Rudolf Hans Zillgith has retired from the operational management of food-processing equipment manufacturer KRONEN GmbH, completing a leadership transition that began in 2018.

The German company will now be managed by Stephan Zillgith, spokesman of the Management Board; Eric Lefebvre, technical director; and Johannes Günther, sales director. All three have served alongside Rudolf Hans Zillgith on the Management Board and have been responsible for their respective divisions since 2018.

Rudolf Hans Zillgith will remain connected to the business as a shareholder of Zillgith Beteiligungs GmbH. The holding company owns a majority stake in KRONEN and has investments in Dutch food-industry businesses that complement the manufacturer’s processing portfolio.

“The members of the Management Board have been working together in this constellation on a strong foundation of trust for many years and will now continue to lead KRONEN GmbH consistently down this successful path,” said Stephan Zillgith.

Rudolf Hans Zillgith acquired the company, then operating as Kronen Nahrungsmitteltechnik, in 1998 after a career at commercial food-equipment manufacturer Hobart. During his tenure, KRONEN expanded its international operations and established its headquarters in Kehl-Goldscheuer, Germany.

The company currently employs more than 130 people across its operations, including WS Edelstahltechnik, which it acquired in 2020. KRONEN supplies food-processing machinery and production lines to customers in approximately 120 countries.

KRONEN reported turnover of EUR22m for 2025, the highest annual figure in its history.

The company also entered into a cooperation agreement with US cutting-equipment manufacturer Urschel Laboratories in 2025. Under the partnership, Urschel distributes KRONEN machinery in the US and Mexico, with sales cooperation in Asian markets beginning in 2026. The two companies remain independently owned and operated.

“When I look back at the development of KRONEN GmbH over the past few decades, I feel extremely grateful and proud,” Rudolf Hans Zillgith said. “Together with its committed team, this medium-sized company has evolved to become an internationally successful partner for the food industry.”