What happens when business relationships meet shared passions? In the case of Markus Gipson and Wolfram Krieger, a successful collaboration becomes more than just mechanical engineering. In addition to 17 milling machines, the two have one thing in common: a passion for long-distance hiking. A look behind the scenes of a special customer relationship – between precision, trust and perseverance.

When Markus Gipson, one of the three managing directors of Gipson Metallverarbeitung in Mengen, and Wolfram Krieger, sales representative of MTE Deutschland in Montabaur in the Westerwald, meet, it’s not just about milling machines. An insight into our customer relationships away from the business. Although the Gipson company now operates 17 milling machines from MTE, the two also share a common hobby, namely long-distance hiking.

Since 1971, Gipson has been manufacturing machine components for many well-known manufacturers from a wide range of sectors, and now has over 50 employees. The company has grown continuously over the years. Over 4.5 million euros were invested in 2019 alone. On the 18,000 m² company premises, precision parts are manufactured to customer specifications on a production area of approx. 8,000 m² using turning and grinding machines as well as 17 milling machines from MTE.

The first Bed type milling machines / machines were installed before the turn of the millennium and are still in use today. Subsequently, rotary table and Floor type milling machines with travel paths of up to 7 m were added.

This means that the company is also ideally equipped for mammoth tasks in the large parts sector.

Markus Gipson has been managing director of his parents’ company since 2008 and is responsible for production. He relies on the excellent cooperation with the milling machine manufacturer MTE, which was started by his father and company founder Klaus Gipson and his brother Frank Gipson.

“The quality of the machines and the fast service speak for themselves. And the wide range of machine types available – from bed milling machines to rotary table, fixed bed and Floor type milling machines and, if required, with pallet change – will in all likelihood also lead us to MTE for further investments.”

But it is not only the milling machines that unite the young company director Markus Gipson and the responsible sales representative from MTE, Wolfram Krieger. The two of them share a common hobby: long-distance hiking. Distances of between 50 and 100 km are covered within 12 or 24 hours.

Every time they meet, they talk about the distances they have covered, with Markus Gipson leading the field with 95 and 100 km. Next up for him is 65 km, and Wolfram Krieger has another 50 km on the program in September – so here, too, there are truly mammoth tasks to be mastered.

So the next meeting will certainly be interesting. With a distance of approx. 130 km between their homes, they could actually set off on foot…