Riedhammer

"Matthias Uhl, managing director of Riedhammer GmbH, a maker of industrial furnaces in Bavaria, said that his firm was once again exploring possible contracts in Iran, which used to be one of the firm’s top 15 markets. Under the sanctions regime, the company was restricted to supplying spare parts for existing furnaces, a negligible source of business. Earlier this year, a Riedhammer sales executive visited Tehran and checked in with former customers. 'The old connections are still working, I have to say,' said Mr. Uhl. 'They are just waiting for us to come and begin again.' Not all the news was good: In the intervening years Chinese suppliers have begun selling industrial furnaces to Iran at lower prices. But overall Mr. Uhl sounded optimistic. The visit by Mr. Gabriel was 'a clear political signal that now we want to go forward together again and find solutions for the open problems that we have.'" (Globe and Mail, "Europe’s business leaders look to make Iranian in-roads following nuclear deal," 7/22/15)