LEICA Barnack Berek Blog: LEICA PLANS LEITZ PARK II

Monday, April 20, 2015

LEICA PLANS LEITZ PARK II

Leica Camera AG recently hosted a forum of representatives from the metal and electronics industry at their headquarters at Leitz Park in Wetzlar. One of the main speakers was Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, majority shareholder and chairman of the board of Leica Camera AG.

In his remarks he covered the history of the company with special emphasis on the development of the Leica camera, starting with Oskar Barnack’s Ur-Leica, the prototype from 1913.

"Leica, the product with the red dot in the logo, decisively shaped photography in the past 100 years like no other brand. We always gave photographers the best tools, coupled with brilliant optics.”

Of his own involvement with the company he said with a smile,

"In 2003 I bought my first Leica and a year later I owned the whole company."

His successful strategy included the relocation of Leica Camera AG from Solms to the Leitz Park in Wetzlar which already housed the associated companies of VIAOPTIC and Uwe Weller-Precision Engineering.

(see “The Other Companies At Leitz Park")

Areal view of Leitz Park.

Leica Camera AG is on the right, Uwe Weller-Precision Engineering in the middle and VIAOPTIC on the left

"We will continue to expand. It is planned to be built Leitz Park II on the former municipal building yard in the foreseeable future.”

Without further details Kaufmann explained that Leitz Park II will house the 'Leica Museum', the 'Leica Academy' and possibly a small hotel

Not without pride Kaufmann pointed out that he managed to bring the traditional brand back to the top. Leica Camera AG currently has more than 1,500 employees in the Wetzlar and Portugal manufacturing facilities. The company has an export share of 88 percent. Worldwide Leica Camera products are sold through 200 Leica stores. The company is expected to once again increase its business over the past fiscal year, a success that is counter to the current trend of business losses for the rest of the camera industry worldwide.

The planned Leitz Park II further underlines the success of Leica Camera AG.

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