Sikora has been confirmed as one of the 500 World Market Leader Champions in the German-speaking economic area for 2026. The ranking is compiled by the University of St. Gallen in cooperation with WirtschaftsWoche magazine and the Academy of German World Market Leaders (ADWM). The Bremen-based company specializes in the manufacture of measurement, control and sorting technology and, since June of this year, has been part of the Maag Group, an international group of companies providing integrated solutions for plastics processing and part of the Dover Corporation.
Sikora has been an integral part of the global market leader ranking published annually by WirtschaftsWoche since 2016. The list is based on a defined set of criteria that aim to identify companies that lead their respective market segments worldwide. Only firms that are ranked first or second in their segment and that generate annual sales of at least €50 million are considered. In addition, at least half of this revenue must come from foreign markets distributed over at least three continents. The evaluation is carried out exclusively on the basis of officially available company data, such as published annual financial statements or financial reports of listed companies.
Methodology and significance of the ranking
The “Global Market Leader – Champions” ranking focuses on companies headquartered in the German-speaking economic area that occupy leading positions in their global niche or segment. The University of St. Gallen, together with WirtschaftsWoche and the Academy of German Global Market Leaders, reviews publicly accessible information to determine which companies meet the defined thresholds for market leadership, turnover level and internationalization. The result is a list of around 500 companies that, according to this methodology, qualify as global market leaders in their respective fields.
According to the organizers, the ranking is intended to create transparency about industrial champions that often operate in specialized markets and may not be widely known outside their sectors. For the companies included, continuous presence in the list over many years indicates sustained market position, international reach and the ability to maintain competitiveness under changing economic conditions.
Statements from Sikora and MAAG Group
Commenting on Sikora's renewed inclusion in the ranking, Dr. Christian Frank, Managing Director at Sikora, said: "For over 50 years, we at Sikora have been consistently investing in future technologies and sustainable innovations. Our repeated inclusion in the ranking of global market leaders is a success for our entire team. It shows that our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction is paying off worldwide – and at the same time confirms the reliability and quality that our customers associate with our solutions."
From the perspective of the MAAG Group, Ueli Thuerig, President of the Maag Group, highlighted the importance of the award in an international context: "Recognition as a World Market Leader Champion not only strengthens the visibility of our group, but above all the trust of our partners and customers. It shows that our companies set standards for quality, technology, and customer benefit on a global level – and thus ensure long-term stability and innovative strength."
Sikora's position in the ranking reflects both its specialization in measurement, control and sorting systems and its strong export orientation. As part of the MAAG Group and within the Dover Corporation, the company operates in an environment that concentrates on technologies and systems for plastics processing and other industrial applications.
About the global market leader champions
The “Global Market Leader – Champions” ranking is updated annually and covers companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland that meet the defined criteria. Compilation of the list is carried out by the University of St. Gallen in cooperation with WirtschaftsWoche magazine and the Academy of German Global Market Leaders. The current inclusion of Sikora for 2026 continues a series of listings that has been ongoing since 2016.
Sikora is once again among the 500 World Market Leader Champions in the German-speaking economic area in 2026.
