Münster, June 23, 2026 – Last night at the Theater Münster, Hengst SE was awarded the 2026 Münsterland Marketing Prize in the “Transformation” category for its groundbreaking strategic realignment. The jury recognized the transformation of this long-established Münster-based company from an automotive supplier to a specialized provider of solutions for protecting human health.
The award was presented at a ceremony by Philomena Brinkbäumer (Vice President and Managing Director) and Dr. KristinGroße-Bölting(Program Director) from the organizing Marketing Business Club. Christoph Schings (GroupDirectorof Marketing), Julia Gillenkirch (Marketing Project Manager),andMarkus Lüersmann (Sales Manager,Respiratory) accepted the awardon behalf of the entire project team.
In her laudatory speech, Dr. KristinGroße-Böltingemphasizedthe importance of marketing as a strategic driver of this transformation: “In the face of profound market shifts, Hengst asked itself how it could redefine its own business model. Marketing was the driving force behind tapping into a new target audience and successfully positioning the brand in a completely new market environment. Particularly noteworthy is that an integrated approach was chosen: existing expertise was consistently incorporated into the umbrella brand, products and Packaging were reimagined, and sales and marketing were closely integrated.” By linking digital channels with brick-and-mortar retail, a seamless brand experience was created that provided guidance and made the new offering viable.
A milestone in this development is the successful foray into the field of respiratory protection. Here, Hengst succeeded in directly leveraging the trust built up in the industry over decades for the benefit of end consumers and professionals in the trades. The fact that the products are already listed with major retail partners such as Bauhaus underscores the success of this market expansion.
Christoph Schings, GroupDirectorof Marketing at Hengst, seesthe award as confirmation of the company’s new direction:
“This award belongs to the entire team, which had the courage to completely rethink our decades of filtration expertise. The shift from protecting technical systems in the engine compartment to protecting people in their everyday work lives was a major strategic move. The fact that our brand is now trusted in entirely new areas of life shows that our vision, ‘Purifying our planet,’ extends far beyond our industrial roots.”
Christoph Schings
Group Director of Marketing
