Every day, Katrin Schimscha starts her morning the same way and has breakfast with Grandma Hedwig. Grandma has been awake since six o'clock and makes sure that not only Katrin, but her brother, father, uncle, and cousins also start the day off right. Three generations – a family breakfast as well as a strategic business meal. That is because every morning, the entire executive team of Schimscha GmbH, along with the company's next generation of leaders, gathers in Hedwig Schimscha's parlor to enjoy green tea and toast with jam. "The first shop floor meeting of the day takes place at my grandma's house. We also all meet there again for lunch," says Katrin Schimscha laughing. "The large table is a regular meeting place for discussions, agreements, and strategic decision-making."
Schimscha GmbH, located in Ravenstein, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, manufactures electrical cabinets, empty enclosures, consoles, and machine frames based on individual specifications. "We work with our customers to develop customized solutions. We do not supply anything off the shelf," explains Katrin Schimscha. While many companies are currently struggling financially, Schimscha is operating at full capacity. "Since we only offer custom solutions made of stainless steel, sheet steel, and aluminum, we are significantly more resilient to economic fluctuations. In addition, we have a broad range of products and sell them to various industries, including the food, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, and automation systems sectors. That makes us more independent," explains Katrin Schimscha.
Schimscha delivers quality 'Made in Baden-Württemberg'. All processes are aligned with this commitment.
State-of-the-art TruMatic punch laser machines reduce throughput times and increase productivity. They enable Schimscha to efficiently handle even frequently changing orders and individual customer requirements.
Schimscha does not supply anything off the shelf. Custom solutions are created using a wide variety of materials.
New ideas – a breath of fresh air
Family-oriented, perfectionist, and down-to-earth: that is how she describes the company with its 130-year history. What was once a one-man operation is now a successful medium-sized company with 170 employees. Along with 29-year-old Katrin Schimscha, her brother Dominik, her cousin Jan, and his sister Lilli-Sophie, the fifth generation of the Schimscha family is now ready to take over the company with fresh ideas. Katrin Schimscha emphasizes that it is essential for everyone to pull together as a family for the good of the company. For her father Michael and uncle Johannes, this has meant consciously letting go and giving their children the freedom to boldly try new things. On the other hand, for the children, this means embracing that trust, valuing the long-standing tradition, and at the same time helping to develop the company with new ideas.
High-tech, tried and tested solutions
This approach is also reflected in the company’s investment strategy: To remain competitive in the long term, the company is continuously investing, even when the overall economic situation is not looking so bright. Katrin Schimscha is convinced that only modern technology and structures will help the company to continuously improve and ensure its competitiveness. "As a family-owned business, we do not think in terms of quarters, but in terms of generations." High-tech combined with tried and tested methods. This also applies to new machines. The company has always only ever purchased machines from TRUMPF. "My 86-year-old grandfather still raves about the good old days with the TRUMPF manual nibbler. However, when I consider the state-of-the-art TruMatic punch laser machines we use today, which enable us to form, cut threads, punch, and laser – this provides us with a huge competitive advantage in the custom manufacturing sector. These are technologies that my great-great-grandfather could only have dreamed of 130 years ago." Consolidating the work steps reduces throughput times, increases productivity, and enables Schimscha to economically meet individual customer requirements especially when it comes to the custom housing sector, where orders change frequently.
In addition to two TruMatic 7000 machines and one TruMatic 6000, the machine park now includes an automated TruBend Cell 5000 bending cell, and an automated TruLaser Robot 5020 laser welding system. In addition, Schimscha uses numerous TRUMPF bending machines, including three TruBend 5230 models equipped with the automatic ToolMaster Pro tool changer.
Automation is particularly important for the family-owned company when processing larger quantities. "Without automated processes on bending or welding robots, cost-effective production in a high-wage country like Germany would be virtually impossible in many sectors. "They also make our processes more stable and predictable," emphasizes Katrin Schimscha. When it comes to bending, the company reduces its setup times by using the ToolMaster, among other measures. The Schimscha experts have optimized this tool in collaboration with TRUMPF as part of a development partnership. An important step for Schimscha, as the company deliberately relies on two production methods. Automated processes for larger quantities and manual production for custom solutions, even down to a lot size of 1. The company thus combines efficiency with the flexibility required to manufacture custom housings.
The family-owned company also powder coats the housings in-house.
Schimscha combines automated processes for larger quantities with manual production for custom solutions, even down to a lot size of 1.
A new digital planning and control system has been ensuring more transparent processes for several months now.
The secret to success – teamwork
For the Schimscha family, quality plays a crucial role even when it comes to choosing machines. After all, the applied technology provides the basis for the quality of the company's products – "We deliver quality 'Made in Baden-Württemberg'. The machines must also meet this requirement. It is not just about the system itself, but the complete package: tools, process reliability, service quality, and prompt support when problems arise. That is why TRUMPF is the right partner for us, a partner with whom we have grown over many years – true to our motto: he who rests, rusts."
When asked about the secret to this growth, she emphasizes the team spirit and can-do attitude. "At Schimscha, we are a great team, we work closely together and act in cooperation." And, of course, the 85-year-old senior boss – aka "Grandma Hedwig" – is the secret ingredient. By the way, she does not just provide the family with food, but sometimes also bakes a cake when customers visit. And in the evening, she takes a final stroll around the company’s approximately 23,000 square meter grounds, locking up the factory gates, and turning off the lights.
