Make knowledge work
The WEKA Group
WEKA is your reliable partner for groundbreaking expert information, high-reach media, and effective training programs!
As a leading omnichannel provider for almost all industries, we engage with decision-makers at all levels and ensure they stay one step ahead. Our portfolio provides crucial knowledge advantages, optimizes workflows, enables sustainable learning success, and connects experts across industries. Our customers benefit daily from our longstanding experience and know-how tailored to current needs with relevant content and products – in digital, print, or face-to-face formats.
Thus, as WEKA Group with 940 employees and 12 companies in Germany, Austria and France, we are one of the top addresses for media-neutral and cross-industry content.
940
employees
12
media companies
3
countries
196
Mio.
Umsatz 2023
129
online-portals
126
Mio.
website visitors
120
thousand
event attendees
Our business divisions
Solutions / Education / Business / Consumer
Business Solutions
Reliable solutions for navigating the regulatory labyrinth!
The ever changing legal and regulatory settings are a growing challenge for many organisations. At WEKA Business Solutions, our in-depth expert knowledge and custom-fit solutions make sure you keep a clear view and master your professional challenges with confidence.
Business Education
Tailor-made knowledge for your individual success!
Seminars, interactive online formats, or blended learning: In any case, with WEKA Business Education training programs you are always on the most effective track to achieving your goals. Our customized, cutting-edge training programs will get you and your team ahead faster!
Business Communication
Cross-media brand communication for high-profile target groups!
WEKA Business Communication media, events and services provide B2B and B2C decision-makers with cutting-edge information in dynamic markets. Our strong-reaching media brands are effective and reliable platforms for advertisers to create lasting customer enthusiasm for their offering.
Consumer Communication
Innovative gadgets for technology enthusiasts!
FRANZIS products make innovative technology tangible and experiential. From realistic engine construction kits to real surprises with exceptional advent calendars – anyone from 8 to 80 years old can enjoy learning to understand technology better with our do-it-yourself products.
Companies of the WEKA Group
Division
Media
Industry
Country
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WEKA Fachmedien
CountryGermany
IndustryAutomotive, Electronic, ICT, Industry & Logistics, Plastic & Life Science
MediaDigital, Events, Print
DivisionCommunication
WEKA Fachmedien GmbH is a leading provider of cross-media brands for the target markets of professional electronics, automation, energy technology, electronics retail/electricians and ICT.
fotocommunity
CountryGermany
IndustryEducational offer
MediaDigital, Services
DivisionCommunication
fotocommunity GmbH is Europe’s largest online community of amateur photographers, with over 1,500,000 members.
FRANZIS
CountryGermany
IndustryConsumer, Educational offer
MediaDigital, Print
DivisionConsumer Communication
FRANZIS GmbH is one of the leading suppliers of educational construction kits and Advent calendars on the topics of technology and automobiles.
The company is a long-standing licensing partner of world-famous brands. Software solutions for users with a focus on digital imaging complete the portfolio.
WEKA Industriemedien
CountryAustria
IndustryAutomotive, Construction, Industry & Logistics
MediaDigital, Events, Print, Services
DivisionCommunication
As the result of the merger of the Industriemagazin Verlag publishing company and the specialist magazines published by WEKA Austria, WEKA Industrie Medien GmbH now has a portfolio encompassing four areas: magazines, online platforms, events and content marketing, Covering the Automotive, Construction & Building Technology, and Industry & Production segments.
Deubner Recht & Steuern
CountryGermany
IndustryLaw & Taxes
MediaDigital, Events, Print
DivisionBusiness Solutions, Education
Deubner Recht & Steuern GmbH & Co. KG is in the market as a specialist information provider firmly established for the legal and tax consulting professions and specializes in practical, innovative information solutions, which really make everyday life easier. Whether journal, textbook, CD-ROM, online solution or Client Information – With the information offered by the Deubner Recht & Steuern are tax consultants and lawyers in the Consulting practice well prepared.
WEKA Media
CountryGermany
IndustryChemicals & Agriculture, Construction, Educational offer, Electronic, Engineering & Science, Health care, Human Resources, Industry & Logistics, Occupational safety, Plastic & Life Science, Public administration
MediaDigital, Events, Print, Services
DivisionBusiness Solutions, Education
WEKA Media GmbH & Co. KG. is one of the leading providers of multimedia-based specialist information solutions for the fields of production and construction, work safety and fire protection, environment and energy, management and finance, quality management, public authorities, the building trade, architecture, corporate codetermination and data protection.
