1970 - 1991

In 1970 Rainer Kämper, son of Waldemar Kämper and his wife Hildegard, takes over the company. He fundamentally changes the company’s strategy - and manages rapid corporate growth

As the first managing director of Müller & Sohn, Rainer Kämper has a solid commercial education acquired at Thyssen-Schulte in Wuppertal. Between 1978 and 1982 he undergoes management training and various other further education courses. This knowledge, combined with the experience gained from living a lifetime in an entrepreneurial family, serves Rainer Kämper well in achieving commercial success.

His first measures include changing the business model. Instead of purchasing non-ferrous metal from small dealers and wholesalers as to date, Müller & Sohn approaches processing companies direct to buy up metal waste from production. This approach proves to be considerably more lucrative and within a few years Rainer Kämper increases monthly procurement to 500 tonnes.

Another move becomes necessary. In 1976, Müller & Sohn acquires a plot of land in Schwelm at 47-49 Ruhrstraße.

In 1984, Müller & Sohn sees an increase in quality. The reason for this is the new sales opportunities to Hoogovens Aluminiumwerke in Koblenz:

Rainer Kämper has negotiated a contract with which he can sell standard aluminium alloys direct to the aluminium semi-finished product smelting plant. This pure-grade aluminium, pressed into packages, can be marketed considerably more effectively than previously.

Nevertheless, Müller & Sohn has to guarantee the exact alloy for all deliveries until after melted down and is liable for the quality. To manage these demands in the long-term, investments have to be made in new technology, including the first metal baler and an electronic laboratory testing device.

At this time, Müller & Sohn specialises entirely in aluminium and builds up its reputation as a very responsible company with regard to quality and reliability in general. Since the eighties, Müller & Sohn are also in direct contact with the commodity exchange on account of acquiring a computer linked to the stock market. The dealers work with the London Metal Exchange’s market price via BTX initially, then via the internet.

The upswing in business occurs so rapidly that after only ten years, the premises in Schwelm has become too small. Müller & Sohn moves to Sprockhövel in the commercial area on the Stefansbecke.

The construction of today’s site begins on 30 May 1986. On a site of a good 20,000 m², HochTief erects an industrial building of 1,500² with 500 m² of offices and social rooms. The turnkey building is ready to move into on 1 June 1987 after exactly a year of building works.

Over subsequent years, the space is expanded several times. The bill for reinventing Müller & Sohn as an aluminium specialist has gone up considerably. Between 1970 and 1990, the production of primary aluminium has doubled worldwide, and recycling of light metal has constantly increased in importance at the same rate.