Philipp Zimmermann, Coninvest’s new business development manager, recently visited MEIKO’s factory in Offenburg, where, as well as gaining an insight into the company’s operations, he was also able to see a completely new range of machines. For this new member of the Coninvest team, getting to know MEIKO did not begin with a catalogue, but at the factory gates. The aim of the professional visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the company and its product portfolio, in particular to observe first-hand, on site, the manufacturing processes that create the MEIKO equipment also distributed by Coninvest.

From a garage to kitchens around the world

MEIKO’s history began in 1927 in Offenburg, on the edge of the Black Forest: Oskar Meier and Franz Konrad founded the company, whose name was derived from the initials of the two founders. What began as a small workshop has now grown into an international group of companies employing nearly three thousand people – around 1,200 of whom work at the Offenburg headquarters – with products available in more than ninety countries. The product range extends from glasswashers for bars to conveyor-belt systems for commercial kitchens, and from food waste disposal equipment to cleaning and disinfection technology for hospitals. The company is owned not by a group of investors, but by a foundation, the Oskar and Rosel Meier Foundation.

For him, the most important lesson from the visit was that MEIKO’s success is rooted not only in its products but also in the company’s operational philosophy. It was particularly interesting to learn about the company’s foundation-owned background, which places great emphasis on preserving its German roots and manufacturing traditions: with the exception of equipment intended for the Chinese market, all machines are manufactured in Offenburg, and a significant proportion of the manufacturing processes are carried out in-house. Great emphasis is placed on continuous technological development, staff training through the company’s own MEIKO Academy, and expansion into new markets. A good example of this is the development of the company’s presence in Romania, where it will support its customers with its own service network, a spare parts and machine warehouse, and a local team.

“To me, all this demonstrated that MEIKO not only wants to manufacture excellent machines, but also aims to ensure the expertise, innovation and service support behind them in the long term,”

says Philipp.

A new range of machines on the horizon

In Offenburg, Philipp also gained an insight into a completely new range of machines, which will replace the current UPster-K series. Details cannot be shared just yet: the new products will be officially unveiled on 9 November at the “Alles für den Gast” trade fair.

In the meantime, it is worth taking a look at the market needs met by the UPster-K series, which is to be replaced by the new range. Professional kitchens are required to deliver ever-increasing dishwashing capacity whilst operating within limited space and strict operating cost constraints. One of the range’s greatest advantages is its compact, modular design, which allows the equipment to be tailored to the size and capacity requirements of any given kitchen. The built-in heat recovery system reduces energy consumption, whilst the simple, intuitive user interface makes the staff’s day-to-day work easier. According to Philipp, the series’ key benefit is that it offers MEIKO’s professional dishwashing technology in a cost-effective, efficient solution that adapts flexibly to a variety of kitchen requirements.

For Hungarian catering establishments, reliability, energy efficiency and cost-effective operation in the long term are particularly important. In addition to these, MEIKO’s equipment stands out for its well-thought-out technical solutions, ease of use and hygiene features.

“In the Hungarian market, where labour shortages and rising operating costs pose significant challenges, technology that simplifies staff work whilst ensuring consistently high dishwashing quality is particularly valuable.”

This range is the ideal solution primarily for catering establishments with medium to high volumes, where continuous, high-capacity and reliable dishwashing is essential. It is a particularly good choice for hotels, larger restaurants, staff canteens, school and institutional kitchens, as well as catering companies. Thanks to its modular design, the equipment can be easily adapted to the specific layout and washing requirements of any kitchen.

Depending on customer requirements, it may be the best choice for operators seeking to achieve high washing capacity in a limited space, whilst ensuring cost-effective operation. It offers advantages where optimising energy and water consumption, ease of use and reliable operation are key considerations, and where space-saving is just as important as the rapid, efficient cleaning of large quantities of crockery. The modular design offers a good solution for both new installations and the modernisation of existing systems.

The same machine, a different story

Following the visit, Philipp is now able to speak differently about MEIKO to Coninvest’s clients: it has become clear to him that the company not only manufactures premium-quality equipment, but is also a reliable professional partner on the market in the long term, and gaining an insight into the manufacturing processes, ongoing developments and the expertise behind them has given him even greater confidence in the products.

“I can now demonstrate to our customers not only the technical advantages of the machines, but also the philosophy, commitment and service support that underpin them,” says Philipp.

This is particularly important for an investment where not only the performance of the equipment, but also its long-term reliability and the manufacturer’s support are key considerations.