When company co-founder Ernst Thünemann tells the story, it becomes fascinating: the first metal playground equipment, innovations from the United States, and the move into entirely new fields.
Metallbau Emmeln was founded in 1968. Two young fathers, Ernst Thünemann and Fritz Herbers, suddenly found themselves with nothing after their employer became insolvent. By chance, they met Hermann Lohmann, who was willing to take the risk of starting a company together. Today, the company has earned a strong reputation in the industry – courage, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit are the recipe for this success.
It all began with metal playground equipment and small vehicles for excursion restaurants – including the well-known “Bumper Car” and a small “Mini Train,” both of which are still produced today. But metal playground equipment was increasingly replaced by wood, so new ideas were needed.
In the 1970s, a new idea came to Germany from the United States: theme parks. Metallbau Emmeln focused consistently on this sector – with success, because high quality remains a hallmark of the company to this day. At the same time, it remained a seasonal business: during slower periods, standard products were pre-produced to keep machines and staff fully utilized.
The range of products for theme parks was continuously expanded and adapted to operators’ requirements. With the rise of theme parks and the need for strong recognition value, pre-producing standard equipment became increasingly difficult – once again, new ideas were needed.
When wooden site huts were increasingly replaced by metal containers, Metallbau Emmeln seized the opportunity to help shape the market early on. What started out as simple products has become complex, fully planned one-off units – some equipped with complete switchgear systems or generators. Quality and on-time delivery are the keys to success.
A third business segment grew out of practical experience: from mechanical exit turnstile gates to integrated solutions. A long-standing customer wanted a complete cash desk system – from this, Metallbau Emmeln developed a barcode-based turnstile gate connected to a complex billing system.
Metallbau Emmeln is a success story – built on entrepreneurial skill, the right decisions at the right time, and consistent quality work. Not being afraid of change, but actively driving it, remains a key factor in our success. We look forward to the next 50 years! Your Metallbau Emmeln Team