up the challenge."
Magda adds: "Blasting brings me even closer to the surface than my previous roles. It's an endlessly fascinating process for which Wheelabrator has incredibly powerful technology. My goal is to take this technology to a whole new level.
"Never before have we had so many tools at our disposal to continuously improve performance. Data analysis, relentless testing, scientific research, new materials - it all helps to develop better wheels, better processes, and transform the potential of blasting as a high-tech and sustainable process. And we are integrating the latest innovations into our customers' processes faster and faster, be it through digital tools, improved wear parts or upgrades and retrofits. That's very exciting."
Magda's appointment is part of a series of strategic investments in Wheelabrator's global Wheel Technology Center. A larger 16-machine test center was established in 2022 in a brand-new building in Metelen, and materials scientist Christian Timmer joined in January 2024 to lead Wheelabrator's expanded global testing and laboratory capabilities.
