DHW Fototechnik to continue activities of Franke & Heidecke

Hartje worked for many decades for Franke & Heidecke GmbH and Rollei Fototechnik GmbH, where he held considerable responsibility as co-partner and member of the management. Among other things, he headed the in-house production division. As the CEO of DHW Fototechnik GmbH, he now wants to put this experience to good use. The aim of the new company according to the entry in the commercial register is "the production, repair and marketing of precision technology and optical devices".

Hartje told INTERNATIONAL CONTACT that the production of cameras, projectors and lenses had always carried on even after the declaration of insolvency. Although there had been rumors on occasions that production would be halted, this had never at any time corresponded to the facts. The service side, which DHW Fototechnik is also taking care of, had never been neglected either during the last few months.

Production and service is currently being taken care of by a team of around 25 former employees of Rollei / Franke & Heidecke. Most of them spent between 15 and 40 years there. The production plants and production halls of the new company are located at Rollei’s traditional site in Brunswick. "At the moment, we naturally need far less space than before," said Hartje, "but we are optimistic that the trade and photographers will quickly accept us as a new partner, and that we will be able to expand our activities in the very near future."