Jessica Runkel leads the family business in its third generation. Winkler und Dünnebier Süßwarenmaschinen GmbH (WDS) took a significant step in its corporate history: Rainer Runkel retired from active management on 31 October 2025. 

Jessica Runkel has been part of the company's management team as a managing partner since 2021. With her father now stepping down completely, she will take over sole management of the company and continue to run the family business in its third generation. She will be supported in this by her sister Vanessa Runkel and long-standing technical director Carsten Butz.

‘I have worked closely with my father over the past few years and gained enormously from his experience,’ says Jessica Runkel. ‘I am delighted to be continuing to run the company together with our very experienced team. Our focus is on securing what has been tried and tested while at the same time providing new impulses to develop WDS in a future-oriented way.’

What was once started by company founder Oswald Runkel with courage and pioneering spirit and further developed by Rainer with passion and dedication is now being continued by the next generation. Rainer Runkel will remain associated with the company in an advisory role.