Karl Mertz

Karl Mertz was born in 1891 in the old Sønderjylland as the youngest of three sons. In 1919 he started his business career in premises on the harbour of Sakskøbing – where Sakskøbing Avis (Sakskøbing Newspaper) later had its office. At that time a small simple office – nothing more.

In 1929 he moved to Orebyvej on the other side of the harbour where he extended the business several times buying the surrounding sites and buildings. Karl was a very determined – and at the same time a very fair person not only to his employees but also to his customers: - In case a customer insisted on buying a certain machine and Karl did not think this machine was necessary for the customer no deal at all would take place!

In the early fifties he had sold a threshing machine. When assembling the new machine, in which Karl himself took part, the customer's assistant worried a lot over the price of the thresher and could not help making his worries heard whether the thresher would work at all! Karl did not say a word but after mounting the thresher he pulled aside the farm-worker – took out his purse saying: There you go – 100 Danish kroner - which at that time was quite a lot of money – and then I trust you will take good care of this threshing machine and make sure it will always work satisfactorily!

Karl Mertz resigned in 1954, at the same time handing over the company to his two sons Knud and Ernst. For several years, however, he was a regular visitor to the company. He passed away in 1971.

Together with his 6 years younger brother Ernst, Knud carried on the business in the same spirit and with the same enthusiasm, yet realising the necessity of progress and development.

They turned the company into a joint-stock company in 1973 and thus carried it on successfully until 1996 when they handed it over to each a son, and they both resigned the year after. Ernst died in 2008

The Company in the fifties placed on Orebyvej	Knud Mertz	Ernst Mertz

Today the company is run in up-to-date premises on Stenstrupvej in Sakskøbing. It is being carried on by third generation – chairman of the board of directors, Morten Mertz, son of Knud Mertz, and Jesper Mertz, son of Ernst Mertz. By the take-over in 1996 the two cousins appointed Søren Jørgensen managing director. Søren Jørgensen, who today is coowner, has been with the company since 1993, together with motivated colleagues run Karl Mertz in Sakskøbing and a branch in Horreby on Falster, and one more in Nakskov on Lolland.