Cash Instead of Cable Clutter – How CHG-MERIDIAN Rethinks Technology

In many companies, it looks much the same as at home: drawers full of old charging cables, dusty monitors on shelves, long-forgotten devices in the basement. According to the digital association Bitkom, German households alone are hoarding around 195 million discarded mobile phones. What many consider electronic waste, CHG-MERIDIAN sees as a valuable resource.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, one of Germany’s leading business newspapers, CEO Mathias Wagner explains how exactly this shift in perspective has become the core of a successful business model: using instead of owning.

Liquidity instead of investment pressure

“Cash is king. The customer doesn’t have to invest, doesn’t need to tie up capital in devices, and preserves liquidity,” says Wagner in his conversation with the FAZ. In economically uncertain times, financial flexibility is essential. That’s exactly where CHG-MERIDIAN’s leasing model comes in: companies use IT, healthcare, or industrial technology for a fixed fee – without large upfront investments. And if requirements change, companies can return the equipment early. This creates flexibility and security.

Technology thought holistically – across all industries

Whether it’s laptops, X-ray machines, dialysis equipment, or forklifts: CHG-MERIDIAN supports the entire lifecycle of technological assets – from procurement and rollout to operation, return, and refurbishment. The company operates in the fields of IT, healthcare, and industrial technology, serving customers in more than 30 countries. CHG-MERIDIAN doesn’t see itself as a bank but rather as a lifecycle manager for technology investments, with a clear focus on value retention and reuse.

Independent rather than brand-bound

A clear advantage: CHG-MERIDIAN is not tied to specific manufacturers – unlike many OEM financing divisions. “We’re trying to fill the niche that manufacturer financing divisions don’t offer,” explains Wagner. “They’re not independent – they provide brand-bound sales financing.” At the same time, CHG-MERIDIAN stands out by focusing on efficient device management and comprehensive customer support throughout the entire lifecycle.

Sustainability as a value proposition

In 2024, 94 percent of the devices returned to CHG-MERIDIAN were remarketed – many of them through the company’s own technology center in Groß-Gerau. This conserves resources and saves CO₂. A study by Belgium’s VITO Institute, commissioned by CHG-MERIDIAN, shows: if a device is reused just once, more than a third of emissions can be saved – and over 50 percent with multiple reuses.

The idea of a circular economy isn’t just a marketing phrase because it’s currently trendy – it’s a fundamental part of our business model. It’s part of the economic value we deliver to our customers and part of the added value we provide.

Mathias Wagner, CEO of CHG-MERIDIAN

Global strength with regional roots

Founded in 1979 in Berg near Ravensburg in southern Germany, CHG-MERIDIAN is now an international company. 60 percent of its business volume is already generated outside Germany. The recent acquisition of Meridian Leasing Corporation, the U.S. leasing business of the Meridian Group, has strengthened CHG-MERIDIAN’s global presence and revived a historic partnership. In the late 1990s, the former Computer Handels Gesellschaft (CHG) had already merged with the German subsidiary of the Meridian Group, forming what is known today as CHG-MERIDIAN. But this is just one piece of the growth strategy: with over 1,600 employees in more than 30 countries, CHG-MERIDIAN consistently pursues its mission to rethink technology management worldwide.

Conclusion:

CHG-MERIDIAN stands for a new way of thinking about technology. “I am convinced that in the long run, the idea of using instead of owning will prevail,” concludes Wagner. Companies gain access to high-quality technology without tying up capital. The environment benefits from longer usage cycles and refurbishment. And the cable clutter? It stays where it belongs – in the past.

Read Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Interview