New head of asphericon purchasing department

Technology leader affiliates purchasing department with sales department headed by Sebastian Henkel

Jena, February 2022: Since January 1st, 2022, Sebastian Henkel has been the new Head of the Purchasing Department at asphericon GmbH. The industrial engineering graduate has already been responsible for all sales activities of the system and component manufacturer in Jena since spring 2020. The restructuring and closer linking of sales and purchasing matters is intended to ensure better customer support within the project business of high-precision optics. Henkel succeeds Stephan Schlegel, who is leaving the company at his own request after 14 years to pursue new challenges.

Sebastian Henkel has led the nine-person sales team at asphericon GmbH since April 2020. With stations at DaimlerChrysler and Jenoptik AG, he has been active in sales for over 15 years. As Director of Sales and member of the management board, he was responsible for multi-level sales teams, has many years of experience in personnel management and brings extensive knowledge from product and system consulting for SMEs and major customers to the company in Jena. The asphericon purchasing department will grow to a total of 4 employees as of 01.02.2022. A further expansion is planned.

“I am pleased to strategically help shape the expansion of the purchasing department and thus also the further development of our company. Efficient procurement and a close relationship with manufacturers and customers are the basis for smooth processes and thus the success of the company. By linking Purchasing to Sales, we will be able to respond even more swiftly to customer inquiries in the future,” Henkel said of his new role. “In addition, the synergies will enable us to manage the company’s current very dynamic growth. In 2021 alone, the same amounted to over 50%.”

“In the past two years, Sebastian Henkel has successfully demonstrated how processes can be optimized, but also how employees can be motivated. We are pleased to have him on our team and to be able to look after him with this additional task,” says CEO Alexander W. Zschäbitz about the restructuring of the company.

Previous Head of Purchasing and long-time employee, Stephan Schlegel, is leaving asphericon at his own request. “As Head of Purchasing, Stephan Schlegel has made a decisive contribution to building and establishing sustainable and strong supplier relationships and supply chains. He made our partnership-based cooperation with suppliers more efficient and provided us with significant support in setting up our production site in the Czech Republic. He deserves the thanks of the entire team for his dedicated work. We wish him all the best,” Zschäbitz continues.

About asphericon

As an independent and recognized specialist, asphericon is the technology leader in the field of aspheric systems. The production is based on a self-developed and patented technology for the control of CNC grinding and polishing machines. With this worldwide unique equipment, it is possible to produce small quantities up to large series with high accuracy. asphericon accompanies its customers from optical design, production and coating, full-surface interferometric measurement and documentation up to the assembly of optical components as well as their optical characterization.

For further information

Dr. Thomas Hegenbart
Tel.: +49-3641-3100500
Fax: +49-3641-3100501
E-mail: presse[at]asphericon.com