ELA partners with 26th Congress for Family Businesses

 In March, the Witten Institute for Family Business (WIFU) at Witten/Herdecke University held the 26th edition of its Congress for Family Businesses. Around 180 students were involved in the planning and organization, with some 50 workshops and stage-based events being scheduled under the slogan “New Ideas in the Meeting Room.” Almost 300 attendees representing family-run businesses talked to each other – and to Mona Neubaur, the Minister for Economic Affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia, and 30 other speakers – about issues such as economic policy, trends in society and generation changes within businesses. ELA Container has been a partner for this congress – the largest of its kind in Europe – for a number of years.

The reception and cloakroom area was housed in a double container unit consisting of two extra-wide ELA office containers joined together along their longer sides. This provided a fully open area spanning 36 m² altogether. Large glazed double doors, full electrical installation including indoor LED lights, split heating and air conditioning units, and fire protection equipment were also planned with the client and supplied so the space was ready to use.

The shuttle service area was made up of three ELA lounge containers, each of which covered 18 m². Both ELA units were bright and welcoming on the inside, with some of the furniture being provided. Following delivery on ELA trucks with the use of a loading crane, experienced ELA teams installed the units quickly and professionally. 

“The ELA containers played a huge part in our event being such a success,” said Esther Linnenbrink, one representative from the team of student organizers. As in previous years, the units were delivered, unloaded by crane, installed and handed over without any problem. 

The 30 speakers at this year’s event included Liesel Albers-Bentlage and Günter Albers, Managing Partners at ELA Container. Drawing on their own experience, they gave an inspiring presentation on managing growth within family businesses and shared their own success story.

“We’re a family-run business in our third generation,” said Günter Albers. The Managing Partners explained that they were all too familiar with the challenges facing medium-sized family businesses. “You have to be wary of the family characteristics as well as taking responsibility for the business,” said Liesel Albers-Bentlage. That is not always easy and requires strict rules for communication and interaction. “We warmly welcome the opportunities for discussion opened up by the congress for family businesses.” 

“Our product range at ELA Container fits in perfectly with the slogan for this year’s congress – New Ideas in the Meeting Room,” said ELA Area Sales Manager Dammeyer. After all, ELA systems have provided space for conversation, communication and the creation of new ideas for the future on so many occasions. That applies to office, lounge and accommodation containers as well as to mobile nursery, school and bank units provided by ELA. “People come together in ELA containers to talk to each other, learn from one another, organize and plan exciting new ventures,” said Dammeyer. 

The Witten Institute for Family Business (WIFU) is regarded as the center for research into family businesses in Germany. The first-ever Congress for Family Businesses took place in 1997. Dr. Friederike Driftmann, representing the seventh generation of her family as a partner in the food business Peter Kölln, was the patron of the 26th edition of the family congress in 2024. The patron of the main congress was Jan-Hendrik Goldbeck, Managing Director of the Goldbeck Group, a construction and service company.

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