Böhnke & Partner: Everything under one roof

The new production and administration building of Böhnke & Partner in Bergisch Gladbach has been formally opened. There is still room for expansion.

"When angels celebrate, the sun shines” – this saying matched the mood at the opening of the new production and administration building of Böhnke & Partner in Bergisch Gladbach with guests from politics and industry.

Company established in 1991

On a warm summer’s day the new managing director, Dr Andreas Hunscher, welcomed the approximately 100 guests, who could celebrate two events simultaneously, "Our new building, of course – but also the silver anniversary of Böhnke & Partner,” emphasised Hunscher.

The company was established in 1991; following a one-year construction period, the new building was completed at the beginning of this year. "The construction cost six million euros. There is still growth potential here on the spot – I look forward to continued cooperation,” said Philip Schmersal, managing director of the Schmersal Group, which took over Böhnke and Partner in 2012.

Integrate departments even further

"The advantage of the new premises in the Obereschbach industrial estate is that ‘everything is under one roof,’” Hunscher noted. "We have united all departments: components, machine safety, system and technology. The goal is to integrate these departments even further.” Böhnke & Partner was very well positioned as a member of the Schmersal Group, explained the company boss. "Since 2013 we have had a unique portfolio, ranging from control technology and components to signal analysis – no competitor can offer this.”

Hunscher sees his main task as managing director as further expanding this status. Digitalisation was another important future sector, "We’ve always developed controls with external connections, meaning the lift can be controlled from outside. In future, we want to make real progress with the remote maintenance of our lifts.” The very first projects had shown that this was facilitated by technology and know-how.

The new building has not just been energy efficiently built according to the latest standards – it also provides the option of further expansion: "There is free space on the second floor and in addition the option to expand upwards,” emphasised Hunscher.

Wolfgang Weitzdörfer

www.schmersal.com