On 1 May 2025 André Distel (42) and Thomas Demmerling (41) take over the management of TENTE International GmbH. Previous Managing Director Peter Fricke (60) will focus on the strategic business as chairman of the TENTE shareholders’ meeting and the board of directors of the TENTE Foundation from May onwards. Together with the managing directors, he will ensure to keep the family business on track for success just like he did during the more than 25 years as managing director of TENTE in Wermelskirchen and TENTE International GmbH.
André Distel, who has worked for TENTE for 20 years, will become Chief Executive Officer of TENTE International GmbH in Cologne. His father and grandfather have already worked for TENTE in Wermelskirchen. Thomas Demmerling has been managing the company’s finance, controlling, human resources and IT functions for four years as Chief Financial Officer and will continue in this role. The Managing Director of TENTE-ROLLEN GmbH in Wermelskirchen, Roland Dörner (64), remains responsible for the technical management of TENTE International GmbH as Chief Technical Officer.
“It’s time to put responsibility in younger hands. André Distel and Thomas Demmerling have shown in recent years that they work responsibly and forward-thinking. I look forward to continuing our good cooperation in a new position,” explains Peter Fricke.
Peter Fricke has driven the internationalisation of TENTE since 1998. At the time, the company consisted of 12 companies worldwide, today there are 32. The number of employees has increased from 1,000 to approximately 1,500, while worldwide sales have grown from 100 million euros in 1998 to 263 million euros in 2024. Over the past three years, the TENTE Group has invested 60 million euros in new production processes, products and digitalisation, as well as in acquisitions. The TENTE brand is known worldwide as a quality manufacturer of wheels and castors and has been one of the mid-market hidden champions for decades.
Lighthouse projects in investments include automation of production at TENTE-ROLLEN in Wermelskirchen and other production sites, the introduction of SAP, the design and construction of the innovative training and brand center “Campus”, as well as the development and production of castors and wheels for the medical and heavy-duty sectors. Another important focus is also on the use of ecological or recycled materials – an important contribution to environmental protection. Since 2024, TENTE has also been building a company daycare center in Wermelskirchen, which is due to be opened later this year. In addition, the company is engaged in social activities in the region around Wermelskirchen through the TENTE Foundation.
André Distel, who has worked for TENTE for 20 years, will become Chief Executive Officer of TENTE International GmbH in Cologne. His father and grandfather have already worked for TENTE in Wermelskirchen. Thomas Demmerling has been managing the company’s finance, controlling, human resources and IT functions for four years as Chief Financial Officer and will continue in this role. The Managing Director of TENTE-ROLLEN GmbH in Wermelskirchen, Roland Dörner (64), remains responsible for the technical management of TENTE International GmbH as Chief Technical Officer.
“It’s time to put responsibility in younger hands. André Distel and Thomas Demmerling have shown in recent years that they work responsibly and forward-thinking. I look forward to continuing our good cooperation in a new position,” explains Peter Fricke.
Peter Fricke has driven the internationalisation of TENTE since 1998. At the time, the company consisted of 12 companies worldwide, today there are 32. The number of employees has increased from 1,000 to approximately 1,500, while worldwide sales have grown from 100 million euros in 1998 to 263 million euros in 2024. Over the past three years, the TENTE Group has invested 60 million euros in new production processes, products and digitalisation, as well as in acquisitions. The TENTE brand is known worldwide as a quality manufacturer of wheels and castors and has been one of the mid-market hidden champions for decades.
Lighthouse projects in investments include automation of production at TENTE-ROLLEN in Wermelskirchen and other production sites, the introduction of SAP, the design and construction of the innovative training and brand center “Campus”, as well as the development and production of castors and wheels for the medical and heavy-duty sectors. Another important focus is also on the use of ecological or recycled materials – an important contribution to environmental protection. Since 2024, TENTE has also been building a company daycare center in Wermelskirchen, which is due to be opened later this year. In addition, the company is engaged in social activities in the region around Wermelskirchen through the TENTE Foundation.
