A milestone birthday for our South-West branch: for ten years now, the Gerlingen location has been an integral part of ZOELLER’s sales and service network in Baden-Württemberg. What began in 2015 with six dedicated colleagues has grown into a strong team of around 20 employees—focused on customer proximity, service quality, and technical expertise. To mark this anniversary, Branch Manager Thomas Merz reflects on key milestones and gives us a look at what lies ahead.

The past decade has been a true success story for the South-West branch. Step by step, sales, workshop operations, and spare parts service have been expanded, the number of employees has more than tripled, and market share in Baden-Württemberg has steadily grown. At the heart of this success is a strong team that lives and breathes customer focus, ensures outstanding service quality, and puts technical know-how into practice every day. On the occasion of the anniversary, Branch Manager Thomas Merz talks about defining moments, the team spirit that makes Gerlingen special, and the opportunities for the years to come.

Mr. Merz, the South-West branch is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Looking back, which moments or milestones stand out most for you?

The past ten years have been a success story for the ZOELLER Group in Baden-Württemberg, supported by long-standing employees and strong customer relationships. The expansion of sales, service, and the workshop—as well as moving into the new branch and building close partnerships with our customers—were particularly memorable milestones for us.

A small team has grown into a location with around 20 colleagues. What defines the team spirit in Gerlingen for you, and how important has it been to this success?

Our team spirit is defined by reliability, mutual support, and the drive to always find the best solution for our customers. Without this attitude, the journey from then to now would not have been possible. Sales expert Michael Ambuch played a key role in developing the branch. Together with long-standing colleagues from the Haller days, he provided decisive momentum and had a lasting impact on the positive development of the location. The personal commitment of these colleagues, combined with the team spirit that’s been there from the very beginning, created the solid foundation for today’s growth.

Customer focus, service quality, and technical expertise are the pillars of the South-West branch. How do you and your team bring these values to life in your day-to-day work?

We stay close to our customers, listen carefully, and respond quickly. Whether it’s spare parts, workshop services, or sales advice, our strength lies in delivering reliable and competent support. That’s what creates the foundation for long-term, trusting relationships.

Looking ahead: What are your goals for the coming years in Gerlingen—and where do you see the greatest opportunities for further growth?

We want to continue expanding our capacities in sales, service, and workshop so we can respond even more effectively to customer needs. The biggest opportunities lie in combining innovative vehicle technology and digital solutions with our personal, on-site service.

Ten years in Gerlingen are not just a reason to celebrate—they’re also an opportunity to say thank you: to our employees, whose dedication and expertise have made this success possible, and to our customers, who place their trust in us and with whom we share close partnerships. Together, we can look back proudly on a strong decade—and look ahead with joy and confidence.

Thomas Merz: “Special thanks also go to the management and the Kirchhoff family, whose support, foresight, and trust paved the way for this development. Without their backing, the South-West branch could not have become the strong pillar in the ZOELLER structure that it is today.”