"We want to further expand our spectrum!"
Interview with Tobias Härtl, Managing Director of Elektro Benzmüller GmbH & Co. KG
From apprentice to company owner: At Saarburger Elektro Benzmüller GmbH & Co. KG, this dream became a reality not just once, but twice. The two former apprentices, Tobias Härtl and Michael Feilen, not only manage the company today but are also majority shareholders. Together with their well-coordinated team, they offer their private and commercial customers a complete portfolio with a focus on turnkey solutions for multi-family houses, upscale single-family homes, and commercial buildings.
"We have a young and dynamic team and can handle all electrical work in-house – even for larger projects," promises master electrician Tobias Härtl, who manages Elektro Benzmüller GmbH & Co. KG as managing director together with master electrician Michael Feilen. "We offer services for residential customer service, construction of multi-family homes, and single-family homes in the upscale sector. Additionally, we undertake projects for public and commercial clients." In terms of electrical engineering, turnkey solutions form a large part of the portfolio. Here, the range includes locking systems, alarm technology and video surveillance, heating control, integration of photovoltaics, storage systems, and automotive charging infrastructure to energy management and control technology.
The company founded by Gerd Benzmüller in a garage in Ockfen in 1996 moved to its own building in the industrial area of Saarburg in 2006. The steadily growing company employed 36 people in 2020; today it has 55 employees. In 2021, SES-TEC, an independent sister company for the construction of switchgear, was acquired. At the beginning of 2024, storage and work preparation were relocated to a former beverage market. The two managing directors, Tobias Härtl and Michael Feilen, are now major shareholders, while company founder Gerd Benzmüller also still holds shares.
Skilled workers needed
Private and commercial customers each make up 50% of the client base. The company's service area extends approximately 50 km around Saarburg. Besides its online presence, the portfolio – particularly regarding renewable energies – is also promoted on social media channels. Otherwise, marketing efforts are primarily focused on recruiting new employees, as skilled workers and system planners are urgently needed. "We are continuously working on digitizing our processes," assures the managing director. "This includes digital time tracking and digital plan management, as well as building an internal digital knowledge library." With a 134 kW peak photovoltaic system and switching from oil heating to a heat pump, the company is also oriented towards sustainability. "Finding good employees and expanding our range of services are important goals for us," says Tobias Härtl. "In this regard, we are considering, among other things, large storage systems and PV systems for commercial customers."