Privately held business with tradition
The Materna Group was founded as a spin-off of TU Dortmund University by Dr Winfried Materna and Helmut an de Meulen. To this day, the founding families Materna and an de Meulen hold one hundred percent of the shares in the group of companies - and this will remain the case in the future.
The computer industry experienced its heyday in the early 1980s: first the Commodore C64 conquered households, then the IBM PC was introduced and later the Apple Macintosh set new standards with its graphic interface. It was at this time, in 1980 to be precise, that Dr Winfried Materna and Helmut an de Meulen founded their IT company in Dortmund. The two-man operation has grown into a market-leading group of companies with more than 4,000 employees at more then 40 locations worldwide.
We have always benefited from technological developments and carefully observed the requirements of our customers and the market. Technology is not an end in itself. It has always been important to select the right technology for the respective application and to achieve the highest possible added value for our customers in the solutions to be created. A high quality of service is the basis of cooperation with our customers and has led to long-term and stable relationships. With this attitude, Materna has earned a high reputation in the market. Throughout all decades, the maxim has been profitable and sustainable growth and high accountability for all stakeholders.
Dr Winfried Materna, company founder
After studying measurement and control technology at the Gauss Academy of Engineering in Berlin and electrical engineering and computer science at the Technical University of Berlin, Winfried Materna completed his doctorate in computer science at the University of Hamburg. He subsequently took over the management of a research project in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Dortmund. In 1980 he founded Materna GmbH together with his partner Helmut an de Meulen. Both managed the family business very successfully for 35 years and relinquished their management duties on 1.4.2015.
From 1997 to 2004 Winfried Materna was President of the Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce and was subsequently appointed Honorary President. In 2001, the Minister President of the state awarded Winfried Materna the NRW State Prize for his outstanding services to the modernisation of the economy and structural change in the state. In April 2008, the NRW Minister President presented him with the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class. This was in recognition of his decisive impulses for the successful transformation of the region and his massive commitment to threatened jobs.
Helmut an de Meulen, company founder
After studying mathematics and computer science at the University of Bonn, Helmut an de Meulen took on an assistant position in the computer science department at the University of Dortmund. In 1980, he founded Materna GmbH together with his partner Dr Winfried Materna. Both led the family business very successfully for 35 years and relinquished their management activities on 1.4.2015. Helmut an de Meulen's special focus was the international business with communication technologies.
Helmut an de Meulen is involved in various organisations that promote young entrepreneurship. Particularly close to his heart is the strengthening of the Ruhr region. In January 2007 he was elected chairman of the association pro Ruhrgebiet e.V.. For many years, he has also been specifically involved in the promotion of young companies. Furthermore, an de Meulen is a board member of the Fördergesellschaft der Fachhochschule Dortmund.
