They’re almost invisible, yet they effectively reduce energy costs: TEKADOOR air curtains create a thermal barrier between indoor and outdoor areas without obstructing access. The Langenfeld-based specialists have made a name for themselves in this niche industry for over 40 years. In this interview, Managing Director Benjamin Meißner explains how the company is addressing current market challenges and why service is becoming increasingly important.
Business Forum:
Mr. Meißner, many people are familiar with air curtains without actually knowing what they are. Could you explain to us what they are?
Benjamin Meißner:
An air curtain is a thermal barrier that prevents warm air from escaping or cold air from entering when doors or gates are opened. In winter, our units keep the warm air inside the hall or store; in summer, they prevent air-conditioned rooms from heating up. This is particularly important for drugstores, for example, where the temperature must be controlled so that cosmetics such as lipstick don’t melt. You’ll also find our air curtains in shopping malls, hotels, and industrial facilities with large doors.
Business Forum:
How has TEKADOOR evolved since its founding?
Benjamin Meißner:
TEKADOOR GmbH was founded in Leichlingen in 1981 and has been based in Langenfeld since 2010. After several changes in ownership, the company was sold in 2011 to the Systemair Group, a Swedish corporation with 6,600 employees and 1.2 billion EUR in revenue. This move was a true milestone, as we had always been privately owned prior to that. In 2022, we merged with TTL Torluftschleier GmbH in Winterbach, which led to significant revenue growth without losing any customers—1 plus 1 truly became 2, a remarkable achievement by the management at the time.
Business Forum:
What is the current state of the air curtain market?
Benjamin Meißner:
We are currently dealing with a decline in sales. The market has shrunk by about 15 to 20 percent, which reflects the current economic situation—cautious investment in industry and a decline in domestic demand. The retail sector is no longer expanding as strongly as it used to, partly due to the shift toward online shopping. One sector that is still performing well is food retail, which can only be replaced to a limited extent by online shopping.
Business Forum:
You've been with the company since May 2024. What kind of impact have you been able to make so far?
Benjamin Meißner:
We’ve made some adjustments to our human resources management, such as changes to vacation and time-tracking policies. We were also able to expand our staff—three new employees were hired, including two part-time workers for the internal sales team. This fall, a service coordinator will join the team—a newly created position because I want to build a nationwide service network. With a niche product like ours, product service is an important way to generate additional revenue, especially when the market is stagnating.
Business Forum:
What does your service strategy look like in concrete terms?
Benjamin Meißner:
We want to focus on commissioning and maintenance. More and more contractors are asking for these services. We won’t offer installation services because we don’t want to compete with our customers. But we’ve noticed that contractors often don’t fill this role. Here’s an example: At the largest outlet in Metzingen, we handle maintenance for nearly all of the air curtain units. As a result, a premium fashion brand asked us if we could take care of all their stores nationwide.
Business Forum:
Which products are particularly noteworthy?
Benjamin Meißner:
Our Silencio stands out for its low noise level. At around 50 dBA on the highest setting, it is about 10 dBA quieter than standard products—in everyday operation, it often runs at around 40 dBA. The Ellipse is our designer unit for large entrances, as can be seen at the Mall of Berlin on Leipziger Platz. My personal favorite is the Colum, a column-shaped unit placed on the right and left sides of the entrance, which is used in prestigious entrances such as hotel lobbies. Sustainability is an increasingly important aspect of all our products. Thanks to efficient thermal separation, our air curtains help significantly reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling, as well as allow for smaller heating and cooling units, which not only saves costs but also protects the environment. Another interesting growth market is the field of cold storage and deep-freeze applications, where air curtains can help save energy and reduce ice buildup.
Business Forum:
What are the reasons behind TEKADOOR's success?
Benjamin Meißner:
The brand truly stands for quality and problem-solving. A key factor is the expertise of our employees, many of whom have been with us for decades—some for over 20 years, and at TTL even up to 30 years. We project this stability in our workforce and our technical expertise. We often win projects because we can credibly assure clients that our solution works, even if it isn’t the cheapest option.
Business Forum:
What is your vision for the next three to five years?
Benjamin Meißner:
I think it’s presumptuous these days to always dream of massive growth. Of course, we plan for growth and invest in our workforce. My task will be to eventually integrate TEKADOOR into Frico while keeping the TEKADOOR brand visible. Another challenge is succession planning for employees who have been with the company for 20 to 30 years and are now turning 60. We’ll need to fill their positions or redefine their roles in the coming years.
Source: https://www.wirtschaftsforum.de/tekadoor-gmbh/tekadoor-mit-luft-grenzen-setzen