Cerena

Overview

Cerena is a family owned shear manufacturer based in Solingen, Germany. The company was founded by Fritz-Werner Kreitzberg, who built it into a domestic and international operation before handing it over to his son Arne Kreitzberg in 1999. Arne continues to run Cerena GmbH as a second generation family business.

Manufacturing Process

Cerena manufactures its shears in Solingen using hot-forged steel blanks. According to the company, approximately 80% of production is handwork, with each pair of shears passing through up to 120 individual processing steps. These steps include hardening, grinding, assembly, and hand straightening.

The hot forging process produces a steel that Cerena describes as both hard and flexible. This combination is important for hairdressing shears, where the blade needs to hold an edge but also absorb the repeated stress of daily cutting without becoming brittle.

Distribution

Cerena exports to more than 30 countries, according to the company. Their product range includes cutting shears, thinning shears, and left-handed models with ergonomic handle designs.

Solingen Heritage

Like several other shear manufacturers in the region, Cerena benefits from the Solingen designation. Solingen has been a center for blade manufacturing for centuries, and the name carries legal protections in Germany similar to a geographic indication. Products labeled “Made in Solingen” must meet specific criteria regarding where and how they are produced. Cerena’s continued local manufacturing, with trained employees performing the majority of work by hand, maintains that connection to the city’s cutlery tradition.

Product Range

Cerena’s shears cover a range of cutting specialties including blunt cutting, slice cutting, point cutting, contour cutting, precision work, and texturizing. The company also produces models designed for soft transitions and creative cutting, which suggests an awareness of how modern styling trends require blades optimized for blending and freeform work. Their left handed models use ergonomic handle designs intended to reduce strain during extended use.

Family Business Model

As a second generation family operation, Cerena is smaller than the corporate groups that dominate Solingen manufacturing (such as the Zwilling AG umbrella that includes Jaguar and TONDEO). The Kreitzberg family’s hands on management style means decision making stays close to the production floor. According to the company, Arne Kreitzberg is directly involved in quality oversight. This structure is common among Solingen’s independent makers and helps explain how a company with fewer resources can still maintain the city’s demanding production standards.

Sources

• Cerena GmbH official website: cerena.de
• Solingen geographic designation standards