Franz Grimme Turns 80: The Visionary Behind GRIMME’s Global Agri-Machinery Success

The Damme entrepreneur Franz Grimme celebrates his 80th birthday on 3 March 2026. In 1980, he took over the management of GRIMME Landmaschinenfabrik from his father, when the company had around 300 employees and produced 10 products. In 1985, he married his wife Christine, who has been responsible for the company’s public relations since 2003. Their sons, Christoph (1988) and Philipp (1990), were born three and five years after their wedding.

The fourth and fifth generation: Philipp, Christine, Franz and Christoph Grimme.

Franz Grimme founded the company’s first foreign subsidiary in the United States in 1985. INTERNORM, specializing in plastics technology, was established in 1987, followed by RICON in 1995 for webs and conveying equipment. Through the acquisitions of US potato technology company SPUDNIK in 2003 and Danish vegetable technology specialist ASA-LIFT in 2013, he strengthened international expansion and broadened the product portfolio.

At the same time, own subsidiaries and service agencies were established in numerous core markets such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Russia, Denmark, Turkey, Poland, South Africa, Canada, Brazil and the German locations in Uelzen (Lower Saxony) and Langquaid (Bavaria). 

The group of companies is now present in over 120 countries and operates 37 locations worldwide, including seven production facilities. Under Franz Grimme's leadership, the workforce has grown from around 300 to over 3,300 employees. The product range has been expanded to over 180 models in potato, beet and vegetable technology with the GRIMME, SPUDNIK and ASA-LIFT brands. 

Even at the age of 80, Franz Grimme is still present at the company every day. As Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GRIMME Holding, he and his wife Christine support their sons Christoph and Philipp, who are the fifth generation to run the group of companies. 

Franz Grimme, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GRIMME Holding:

"My wife and I are very proud that our sons Christoph and Philipp have taken on full responsibility for the companies and that we can both support them with advice and assistance. It is a very comforting feeling to know that everything is in good hands. I am inspired by the large GRIMME team; we have achieved a considerable degree of progress together and still have a lot to accomplish. I am celebrating my 80th birthday with great joy and gratitude."