60 years of bielomatik

The family business from Neuffen, an acknowledged specialist for paper processing and plastic welding machinery as well as for lubrication technology, celebrated at the end of June its 60th anniversary with an open day and a celebration evening for guests from 18 countries.

‘A piece of the Swabian success story’, is how Dr Dieter Brucklacher, chairman of the National Federation of Machinery and Plant Construction (VDMA), described the company in his speech, adding that bielomatik, like many German companies, is among the sector leaders mainly thanks to its innovative prowess.

Pioneering spirit and a willingness to take risks were key characteristics of the engineer Hans Biel, who founded the firm in 1946 as a design office for automation tasks. What started with the development of technology for coating rolls for paper machines continued with the first designs of paper processing and plastic welding machines in the 1950s and the first international trade fair appearance in 1956 in Paris.

In the 1960s bielomatik became a member of the Leuze Group. Under managing director Adolf Leuze the production range and productive capacity have since then been steadily expanded and new branches established throughout the world. The share of exports has risen to 80 per cent and the annual sales revenue generated by the bielomatik Group has increased to around Euro 140 million in 2006.

In this new century bielomatik is still driven by innovation in all sectors. The lubrication systems sector, for example, is contributing significantly to progress in metal machining with its minimal quantity lubrication technology. And the rapidly developing market for intelligent labels and tickets (RFID technology) – as used recently at the Football World Cup in Germany – has been accompanied from the outset by the reliable and productive systems made by bielomatik, with nearly 50 machines installed so far.

Today nearly 1,000 people work for bielomatik worldwide (as at the end of 2005). They have advanced the process of ongoing technological change and have thus made the enterprise an important economic factor and prominent employer in the region.

This was mentioned by Hans Peter Hehn, managing director of the Leuze holding company, at the opening of the celebration evening. Referring to the important role of medium-sized companies, he affirmed that they are just as innovative as major industry and are loyal to the region and country in which they are active.

The celebration evening rounded off the open day which included demonstrations of machinery and expert speeches for the numerous guests from at home and abroad.

Picture: Hans Peter Hehn, managing director of the Leuze holding company, opening the celebration evening