History
100 years of healthy growth
Growing old and staying young, maintaining traditions and driving innovation – for 100 years, Streckel & Schrader GmbH & Co. KG has been manufacturing food processing machines for 100 years. The entire product range comprises more than 40 different machines and systems.
Today, the company is a global leader in the field of grain hulling and milling and is represented in all major grain processing markets. The name Streckel is synonymous with quality in hulling and oat milling systems, pioneering development and outstanding service. The company has been successfully managed by the fourth generation of the Streckel family – always in the spirit of company co-founder Franz Streckel: innovative, open-minded and customer-oriented.
Already looking towards the future back then
It took a lot of courage to found a company in 1923, in times of great economic and political uncertainty. After learning from all the major mechanical engineers of the time, the two senior engineers Franz Streckel and Karl Schrader took the risk and had Streckel & Schrader KG entered in the Hamburg commercial register on July 1, 1923. Just one year later, the company moved to Hinschenfelder Strasse 35 in Wandsbek – the address that still appears on our letterhead today. At that time, the Hanseatic city was considered a traditional location for peeling mills. An exciting and successful history began.
Streckel & Schrader experienced one world war, several economic crises and three political systems. A special entrepreneurial spirit and innovative drive were already evident in the early founding years. In 1930, the first complete rice processing plant was delivered to Rio Bravo, Brazil. At the time, this was an unusual and unusually far-reaching step.
Constant expansion in all directions
In 1976, Joachim Streckel took over the leadership of the dyed-in-the-wool family-owned company – and the company entered its third generation of ownership. But that wasn’t all: thanks to his expertise, experience both of a technical and commercial nature from various branches of industry, and years of experience dealing with customers from around the globe, he takes Streckel & Schrader to an entirely new level as a company.
In the very same year, the first machine for manufacturing cornflakes was delivered. In doing so, the product portfolio was expanded with another milestone. This is because today, when it comes to breakfast cereals, you can be sure that one of our machines was involved in the production process. Joachim Streckel also pushed for overseas expansion. Through him, business relationships were extended to South America and Australia.
“I have seen so many oat mills and built so many installations all over the world that our customers are able to benefit from this experience to this day.”
Joachim Streckel, CEO
Our future stands on a strong foundation
In 2011, the production floor in Hamburg was once again expanded and modernised. The products in our portfolio were also gradually overhauled. This was done to reconcile the experience of the past decades with the technical achievements the present day. Because with the brothers Tobias and Florian Streckel, the fourth generation is not just helping out in the company. They are also driving digitalisation within the company’s own processes.
This not only applies to digital inventory control systems, but also to the areas of planning and design. Via CAD systems, machines and systems can be planned more efficiently and implemented more comprehensively – namely as an overall concept including control system. A restructuring and reorientation that pays off: In 2015, Streckel & Schrader built the largest oat mill in the southern hemisphere in Australia. Whether it is global players or smaller hulling mills in the organic segment – even today, our company continues to be the preferred point of contact when it comes to special milling needs.
A new location with sustainable prospects
In 2021, the company’s second production site in Lutherstadt Wittenberg successfully commenced operations. A strong local supplier network has also been established in Wittenberg. The extensive and high-quality machine tool fleet also allows for a high degree of vertical integration and flexibility at the Saxony-Anhalt site.
The photovoltaic system installed in 2022 allows the Wittenberg site to operate sustainably at its current capacity. As part of our commitment to sustainability, currently unused areas of the property are being used as an environmentally friendly wildflower meadow.
“We have more than just business relationships with many of our customers, with whom we have been working for generations – they are friends”
Tobias Streckel, CEO
There for its customers in the future too
Quality, flexibility and always customer-oriented – nothing has changed in terms of our standards and values since the company was founded. They have made Streckel & Schrader what it is today: a successful and modern company. The medium-sized family business is at home almost everywhere in the world. Its success is guaranteed by its qualified and motivated employees. Their high-quality work characterizes Streckel & Schrader and has created a great deal of trust in the products “Made in Germany”. Together with them, the Streckel family will continue to develop new products, maintain the tried and tested and always be there for its customers. As they have been for 100 years.