Editions Techniques de I’Ingenieur
CountryFrance
IndustryAutomotive, Construction, Educational offer, Electronic, Engineering & Science, Health care, ICT, Industry & Logistics, Plastic & Life Science, Public administration
MediaDigital, Print, Services
DivisionBusiness Solutions
Editions Techniques de l’Ingenieur S.A.S. has developed a unique database in French which compiles state-of-the-art technical sciences and which is sold all over the world in French-speaking countries.
Editions WEKA
CountryFrance
IndustryPublic administration
MediaDigital, Print
DivisionBusiness Solutions, Communication
Editions WEKA S.A.S. offers legal and regulatory databases associated with added-value services for public authorities.
Editions Tissot
CountryFrance
IndustryHuman Resources
MediaDigital, Print
DivisionBusiness Solutions
Editions Tissot S.A.S. is a major provider of social and HR legal and regulatory databases and information products for the French SME market.
WEKA Business Solutions
CountryAustria
IndustryChemicals & Agriculture, Construction, Educational offer, Electronic, Health care, Human Resources, Law & Taxes, Occupational safety, Public administration
MediaDigital, Events, Print
DivisionBusiness Solutions, Consumer Communication
WEKA Business Solutions GmbH is a leading provider of specialist information and seminars in the fields of law, taxation, technology, management and construction.
WEKA Media Pulishing
CountryGermany
IndustryICT
MediaDigital, Events, Print, Services
DivisionCommunication
WEKA Media Publishing GmbH publishes special interest B2C magazines in the fields of telecommunications, information technology, consumer electronics and photography, as well as corresponding online offerings.
COMUNDI
CountryFrance
IndustryEducational offer, Human Resources, Law & Taxes, Occupational safety, Public administration
MediaDigital, Events
DivisionEducation
COMUNDI S.A.S. is a major player for congresses and training programmes on the French market, esp. in the segments of management and coaching, HR and social issues, public market, health and security.
What makes us stand out.
Good reasons why customers rely on us.
Jochen Hortschansky
Managing Director WEKA Media, Germany
“WEKA Media supports companies in their daily work with practice-oriented multimedia solutions for specialized information.”
Dirk Waasen
Publishing Director WEKA Media Publishing, Germany
“Weka Media Publishing is a highly credible print and online partner. The company’s own test laboratory and FifT market research ensure effective consulting, while some of the highest affiliate conversion rates in the industry are evidence of the trust in our brands”.
Ralf Wagner
Managing Director Deubner Recht & Steuern, Germany
“Customised services, practical solutions and the latest information – these are all reasons legal and tax professionals and their clients appreciate us.”
Matthäus Hose
Managing Director WEKA Fachmedien, Germany
“WEKA Fachmedien is a leading provider of cross-media brands for the target markets of professional electronics, automation, power engineering, electrical trade/craft, wood/roof construction and ITC.”
Jochen Hortschansky
Managing Director WEKA Business Solutions, Austria
“We provide information that offers entrepreneurs genuine help every day when making important decisions.”
Caroline Acs
Managing Director Editions Tissot, France
“Editions Tissot solutions make legal processes simple and secure. Our clients save time so they can concentrate on tasks that add value.”
Beatrice Schmidt
Managing Director WEKA Industrie Medien, Austria
“We put a heavy focus on delivering high-quality, reliable and up-to-date information to our clients in a precisely targeted manner.”
Michael Büge
Director FRANZIS, Deutschland
FRANZIS kits and advent calendars promise a unique experience and unforgettable moments. We combine know-how with fun and collaborate with strong technology and automotive brands to inspire our customers.”
Nathalie Marthe-Bismuth
Managing Director Editions WEKA, France
“Industry news, legal remedies, legal assistance: we provide support every day to all stakeholders in public administration. We are as close as possible to all officials and our experts come from the public sector –like I have a background in public administration.”
Claire Pascal
Managing Director Comundi, France
“Comundi is a leading professional training organisation in France and an expert in business and soft skill development, including for the public sector.”
News
The latest news and interesting facts from the companies of the WEKA Group.
50th anniversary at WEKA
50 years of WEKA means 50 years of relevant specialist information, always tailored to current needs. It is also the history of a company that has never stood still.
Founded on 1 October 1973 by Werner and Karin Mützel in Kissing, Germany, the small specialist publishing house for administration and industry has developed over the last five decades into a leading omni-channel provider of specialist information and training, with around 900 employees in three countries. The WEKA Group still bears the names of its founders – or, to be more precise, the first two letters of their first names. Throughout its 50-year history, the publishing group has always adapted to the challenges of the times and positioned itself accordingly.
