Jože Kaligaro is the new Managing Director of Weiler Abrasives EMEA

Maribor, March, 2019 - On 16 March, Jože Kaligaro, a successful Slovenian businessman with many years of experience in running large industrial companies, will take over the management of the Maribor-Zere company Weiler Abrasives. The amicable decision of the management and the owners of the company to change the leadership was made at the end of last financial year at the initiative of the current CEO Matjaž Merkan, who successfully managed the company since 2013, during this period significantly increasing the volume of operations and successfully completing the process of sales and integration into the global Weiler Abrasives Group. Weiler Abrasives' vision and strategy remain unchanged and focused among the leading companies in the global abrasives market. In doing so, they will focus on deepening their understanding of markets and user needs to develop innovative high value-added products that ensure long-term growth and development of the company.

“I take over the management of a company that is part of a reputable international business group and is one of the few Slovenian companies to be present all over the world with its products. Completed ownership transformation will allow us to fully focus on fulfilling the company's mission to achieve the set strategic goals, "emphasized the new director of the company Jože Kaligaro.

"Matjaž Merkan has significantly strengthened the company over the years of management and successfully completed integration into the Weiler Abrasives Group global group, including changing the corporate brand and introducing organizational culture towards business excellence," said Chris Weiler, CEO of Weiler Abrasives Group. adding that the company is leaving in excellent shape and with an outstanding management team. "At Joze Kaligar, with his extensive experience in the management of industrial companies, we have recognized the right person to continue the path outlined among the leading companies in the global abrasive market."

Otherwise, Weiler Abrasives, which will be completing its 140th anniversary this year, is operating successfully. Last year, 825 employees generated sales of € 81.1 million, down two percent from the year before. This is a reflection of the decline in sales in the product segment for the metalworking industry due to adverse political and economic conditions in some key markets. The year was marked by a rise in commodity prices. Significant growth was recorded in the most demanding markets of Western Europe and more firmly entered the Indian market. They also devoted a lot of time to the development of new products, for which they were awarded the GZS Gold Award for Innovation, Process Improvement, and Innovation, building an organizational culture of excellence, and making significant investments of four million euros.