Employee numbers also continued their positive trend despite a temporary phase of reduced working hours during the first lockdown: Company-wide, employee numbers increased by approximately 300 to a total of 4,800 employees. In the midst of the pandemic, important projects were also advanced and the crisis resulted in a stronger focus on digital topics.

After the first stone was laid in 2019, construction work also continued successfully on the new distribution and production centre in Wertheim Bettingen. New offices for around 300 employees are being built on an area of more than 28,000 m2. The latest sustainability standards were taken into consideration in the plans, for example in the photovoltaic modules installed on the roof. On an ordinary working day, the more than 2,000 modules can cover the electricity needs of the entire plant.

A new state-of-the-art paint shop that meets the latest standards for environmentally friendly technologies has also been put into operation in the Plastics & Engineering division. Meanwhile, the medical technology division played an important role in fighting Covid-19: Plastic parts produced here were used to bottle and deliver the vaccine manufactured by a well-known company.

New showrooms enhance customer meetings
The Sun Forum, a major new showroom, opened at the end of 2020 to boost the focus on specialised retailers and architects through direct contact with retail customers. Spanning more than 1,600 m2, the showroom allows visitors to experience sun shading products in life-like rooms and see how the products are used in everyday situations. The Sun Forum is complemented by two smaller Sun Centers in Berlin and Stuttgart that have already opened their doors to offer customers local points of contact.

Digitalisation accelerated by Covid-19
The Covid-19 crisis also accelerated agile and location-independent working – concepts introduced before the pandemic. The company’s successful digitalisation can be seen in its extensive use of remote working solutions and virtual formats and the digital trend congress that was held to present new products. This trend has continued into 2021: A "virtual trade fair spring" fostered further digital interaction with customers and specialised retailers and enabled the company to participate in the online versions of well-known trade fairs such as BAU and to conduct its own virtual trade fair.

"Like everybody else, the pandemic presented us with enormous challenges, but we tried to make the best of the options available, using them flexibly and creatively", explains CEO Angelique Renkhoff-Mücke. "At the same time, we were brave enough to explore new paths and the positive feedback we are receiving confirms that we have made the right decisions."

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