This was announced yesterday by Volker Bartels, spokesman for the Sennheiser Executive Team. "We would like to benefit from the strength of the Sennheiser and Neumann brands in this business area, too. Neumann and Sennheiser are firmly established in the studio and installed sound areas, respectively, and promise a much better market penetration than is at present possible under the brand name of Klein + Hummel."
Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin, will become responsible for the studio monitor business, while an optimised installed sound portfolio will be continued by Sennheiser. "Under these well-known brands, we hope to considerably increase sales of these premium products," is how Volker Bartels describes the aim of the integration. "Neumann - as the studio brand - will expand its portfolio, and Sennheiser will further strengthen its installed sound business, which is the company's third 'pillar' so to speak, besides the consumer and professional business."
Wolfgang Fraissinet, president of marketing and sales at Neumann in Berlin, adds, "In its long company history, Neumann has set many milestones in studio technology worldwide. We will now also use this expertise for studio monitors and offer optimum solutions to our customers, to international artists in the areas of TV and radio broadcasting, recording and audio productions."
Bartels estimates that the integration of Klein + Hummel will be completed by the new year. For the most part, the employees of K + H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft will be employed by Sennheiser and Neumann.
On 1 March 2005 Sennheiser had taken over the areas of sales and development of Klein + Hummel GmbH, Ostfildern and thus the worldwide rights in sales, products and the brand.
(Jim Evans)
