Behind WSM are not only modern manufacturing, demanding sheet metal components and technical expertise, but above all the people who have shaped the company over many years. With our “Meet the WSM Management Team” series, we would like to introduce the three people who lead and shape WSM today. We are starting with Klaus Hermle, Managing Partner and one of the key figures behind the company’s development for almost three decades.
Shaping WSM since 1997
The desire to take responsibility and pursue his own entrepreneurial path brought Klaus Hermle to WSM in 1997. As part of a succession process, Klaus took over responsibility for the company and continued to develop it consistently in the years that followed. To this day, he remains at the helm of WSM and is involved not only in strategic decisions, but also closely in the company’s day-to-day operations.
More than 35 years of manufacturing experience
Klaus Hermle brings more than 35 years of experience in CNC manufacturing as well as stamping and forming technology. His broad technical expertise, extensive knowledge of customers and components, and analytical mindset make him an important point of contact within the company to this day. His role is anything but purely representative. Whether it is new parts, order planning, processes, logistics or technical questions, Klaus remains closely involved in many operational topics. Another important milestone in WSM’s development was the establishment of the Wehingen site. The site was acquired in 2012 and has been continuously developed ever since. Significant investments have been made over the years, with manufacturing capacities expanded step by step. Today, Wehingen is a central part of WSM alongside Reutlingen and reflects how the company has continued to grow and evolve over time.
What still drives Klaus after all these years
Standing still has never really been part of WSM – and that is one of the reasons Klaus still approaches his work with such curiosity and attention after so many years. The pace at which the company continues to develop keeps him interested and, as he puts it himself, “mentally fresh”. What matters most to him is open and friendly communication, a positive atmosphere within the team, and decisions that are not only effective in the short term but also sustainable in the long run.
A family business with a future
Klaus is particularly proud that the company’s succession is secured. His three sons, Alexander, Marcel and Simon Hermle, are already firmly established within WSM and have taken on responsibility in different areas of the business. This also ensures the long-term development of WSM as a family-owned company. And with his grandson Max already getting his first taste of life at WSM, even the next generation after that is beginning to make an appearance.
For Klaus, this is an important part of entrepreneurial success: not only positioning the company well today, but also making sure it can continue successfully in the future. His advice to the next generation fits his own character particularly well: “There is strength in staying calm. Not every problem has to be solved immediately.” Analytical, self-taught and persistent – three words Klaus uses to describe himself. And three qualities that help explain why he has shaped WSM for so many years and remains closely connected to the company’s development today.
