Contiweb names IJntema CEO

Contiweb has appointed Ronald IJntema as CEO, effective January 4, 2027, succeeding Joost Smits to lead the Beugen-based web-handling equipment manufacturer through its next phase of growth.

IJntema joins from Van Halteren Technologies, where he held a commercial leadership position and sat on the board of directors. He has more than 25 years of experience in international technology and capital equipment companies. He was previously group CCO of Dieseko Group, and spent more than 11 years as sales director at Vanderlande, building an international sales and service organization across China, the USA and India. He began his career at Bosch Rexroth and holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering and business administration.

Under his leadership, Contiweb will keep investing in support for its installed base of more than 2,500 systems worldwide, to help customers maintain equipment performance and extend the economic life of their production lines. It will also pursue growth by expanding its web-handling, drying and converting technologies into areas including packaging, converting and non-wovens.

'Contiweb has built a strong foundation for growth, with reliable equipment and expert technical support at the heart of its customer relationships. I look forward to working with the team to build on this foundation, supporting our customers and OEM partners while developing opportunities for our technologies in new applications,' said IJntema.

'Contiweb is ready for its next phase of growth. Ronald brings the technical understanding and commercial experience to lead the business forward. His track record in building international sales and service organizations will be valuable as Contiweb expands its activities and continues to support its customers worldwide,' added Smits, the outgoing CEO. He will step down and ensure a smooth transition to his successor. Smits joined Contiweb in November 2021 and led its strategic transformation.