New board member and significant investment
As was the case last year, a new member was elected to the board at this year’s Annual General Meeting of the Gütegemeinschaft Schlösser und Beschläge e.V. on 12 May. Kilian Englert (62) from HOPPE AG has now joined the board.
The graduate mechanical engineer has been working for the hardware manufacturer based in Stadtallendorf since 2014. Until the end of 2025, he was Head of Product Innovation for the HOPPE Group; since 2026, he has been Head of Development Compliance & Intellectual Property Rights. Prior to this, he gained experience as a head of development at various companies, including Jado.
With his election, the Executive Board has grown and now comprises eleven members, all of whom were confirmed in their posts during the regular election: the Chairman is Alfred Dinkelborg (Aug. Winkhaus GmbH & Co. KG), with Wolfgang Landwehr (SIMONSWERK GmbH) as his Deputy. Dr Frank Völker (CES C. Ed. Schulte GmbH) has been promoted to the position of elected 2nd Deputy Chair. Stephan Schmidt, as Managing Director of the Quality Association for Locks and Fittings, is an ex officio member, as is Susanne Buschmann (HOPPE AG) in her capacity as Chair of the Quality Committee. This is the term used to describe members of an otherwise elected body who, by virtue of their current or former role, automatically belong to the body ex officio.
In addition, the Executive Board comprises the members Martin Barck (Roto Frank Fenster- und Türtechnologie GmbH), Falk Füllgraf (Dr. Hahn GmbH & Co. KG), Jürgen Meinhardt (KFV Karl Fliether GmbH & Co. KG), Hubertus Kieneke (Franz Schneider Brakel GmbH + Co. KG) and Andreas Mielke (Wilh. Schlechtendahl & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG), as well as the aforementioned Kilian Englert.
The Quality Association for Locks and Fittings now has 41 members, spread across Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Serbia and Turkey. The affiliated testing institute in Velbert (PIV) now employs 17 staff members, three of whom are part-time. The testing scope covers 15 test areas, in which testing can be carried out in accordance with 13 PIV-CERT programmes, six RAL-GZ guidelines and approximately 80 DIN and EN standards.
A new PIV-CERT certification programme for EN 15685 Locks and building hardware – multi-point locking systems – locks and strike plates – Requirements and test methods is expected towards the end of the year; RAL-GZ 607/3 has been extended to include the optional test capability up to a 180° opening position, on the hinge side, for concealed hinges.
To meet the changing needs for testing technology and cope with demand, the PIV continues to invest in new equipment. Last year, for example, a new 180° test rig was purchased and a new endurance test rig was commissioned. Modifications and repairs to existing test rigs were also commissioned. In total, 600,000 euros were invested in test benches last year and so far this year.
This compares with a turnover of 1.476 million euros in 2025, representing a slight increase of 18,000 euros on the previous year. Pleased with the result, the members granted discharge to the Executive Board and the Managing Director.
