Reorientation in the chipper product range under the leadership of LIG
Ferdinand Doppstadt gives insight into the plans and strategic targets of the Langenberger Innovation Group (LIG) for the chipper product range...
Under the roof of the Langenberger Innovation Group (LIG GmbH), formerly Doppstadt Familienholding GmbH, owner and managing director Ferdinand Doppstadt reorganized his holdings at the end of 2019. The LIG bundles all the expertise of the companies belonging to the group with a clear focus on the sustainable use of resources. The group includes companies and brands from the business fields of recycling, minerals & raw materials and bioenergy/biomass. In this interview, Ferdinand Doppstadt describes his strategy for the forestry industry as well as the focus of future product development for this sector.
Mr. Doppstadt, how will LIG, the Doppstadt brand and the chipper come together in the future?
Doppstadt is the brand within the LIG, which will focus exclusively on the business field of recycling with its entire product portfolio. We are taking into account the great importance of the bioenergy/biomass business segment by transferring the production of the chippers to the responsibility of LIG. In doing so, we are taking great care to ensure that the chippers currently on the market via the Doppstadt brand continue to be reliably supported by us.
With the transition of the chippers into the responsibility of the LIG, you are sharpening the structures of the Group. What was the reason for this decision?
The bioenergy/biomass business area and thus the issue of chippers and forestry are a matter close to my heart and therefore of great personal interest. At the same time, it is a good example of the Group's clear goal of being "Best in Class" in the respective sector. After all, this is exactly what we want to achieve in the area of chippers through the transition into the responsibility of the LIG. Competition is very strong in this segment and the market is dynamic, especially as customer requirements are constantly growing and becoming more complex.
What does this mean for the LIG and Doppstadt?
While the Doppstadt brand focuses exclusively on recycling, the LIG goes back to the workshop, so to speak, and develops future-oriented technological solutions. When we get out of there, we want to offer chippers that meet all our customers' requirements for the coming years. Comprehensive market research and discussions with users are already taking place to gather valuable impulses for further product development.
What happens to the existing Doppstadt chippers?
The chippers' order backlog is positive and Doppstadt is processing current orders as usual. Forestry will continue to be an important field of activity for us in the future, because all services will continue as usual and the supply of spare parts is of course also guaranteed. The entire Doppstadt team is pleased that the DH series will continue to accompany us in this form for a longer period of time - even if Doppstadt no longer produces new chippers.
What is the LIG's strategy for the forestry industry?
With our solutions we offer innovative products to all those who want to grow in the field of sustainable energies. Therefore, against the background of global issues such as climate change and scarcity of resources, the field of bioenergy/biomass, especially renewable resources, is of great importance to us. This is where the chippers come into play: We focus on the development of industrial and off-road chippers for the forestry industry, gardening, landscaping, and road maintenance - both in the form of mobile and stationary solutions.
Which specific measures are behind this goal?
We are currently examining several options for our repositioning in this segment and are also in dialog with other companies. This can take the form of cooperations, takeovers, investments, or the creation of private labels - it is still completely open. That is why it's too early at this stage to communicate specific measures. One thing is certain: In the future, we will operate in the chipper sector with technologically advanced products that are fully tailored to the needs of the industry. However, no longer under the Doppstadt brand.