Strong alliances in and beyond Wisconsin

Wilo welcomes the management of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in Dortmund

Dortmund. With the aim of strengthening business networks in the state of Wisconsin, Wilo CEO Oliver Hermes welcomed Melissa "Missy" Hughes, Secretary and CEO, and Katy Sinnott, Vice President Global Trade and Investment of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to Wilo's headquarters in Dortmund. The two Americans were accompanied by Stefan Peikert, Head of the European Office of the WEDC in Berlin.

As the economic development corporation of the state of Wisconsin, WEDC drives the economic development of the state by mobilising foreign investment, connecting economic players, initiating innovations and providing access to talented workforce. Accordingly, WEDC is a valuable partner for the Wilo Group and its regional headquarters for North and Latin America in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

With two large sites, 456 employees and recent sales growth of 20 per cent, Wilo has long been a "best practice" in the German-American business community. Oliver Hermes, President and CEO of the Wilo Group, points out: “In order to achieve sustainable growth even in times of major geopolitical challenges, the development of close trade relations in and with the USA remains of central strategic importance.”

At the Wilopark, Oliver Hermes outlined Wilo's impressive development from a Dortmund-based pump manufacturer to a multinational technology group and gave an insight into the strategic goals for the North and Latin America sales region. For example, Wilo can contribute to the successful implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) with the production of climate-friendly technologies in the USA.

This was followed by a collegial exchange on possible areas of cooperation, be it in the field of hydrogen, the implementation of national water strategies or the formation of new multilateral economic alliances with countries of the global South.

Further meetings between Wilo and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation in Germany and Wisconsin are already being planned.