By Hermann Simon of Simon-Kucher

For many years, Putzmeister was one of my favorite ‘hidden champions’ – little-known German companies which are world famous in their industries. The concrete pump-maker’s equipment was used at Burj Chalifa, the tallest building in the world, and at the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plantdisaster site, just as it was at Chernobyl 25 years earlier.

But now Putzmeister’s days as an independent business are over, following the announcement this week of its planned acquisition for €360m by its huge Chinese rival, Sany Heavy Industry.  Should we lament the loss of a proud member of the Mittelstand? Or should we be glad that a financially-vulnerable company with top-class technology has a solid backer? And what does the deal say about the Mittelstand’s future? Continue reading »