Family business with tradition

The Materna Group was founded as a spin-off from TU Dortmund University by Dr Winfried Materna and Helmut an de Meulen. To this day, the founding families Materna and an de Meulen hold one hundred per cent of the shares in the group - and will continue to do so in the future.

The beginnings

The computer industry experienced its heyday in the early 1980s: first the Commodore C64 conquered households, then the IBM PC was introduced and later the Apple Macintosh set new standards with its graphical user interface. It was at this time, in 1980 to be precise, that Dr Winfried Materna and Helmut an de Meulen founded their IT company in Dortmund.

Growth to the Group

The two-man operation has grown into a market-leading group of companies with more than 4,000 employees at over 40 locations worldwide. We have always benefited from technological developments and closely monitored the requirements of our customers and the market. Technology is not an end in itself. It has always been important to select the right technology for the respective application.

Credo: Added value

Our solutions have always centred on achieving the greatest possible added value for our customers. A high quality of service is the basis of co-operation and has led to long-term and stable relationships. With this attitude, Materna has earned a high reputation in the market. Throughout the decades, the maxim has been profitable and sustainable growth and a high level of responsibility for all stakeholders.

Founding families

Dr Winfried Materna

Company founder

After studying measurement and control technology at the Gauss Engineering Academy in Berlin and electrical engineering and computer science at the Technical University of Berlin, Winfried Materna completed his doctorate in computer science at the University of Hamburg. He subsequently took over the management of a research project in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Dortmund. In 1980, he founded Materna GmbH together with his partner Helmut an de Meulen. Both ran the family business very successfully for 35 years and handed over their management duties on 1 April 2015.

Winfried Materna was President of the Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce from 1997 to 2004 and was subsequently appointed Honorary President. In 2001, the Minister President of the state awarded Winfried Materna the NRW State Prize for his outstanding services to the modernisation of the economy and structural change in the state. In April 2008, the NRW Minister President presented him with the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class. This honoured his decisive impetus for the successful transformation of the region and his massive efforts on behalf of threatened jobs.

Materna ©

Materna ©

Helmut an de Meulen

Company founder

After studying mathematics and computer science at the University of Bonn, Helmut an de Meulen worked as an assistant in the computer science department at the University of Dortmund. Together with his partner Dr Winfried Materna, he founded Materna GmbH in 1980. Both ran the family business very successfully for 35 years and handed over their management duties on 1 April 2015. Helmut an de Meulen's particular focus was the international business with communication technologies.

Helmut an de Meulen is involved in various organisations that promote young entrepreneurship. He is particularly keen to strengthen the Ruhr region. In January 2007, he was elected Chairman of the pro Ruhrgebiet e.V. association. For many years, he has also been particularly involved in promoting young companies. Furthermore, an de Meulen is a member of the board of the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts support organisation.