Digital Impulses in Mechanical Engineering
Interview with Jil Evertz, Co-partner and Authorized Officer of Egon Evertz GmbH & Co.KG
For nearly 70 years, the Evertz name has stood for innovation, quality, and continuity in machinery and steel plant construction. What started in 1956 with a clever idea for repairing molds has today become an internationally operating company with a subsidiary, around 500 employees, and a clear vision for the future. In conversation with Jil Evertz, third-generation executive of the Evertz Group, it is clear that tradition and progress are not contradictory in this Solingen-based family business.
Wirtschaftsforum: Ms. Evertz, your company owes its founding to a very good idea. Can you tell us the story behind it?
Jil Evertz: Our company originates from an idea of my grandfather. He was not yet 20 when he developed a process for repairing so-called ingot molds - special casting molds used in steel casting. These molds wear out through multiple use and were previously often disposed of and laboriously remade. My grandfather filed a patent for this repair process and based his first service on it. This innovation was the starting point for the company and remains the core of our activity to this day.
Wirtschaftsforum: What characterizes the Evertz Group today?
Jil Evertz: We are a mechanical engineering company specializing in steel surface processing. About 70% of our business is services – many of them as part of long-term contracts directly in the steel plants of our customers. In addition, we have a growing portfolio of services such as logistics and handling. We are particularly proud of our expertise in grinding machine construction – that has been our core for decades.
Wirtschaftsforum: What sets you apart from others?
Jil Evertz: Our customer relationships. We focus on trust, continuity, and quality. Our projects often last for decades – that requires reliability. At the same time, we are extremely flexible. We develop custom solutions, adapt our machines to new requirements, and quickly respond to changes in the market. This mix is our unique selling proposition.
Wirtschaftsforum: The company has grown significantly in recent years.
Jil Evertz: Yes, we now have multiple locations worldwide: Evertz Europe manages projects outside Germany, Evertz Technology Services is based in the USA. We also have our specialized subsidiary Evertz Hydrotechnik for water nozzles in Betzdorf and Evertz Magnetbau as our handling specialist here in Solingen. About 30 people work in administration, and overall, the group employs about 500 staff. This growth in individual departments happened gradually over the years – always emanating from the core business.
Wirtschaftsforum: And what's next on the journey?
Jil Evertz: Our goal is to provide customers with a comprehensive all-around package in steel services. This includes not only the actual grinding process but also logistics, handling, and increasingly digital solutions. We are working on concepts for real-time transmission of process data and simulations for so-called Greenfield projects – that is, completely new facilities. I personally find the digitalization of these processes very exciting and quite forward-looking.
Wirtschaftsforum: You are a woman in a male-dominated industry. What is that like?
Jil Evertz: I am proud to be a woman in a leadership position in the steel industry. Of course, I sometimes have to assert myself more than a man – but I take that in stride. It's important to me to appear professional and solution-oriented. I also want to encourage other women to take on leadership positions – especially in sectors that have not been considered particularly ‘feminine’ so far. Diversity brings new perspectives.