Werner Mützel personally steered the fortunes of the company for more than 40 years. This period was marked by numerous acquisitions and expansions, such as the founding of WEKA Switzerland as the first foreign subsidiary or the takeover of FRANZIS Verlag, Magna Media, Springer Business Media Austria, and many other media companies. Following the death of the company’s founder, Paragon Partners, a private, owner-managed investment company, took over the WEKA Group in 2020.
WEKA Group Management
The WEKA Group is managed strategically by its holding company with headquarters in Kissing and Munich. The operational business lies in the hands of the division heads.
Kurt Skupin
CEO
WEKA Group
Silke Böckmann
CFO
WEKA Group
Matthäus Hose
WEKA Business Communication, Division Head / Managing Director
Germany & Austria
Jochen Hortschansky
WEKA Business Solutions & Education, Division Head / Managing Director
Germany / Austria
The history of WEKA
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2024
February 2024: The WEKA Group divests Spitta GmbH. This step marks a conscious decision by the WEKA Group to retreat from the dentistry target group and thus continue to concentrate on the core areas of the portfolio.
May 2024: The WEKA Group divests WEKA Business Medien GmbH as part of an MBO (management buy-out). This is an important milestone for the WEKA Group as it continues to focus on its core competences in the division of business communication.
2023
The WEKA Group has divested its Swiss subsidiaries WEKA Business Media, ZfU, CAS, LWO, and the WEKA Akademie in Wiesbaden to Aspire Education as part of its strategic alignment. For the WEKA Group, this divestiture represents another milestone in its efforts to streamline and fortify its portfolio
2022
In the course of strategic focusing, WEKA Group has sold Lexagri SAS to Foodchain ID, a US provider of regulatory intelligence services. For the WEKA Group, the divestment is another step in the direction of harmonizing and strengthening the portfolio
2021
- Sale of frechverlag (Stuttgart) to Penguin Random House
- Sale of INFO-TECHNO Baudatenbank (Mondsee) to Olmero, Swiss tender platform
- Lernwerkstatt Olten has now taken over the portfolio of TA in Lucerne
2020
In 2020 the WEKA Firmengruppe was completely taken over by the private, owner-managed investment company Paragon Partners.
2019
Merger and Acquisition of the majority of AGROBASE / Lexagri (Saint-Julien-en-Genevois) by WEKA France
2018
- Company founder Werner Mützel dies at the age of 77 years
- Acquisition of ILT Solutions (Cologne) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of the CoachTrainerAkademieSchweiz (Rebstein) by WEKA Business Media
- Takeover of the LANline-Portfolio from ITP Verlages (Kaufering) by WEKA Fachmedien
- Takeover of Journals AUTlook and process pur (Vienna) by WEKA Industrie Medien
- Takeover of LexPG from thinking information Verlag GmbH (Dorfen) by WEKA MEDIA
- Formation of WEKA Akademie GmbH by merging the Forum Group with the seminar activities of WEKA MEDIA and TQM
2017
- Bundling of the group’s German-language training activities in the WEKA Learning Group, which focuses on coping with the challenges of digital transformation.
- Founding of WEKA Industrie Medien GmbH by merging the der Industriemagazin Verlag GmbH with the magazine activities of WEKA-Verlag Gesellschaft m.b.H.
- Takeover of the journals of JM Fachmedien (Landsberg am Lech) by WEKA Business Medien
- Disposal of WEKA Business Media B.V. (Amsterdam) to the management
- Takeover of Symposium Publishing (Düsseldorf) by WEKA MEDIA Acquisition of Industriemagazin Verlag (Vienna) by WH WEKA Holding
2016
- Acquisition of 80% of webculture (Mannheim) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of Forum Group (Wiesbaden) by WEKA Holding
- Takeover of Formhygiène (Montpellier) by CMT
2015
- Closure of Blogwerk (Zurich)
- Takeover of Pro Lernen (Unterschleissheim) by WEKA MEDIA
- Takeover of the training business of LexisNexis France (Paris) by Comundi
- Acquisition of 80% of DIOS (Reken) by WEKA Holding
- The Paris-based companies of the WEKA Group (Editions WEKA, Editions Techniques de l’Ingenieur, Comundi, CMT, WEKA Service) move from Paris to the suburb of Saint Denis
- Acquisition of 80% of Lernwerkstatt Olten (Olten) by WEKA Business Media
2014
- Takeover of Comundi (Paris) by WEKA FORMATION
- Takeover of WIADOK Wirtschaftsarchiv (Minden) by Deubner Verlag
2013
- 40-year company anniversary of WEKA
- Acquisition of MB Formation (Paris) by Editions WEKA
- Takeover of screenguide (Düsseldorf) by WEKA MEDIA PUBLISHING
2012
- Acquisition of Agricommand (Gémenos) by C.M.T.
