What do good companies do to be among the best? How do ordinary medium-sized companies manage to become secret world market leaders? And which are these particularly successful companies?

The Research Center for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses at the University of Trier investigated these questions in its broad-based study "Hidden Champions in Rhineland-Palatinate". And came to the conclusion that MiniTec belongs to this exclusive circle of just 146 companies - less than 1% of the entire federal state! The study presented in March by the Trier economists led by Prof. Dr. Jörn Block is the first systematic analysis of hidden champions in Rhineland-Palatinate. It goes beyond a stocktaking and includes current challenges, opportunities and risks of this type of company in the analysis. Hidden champions are companies that are among the top 3 in the global market or at the top of their market niche in Europe. They must employ at least 20 people, have been in existence for more than ten years and generate annual sales of between five million and one billion euros.

The fact that MiniTec has been identified as a hidden champion is something that commercial director Sandra Geyer-Altenkirch is extremely pleased about: "Especially on our 35th company anniversary, such an award is of course particularly good and makes us proud. Above all, because the criteria ultimately confirm our corporate philosophy. Since its foundation, MiniTec has been characterized by the manufacture of high-quality products and solutions, strong innovative power, highly qualified employees and close customer contact. In addition, we have been internationally oriented from a very early stage and today we are de facto represented around the globe with our own subsidiaries and partners. We have never rested on our laurels, but have retained our agility and flexibility to this day. This is demonstrated not least by our developments in the field of digitalization and Industry 4.0."

Study director and FZM spokesman Prof. Dr. Jörn Block comments: "German SMEs are of central importance for Germany's growth, economic stability, innovative strength and competitiveness. The hidden champions, the unknown (world) market leaders from the SME sector, play a particularly important role here. MiniTec is exemplary for this species."