VEKA was, is, and will always be a family-owned business
Working together for VEKA for 30 years and a look at the next generation
Over the past three decades, Elke and Andreas Hartleif have played a key role in helping VEKA AG evolve into a world market leader and global player. This year, they celebrated not only their 60th birthdays but also their 30th anniversary with the company. They are even more delighted that the third generation is now carrying on the family business’s tradition.
For a company to become a global market leader, it needs excellent products, smart strategic decisions, continuity and foresight in leadership, as well as outstanding employees who identify with their work and their employer. The fact that VEKA AG succeeded in rising from a small regional business to become the world’s leading provider of plastic profile systems for windows, doors and roller shutters is remarkable enough in itself. The fact that the family-owned company has since grown into the diversified Laumann Group makes this success story even more special.
A spot-on decision
Elke and Andreas Hartleif can certainly look back with pride on their 30th anniversary with the company. Both joined the company in 1996, Andreas Hartleif as Head of Group Planning and Auditing, and Elke Hartleif as Head of Human Resources. The decision by company founder Heinrich Laumann to bring his daughter and son-in-law on board, and the accompanying commitment to continue on the path as an independent family-owned business with unwavering passion, proved to be absolutely the right move. As early as 1997, both were promoted to the Executive Board, which Andreas Hartleif took over as Chairman in 2007. As Chairman of the Executive Board and Executive Board Member for Human Resources, the entrepreneurial couple has since shaped the fortunes of VEKA AG and the Laumann Group.
The second billion in revenue
The company’s deep roots at its headquarters in Sendenhorst, the strong loyalty of its employees, its strategic internationalization, partnerships based on mutual respect, and its long-term focus form the foundation of its success. One of many milestones in the company’s continuous development was the successful acquisition of GEALAN, a manufacturer of plastic window systems, in 2014. Shortly thereafter, the VEKA Group surpassed the one-billion-mark revenue milestone. Strategic spin-offs, such as those of surface specialist Celotec and Digital Building Solutions (DBS), broadened the portfolio, as did the acquisition of aluminum system manufacturer PROCURAL. The company has also been, and remains, a pioneer in PVC recycling through VEKA Umwelttechnik. Last year the acquisition of the Epwin Group followed, a leading manufacturer of building components in the UK. With this move, the Laumann Group, whose origins are rooted in VEKA AG, has surpassed the two-billion-euro revenue mark and now employs 10,000 people worldwide.
New construction at the headquarters to be completed in 2027
VEKA is addressing the current challenging market situation, which is marked by geopolitical crises, high energy prices and a volatile construction industry, through continuous innovation, new projects and process optimization across all areas. With the construction of additional offices and training rooms, a new systems technology center, a new cafeteria, and a landscaped courtyard, VEKA is once again demonstrating its strong commitment to Sendenhorst as the Group’s headquarters and center of excellence. Thanks to the new building, the workforce will once again be physically closer together starting in 2027, when colleagues currently working farther away return to the heart of the headquarters. This will further contribute to a strong sense of community within the company.
The third generation
Given the scale at which the global market leader now operates, it is a remarkable achievement that VEKA has been able to preserve the charm of a family-owned business. This includes, for example, a strong focus on work-life balance. This has always been a top priority for Elke Hartleif, Chief Human Resources Officer, who has three children of her own with her husband, Andreas. One of those three is Lukas Hartleif, who joined the company in February 2026. During his first few months, the 29-year-old worked as an assistant to the Chief Financial Officer and has now moved to the international sales department. With him, the third generation is now stepping up. For Elke and Andreas Hartleif, one thing is clear: “VEKA was, is, and will always be a family-owned business.”
With Lukas Hartleif (right), the third generation has joined the family business this year, while his parents, Andreas and Elke Hartleif, are celebrating 30 years with the company.