- Acquisition of INFO-TECHNO Baudatenbank (Mondsee) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of Blogwerk (Zurich) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of TQM Training & Consulting (Heilbronn) by WEKA MEDIA
- Acquisition of fotocommunity (Cologne) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of Hoppenstedt Publishing (Darmstadt) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of facility-info.com (Amsterdam) by WEKA Netherlands
2011
- Acquisition of ZfU (Thalwil) by WEKA Holding
- Acquisition of foerderland (Mannheim) by WEKA MEDIA
- Acquisition of dent.kom (Berlin) by Spitta
2010
- Takeover of Busse Seewald (Bielefeld) by frechverlag
- Takeover of 100% of the shares of the joint venture CMP-WEKA (Poing) from UBM by WEKA Holding
2009
- WEKA Netherlands takes over Arko-Verlag (Amsterdam) with its three specialist construction magazines
- WEKA Verlag AG (Zurich) is renamed WEKA Business Media AG
2008
- Sale of Editions WEKA Belgium to mediabooks (Ghent)
- WEKA MEDIA Publishing takes over Division III of Motor Presse Stuttgart with eight CE and telecommunications magazines; opening of a new office in Stuttgart
- Spitta takes over Flohr-Verlag (Heidelberg) with four specialist dental medicine magazines
- WEKA MEDIA purchases Dachbau-Magazin from Kleffmann Verlag (Bochum)
- Sale of the info/Cartography Division (Mering/Munich) to the mediaprint Group in Paderborn
- Sale of frech druck (Stuttgart), the last print works of the WEKA Group; the frechverlag publishing company remains in the Group’s possession
- WEKA Verlag Vienna takes over Springer Business Media Austria (Vienna) with 17 specialist B2B magazines
2007
- WEKA Magazine Group is renamed WEKA Media Group Munich
- Takeover of the imprint “Public Formation” from IFSP (Montrouge) by Editions WEKA
- Takeover of the imprint “Dental start-up” from pdv (Heidelberg) by Spitta Verlag
2006
- Takeover of the HRM portfolio from Netwerk Pers (Amsterdam) by WEKA Netherlands
- The online platform Chimie Minitel Teletransmission (Paris) is purchased by Editions WEKA
- Sale of the 49% stake in BEHR’S Verlag (Hamburg)
2005
- Collaboration with Haufe Media Group in Switzerland through the merger of Haufe BusinessMedia AG (Zurich) and WEKA Verlag AG (Zurich)
- WEKA MEDIA takes over UB MEDIA (Markt Schwaben)
2004
- WEKA MEDIA takes over sirAdos (Dachau)
2003
- Sale of the Polish sister publishing company WEKA Sp. z.o.o, (Warsaw) to the Forum Group (Mering)
- Sale of the 50% stakes in the publishing companies Lupus (Poland) and Computer Panoráma (Hungary)
2002
- The sale of the WEKA Magazine Group to Süddeutscher Verlag Hüthig Fachinformationen GmbH fails; the WEKA Magazine Group remains an independent division within the WEKA Group
- Merger of Kissing-based publishing company Recht und Praxis with Deubner Verlag (Cologne)
- Sale of Les Editions du Centre de Psychologie Apliquée (ECPA) (Paris)
2001
- Formation of WEKA MEDIA GmbH & Co. KG (Kissing) by merging the WEKA specialist construction publishing companies, WEKA specialist management publishing companies, WEKA specialist publishing company for technical managers, and the WEKA Logistics Center, Augsburg
- Sale of the WEKA Magazine Group to Süddeutscher Verlag Hüthig Fachinformationen GmbH (subject to approval by the antitrust authorities)
- Sale of Civitas Ediciones (Madrid)
- Reorganisation of the WEKA Corporate Group: Structuring into four independent divisions: “WEKA Business Information”, “Information Brochures and Cartography”, “WEKA Media Group Munich” and “Creative Design”
- Discontinuation of CONWAVE and i-ConneXX
- Foundation of WEKA Business Information GmbH & Co. KG (Kissing) as the umbrella company for the 16 domestic and foreign publishing companies of the former “Specialist Information” division
2000
- CONWAVE (intranet-based solution for specialist information) and i-ConneXX (portal/search engine for specialist legal information) are developed in the course of the general internet boom
- Closure of WEKA’s specialist publishing company in Hungary (Budapest)
1999
- WEKA Italy (publisher of information materials) ceases operations
- Sale of WEKA Consumer Media (games magazines)
