Growth has been at the core of MKT’s business since it was founded just over 35 years ago, a trait that also made several facility extensions necessary over the years. MKT is now making the biggest leap in the company’s history, with its floor area almost doubling through the opening of an additional building in 2025. What continues unchanged throughout this is its dedication to high-quality anchors and customer satisfaction ‘Made in Germany’.
Like many other foundations of today’s big companies, MKT was also started in a garage. Ms Lore Weustenhagen had the vision to supply the German construction market with high-quality anchors when she founded MKT Metall-Kunststoff-Technik GmbH & Co KG together with her brother Hans Warnke in 1990. Just eight months later, a completely new building was inaugurated – housing production and offices – a speed of execution that is unimaginable in today’s times of bureaucracy.
With an average growing rate of 6% annually, MKT’s revenue passed €80 million in 2024 – when 15,000 tonnes of steel were formed to anchors. After four extensions, and no more room to grow in direct vicinity, the erection of an additional building on the other side of the road became necessary. This €30 million greenfield investment, planted in the reddish clay of the Palatinate region, is nearing its completion. In the meantime, the management of the business has been partly handed over to the next generation of CEOs, but Lore Weustenhagen remains a standing CEO who works in the company daily.
MKT is one of the biggest European manufacturers of concrete anchors, with its engineers from various disciplines developing mechanical and chemical anchors at the highest standards, most of which hold a European Technical Assessment (ETA). The vertical integration of the production, from the raw material to the finished goods, also ensures a good control of processes and quality. The steel is sourced from steel mills in Germany and neighboring countries, making the production not only sustainable but also independent from any disturbances in the global supply chains.
“Our claim is to have every product listed in our catalogue also stocked in reasonable quantities in our warehouse,” reports CEO Stefan Weustenhagen. “Made to order parts are typically manufactured within 2 to 6 weeks, depending on volume and complexity. Lead times that short are only possible because a flexible team of production planners is committed to adding this very value to customers.”
Fast response times are also the maxim for the technical support dealing with technical enquiries from planners and contractors. Currently located next to the filling facility for resin capsule anchors, before both are moved to the new building, a team of engineers is working hard on optimising anchor solutions also for non-routine situations. A key tool for their daily work is the MKT Anchor Design, especially with its recently launched remake.
“This specialised software was fully developed in-house and is offered to any user for free and without registration. Its simplicity allows the designer to solve even complex anchor situations without involving technical support,” outlines Stefan. “Having design experts and proprietary software gives us the cutting edge in project business. For instance, last year we supplied more than 50,000 BZ3 dynamic anchors into the S21 tunnel project connecting the city of Stuttgart with its airport and fair ground. This wedge anchor offers a cost-effective solution for fatigue loads against which it has been designed to withstand, such as the dynamic loading created by trains passing by at high-speed. The S21 project is only the last one in a series of big tunnel projects MKT has participated in with partners.”
The strong foothold in infrastructure projects helps MKT to navigate through the current lull in German housing construction, which many companies in the industry are suffering from. CEO Hubert Kaiser explains: “We are specialised in concrete anchors, within that field it has always been important for us to offer products that can be commercialised for both residential and commercial buildings, as well as for any kind of civil work projects. The other point is that we increasingly go international. Historically, we primarily supplied into Germany and a few other European countries. In recent years, however, we have successfully been gaining business in and outside of Europe, particularly in the booming Asia-Pacific region – where ‘Made in Germany’ enjoys an outstanding reputation. We expect this trend to continue.”
He adds that MKT also offers anchors for masonry applications and that the company is planning to extend its lightweight fixing range to better supply dealers looking for the complete range – from light weight to heavy-duty.
Stefan concludes: “We have come a long way since our first steps in the garage, thriving in an ever changing environment. The new building is a huge upscaling not only in size and complexity, but also regarding the environmental standard. Additional investments have been made to ensure it meets the requirements for the gold certificate from the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), with sights firmly set on the platinum certificate. Savings however were made on unnecessary frills and despite the massive growth over the years, we have retained the modesty of our early days, whilst fully dedicated to the quality Germany is famous for. It is not a myth, it is reality. If you find the way to the relaxed town of Weilerbach, you can still spot the garage near the main junction.”
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
