Dialogue on Transatlantic Economic Relations

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BULDERN. U.S. Consul General Preeti V. Shah visited the JOEST group in Buldern today. She was welcomed by Managing Partners Alexander Moormann and Dr. Marcus Wirtz, who first greeted her and then provided a comprehensive tour of the company’s facilities. During the visit, the Consul General was able to gain a close look at the company's wide range of products and its impressive level of in-house manufacturing capabilities.

During her stay in Münster, Ms. Shah took the opportunity to personally exchange views with JOEST leadership on the current state and the impact of German-American trade relations. The conversation focused in particular on the challenges posed by rapidly changing import regulations and trade barriers. According to JOEST, these developments create significant uncertainty and limit long-term planning reliability.

“We remain committed to our strategy and to Buldern as our main site,” emphasized Alexander Moormann. “You cannot and should not revise long-term plans every time the short-term winds shift.”

Although JOEST has operated its own fully equipped manufacturing facility in the United States for 19 years, the company continues to maintain a clear focus on its headquarters in Buldern. “Our goal is to produce as much as possible right here,” added Dr. Marcus Wirtz. “In recent years, we have made substantial investments in our German headquarters.”

A particular highlight of the factory tour was the new stainless steel production facility, which began operations earlier this year. It is here that JOEST manufactures high-quality stainless steel machines that meet the most demanding requirements, particularly for the chemical and food industries. The Consul General expressed her admiration for the precision and quality with which JOEST manufactures these complex components at the Buldern site.

The company also sets standards in terms of sustainability: JOEST's production processes rely on both geothermal and photovoltaic energy and, in large parts of the facility, no longer require fossil fuels—yet another sign of the company's long-term commitment to the Buldern location.

At the conclusion of her visit, Consul General Preeti V. Shah underscored the importance of German-American relations: “This partnership is not in question. It is built on long-standing political, economic, and personal ties that must be nurtured and further developed.”

For the JOEST group, the visit was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate both its international orientation and its strong local roots in the Münsterland region—a clear commitment to its location and to transatlantic cooperation.