Manager Brendan Hindle makes a strong impression at Schmidt Plastics in Emsbüren
Thomas Pertz
EMSBÜREN It has been half a year since the British Aspen Pumps Group took over “Schmidt Plastics” in Emsbüren. The fact that the plastics processing company is doing well again after completing insolvency proceedings is also due in part to Brendan Hindle.
“I’m Brendan,” says Brendan Hindle casually as he introduces himself in the meeting room at “Schmidt Plastics” on Industriestraße in Emsbüren. He is the Chief Operating Officer of the British Aspen Pumps Group, which is now the owner of the Emsbüren-based company. The company had run into financial difficulties in 2025 and had to undergo insolvency proceedings.
Accessories for air conditioning and cooling systems:
According to its own statements, the Aspen Pumps Group is one of the leading suppliers of accessories for air conditioning and cooling systems. Hindle travels worldwide for the company group: subsidiaries in Malaysia, China, and the USA are among his stops—now also Industriestraße in Emsbüren. “I like Germany,” Hindle emphasizes in an interview with our editorial team. He does not say this merely out of politeness. He was stationed in Germany as a soldier and also lived in Cologne for several years, where he gained professional experience at Ford.
Professional expertise and a relaxed approach:
His leadership style is a combination of professional expertise and a relaxed attitude. This kind of interaction with employees is well received by the workforce at Schmidt, as can be heard on the production floor. “For us, the takeover by Aspen Pumps Group was a stroke of luck,” says Sigrid Wulkotte from Controlling, describing the current situation.
Workforce has gone through difficult times:
The employees have been through tough times. During the insolvency phase, according to Wulkotte, the workforce managed—with great commitment—to retain many customers, though not all of them. Regaining customer trust is therefore a key task in the coming weeks, as Hindle makes clear.
What was his impression during his first visit to the company? “My first impression was very positive,” he emphasizes. After the difficult period beforehand, a certain level of nervousness within the team was understandable. “What stands out in particular, however, is the willingness to actively contribute and to move forward together.”
Customers are at the center of all actions:
Hindle refers to a “solid plan that shows how the company can grow sustainably.” A key part of this is placing customers at the center of all activities. The goal is to “listen carefully, consistently deliver good performance, and rebuild long-term trust.” There is still work to be done, but the foundations have been laid. “The focus is on creating trust, reliability, and stability for our customers, our employees, and the entire company,” emphasizes the Chief Operating Officer.
Number of employees has increased:
And what about workforce development? According to the company, the number of employees has risen from 22 to 29. “The shortage of skilled workers is a Europe-wide problem,” explains Hindle. Schmidt Plastics is therefore trying in particular to recruit young talent via digital channels such as Instagram. Cost pressure compared to Asia is high, Hindle notes. One response to this is maintaining high quality and productivity at the Emsbüren site.