- Sale of WAGO-CURADATA (accounting software)
- Sale of ReNoFlex (software for lawyers)
- Sale of PCAS (software for the building trade)
1998
- 25 years of WEKA: 36 specialist publishing companies and software developers in 11 European countries, employing more than 3,000 people
- Purchase of Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsinformationen (GWI) (Munich)
- Sale of DentSo-Spitta
- Foundation of Fun Creativ (Kiel)
1997
- Foundation of the joint venture CMP-WEKA with CMP, America’s largest publisher of computer magazines
- Closure of WEKA USA
- Takeover of REWI Verlags- und Buchhandels-GmbH (Waltenhofen)
- Takeover of Renoflex Computer- und Software GmbH
- Takeover of the Spanish legal publishing company Civitas Ediciones (Madrid)
- With over 401 million euros in turnover, WEKA is the number one German specialist and scientific publishing company for the first time
1996
- The takeover of Magna Media (Haar) makes WEKA the biggest provider of specialist journals for IT, electronics and telecommunications in Germany
- Purchase of Dr. Peter Deubner Verlag (Cologne), a publishing company for the legal and accountancy professions
- Purchase of the French specialist legal publishing company Tissot (Annecy)
- Foundation of Alfa WEKA (Warsaw)
1995
- Formation of the Software Division with the aim of linking professional information with application software.
- Purchase of Editions Techniques de l’Ingenieur (Paris)
- WEKA becomes the market leader in complete in-house solutions through the merger of WAGO and Curadata to form WAGO-CURADATA
- 314 million euros in turnover, 2,550 employees
- Purchase of debis Systemhaus Curadata (Hamburg)
1993
- 2,500 employees celebrate the 20-year anniversary
- The Competence Center for Electronic Publishing starts working on establishing online databases
- The WEKA publishing companies begin to offer the first supplementary electronic products
- 10th anniversary of the international WEKA Tennis Cup
1992
- Purchase of Frech-Verlag (Stuttgart)
- Creation of the first Architecture Prize by the WEKA specialist construction publishing company
- Continuous support for the “Bunter Kreis”, a society helping severely ill children, through active collaboration and financial assistance
- 34 percent growth, over 250 million euros in turnover
1991
- 60 percent stake in the DentSo software developer
- Awarding of the first WEKA Environment Prize by the specialist publishing company for technical managers
- Takeover of Franzis-Verlag (Munich)
- 38 percent increase in turnover
1990
- Purchase of ECPA (Paris), a specialist publisher of psychology literature
- Move to a new company building at Römerstraße 16 in Kissing
- 24 percent increase in turnover
1989
- WEKA purchase a 49 percent stake in WAGO Softwarehaus
- Foundation of Editions WEKA Belgium
- Restructuring into five divisions with a seven-person executive management team
- 27 percent growth in turnover – with over 100 million euros, WEKA is Germany’s third-largest specialist publishing company
1988
- Foundation of WEKA Publishing Inc. (New York)
- Entry into the German computer magazine market with the takeover of a 48 percent stake in Daten- und Medienverlagsgesellschaft DMV
1986
- Turnover exceeds 50 million euros
- Construction of a new company building for 300 additional workplaces
1985
- Takeover of Spitta Verlag (Balingen)
- Foundation of WEKA Austria in Vienna
1983
Foundation of WEKA Netherlands in Amsterdam
1982
- Move into the expanded company building
- Over 1,000 authors write specialist books and reference works for WEKA
1980
Foundation of WEKA Italy in Milan
1979
- Over 100 employees and 200 specialist authors now work for the company.
- Foundation of WEKA France in Paris
1978
- The 100th book title is published
- WEKA Switzerland based in Zurich is founded as the first foreign subsidiary
1976
Delivery of the first up-to-date reference book via direct sales and book shops
1975
- Move to the first company building in Kissing
- Market leader: over 800 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland purchase information brochures for new residents from WEKA. The information brochures are financed through adverts by local companies