„I believe that every handover of a family business is a major challenge, but one that we have always been able to master very well.“
Christian Knill, President / CEO Knill Energy Holding GmbH
Christian Knill, President/CEO of Knill Energy Holding GmbH, provides insights into the eventful history of the family business and talks to Jürgen Spari, Regional Manager at GrECo in Styria, about courageous decisions, technological milestones, and the art of strategic risk management – then and now.
From Forging Sickles to Powering the World
Spari: There have been some significant historical events in Central and Eastern Europe over the last 100 years. How has your company adapted and responded to some of these events?
Knill: Over the last 100 years, Knill Group has developed from the Mosdorfer Forgings company, which at that time mainly produced sickles, into a global supplier of high-voltage overhead line fittings after World War II. Once sickles were no longer needed, a new product had to be found to keep the business going. Thankfully, my grandfather Friedrich Knill was courageous and was rewarded with his first order for the energy market in 1949. We also took advantage of the opening up of Eastern Europe very early on and founded a company in Slovakia as early as 1992.
Spari: Looking back on the past century, what were the most significant challenges in terms of risk management in your industry and how were they overcome?
Knill: There have been many challenges over the past 100 years, economic, technological, political, but also personal. I believe that every handover of a family business is a major challenge, but one that, so far, we have always been able to overcome. After all, we already have the 13th generation waiting in the wings.
The transition from sickles, scythes, bush knives, and other forged parts to high-security components for the energy sector was also fraught with many risks. And last, but not least, we have taken over or founded many companies, which is sometimes like jumping in at the deep end.
Spari: What significant inventions have revolutionised your industry over the past 100 years?
Knill: In the energy sector, the introduction of computers for the control and monitoring of overhead lines has certainly been a milestone. The possibility of laying high-voltage lines underground is also worth mentioning.
Lessons from Generations of Leadership
Spari: How has your company’s approach to risk management evolved over the years, and what important lessons have you learned from past experiences?
Knill: Financial stability is needed to cope with (unpredictable) crises and problems. This also means taking on debt for acquisitions and large investments in a measured and targeted manner. Debt must always be in line with the company’s earning capacity.
Active risk management is essential, both at the operational level (quality management, production) and on the financial side (liquidity risk, raw material price risk, currency risk, interest rate risk).
Active, close-knit controlling and financial reporting, including prompt monthly reports and a detailed controlling approach, are also important.
Staying Resilient in a Changing Energy Landscape
Spari: What are your predictions for the future risk landscape in your industry, and how do you plan to remain resilient and innovative in the face of these challenges?
Knill: The transformation of the energy market is currently in full swing. Many new power suppliers, who sometimes feed in too much and sometimes too little, while still requiring a reliable power grid, certainly pose a major challenge. For us, this means increased demand, greater complexity, locating new markets with specific requirements, and ever-greater demands on our solutions. We therefore always try to maintain a broad base, remain open to new ideas, be financially strong and independent, and attract the best employees.
About the Knill Group
The Knill Group is a globally active group of companies with 27 companies in 17 countries around the world, headquartered in Weiz. Managed in the twelfth generation by brothers Christian and Georg Knill, the companies in the two core divisions of energy (Knill Energy Group) and special machine construction (Rosendahl Nextrom Group) are among the world market leaders. Wherever investments are being made today in infrastructure in the fields of energy, communication, and mobility, you will find products and solutions from Knill companies.
