1993-1996

Gutmann was a specialist of individual tailor made cooker hoods and since several years member of the ATAG Kitchen Group. A few years, this company was loss leading. This assignment involved a turn around commercially and financially.

3 years later the Gutmann brand was internationally respected, had Gutmann one of the best results of the Group, was the brand highly appreciated by the German kitchen dealers and held the company a superb program of designer hoods.

Thee turn around was based on a change in the management and a drastic change in product philosophy. Beautiful but acceptable models of high quality and finishing were designed, that were easy to install.

This success was realized despite a dreadful water fled disaster that Gutmann overcame in 1991. The loss leading company with a negative bank account suddenly was confronted with 1 meter of water in the company that could not even be reached anymore. 5000 M2 high tech machine park was destroyed, and the company appeared not insured. This set back of millions has been recovered on own strength and flexibility, without any financial support from the mother company.

The turnover tripled within 3 years to 14 Million Euro, the staff stabilized at 90.

Later the ATAG Kitchen Group has partly dismantled Gutmann and transferred part to the Netherlands, and sold the rest to the technical manager, who has rebuilt Gutmann to a prestigious company.