Interview with Thorge Brünig: Sustainable plastics for the technology of tomorrow
Since its foundation in 1969, Technoform Kunststoffprofile GmbH has developed into a global provider in the field of thermoplastic solutions. The combination decades of experience, a deeply rooted commitment to innovation and a customer-oriented customer-oriented philosophy has made the Technoform Kunststoffprofile into a leading company in its sector. Managing Director Dr. Thorge Brünig provides insights into the history, the challenges of recent years and the future direction of the company.
Wirtschaftsforum: Dr. Brünig, Technoform has a long history. Can you tell us something about its beginnings?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Technoform was founded in 1969 by the Brunnhofer and Caprano families. Since then, the philosophy of the founding families - in particular customer proximity, flexibility and innovation - has characterized our actions. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, successful spin-offs led to the creation of our current divisions, including Technoform Insulating Solutions and Edge Bond Solutions. From the very beginning, we have taken care to create small, decentralized and flexible market units that specialize in their respective markets and can react quickly to changes. Continuous growth and internationalization are a central component of our development.
Wirtschaftsforum: What current challenges do you see in the industry?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: The last few years have undoubtedly been very challenging. The pandemic The Technoform team supplies innovative plastics solutions - worldwide and the war in Ukraine have posed enormous challenges for many industries. Security of supply became a key issue for our customers. We were able to excel here because we rely on long-term relationships with our suppliers - some partnerships have existed for over 30 years. While many companies struggled to maintain their supply chains, we were able to score points thanks to our stable relationships and flexibility. Another important trend is the increasing demand for ready-made solutions. Customers are increasingly ordering finished goods instead of just semi-finished products as in the past. This offers us new opportunities to add more value to the production chain and offer our customers comprehensive solutions.
Sustainability
Wirtschaftsforum: Everyone is talking about sustainability. How is Technoform meeting this challenge?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Sustainability has long been part of our corporate strategy. It offers not only challenges, but also opportunities. Our customers are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly solutions, particularly with regard to the CO2 footprint and GWP (Global Warming Potential) values. We have been using recycled materials for years and offer our customers product redesigns, such as reducing wall thicknesses to save material and resources. One specific example is a cycle that we have established with one of our customers: We take back offcuts, recycle them and put them back into the production process. Sustainability is a decisive competitive advantage that we want to continuously expand.
Digitalization
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does digitalization play in the company and which new technologies are particularly important to you?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Digitalization plays a central role for us in the further development of our production processes. It not only helps us to increase efficiency, but also to work more sustainably by conserving resources and reducing waste. Smart production systems enable us to monitor processes better and react more quickly to changes. Another important topic is to make production more future-oriented and to exploit automation potential. The aim is to create attractive working conditions for the next generation, for example by reducing the shift system
What social values are particularly important to you in your day-to-day business?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: The philosophy of the founding families still has a strong impact today. An important part of our corporate culture is to create a balance between the interests of our customers, the company and our employees. We rely on flat hierarchies and attach great importance to a pleasant working atmosphere. We regularly offer workshops in which our employees are trained on topics such as sustainability, communication and quality. We live these values every day, which is also evident in the way we integrate new trends such as hybrid working models and work-life balance into our company.
How do you see the future direction of the company?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Technoform Kunststoffprofile GmbH has developed strongly in recent years and, depending on the material, is one of the leading suppliers in the market for tailor-made plastic profiles, particularly for highly technical plastics such as PPS or polyamide with a high filler content. We are also very well positioned in the field of thermal insulation and electrical engineering - for example in flame protection. Another growth area is the field of e-mobility, where we are working on solutions for battery-powered electric vehicles. In the long term, we want to push ahead with our technological development and increase the IN SHORT -> depth of added value. It is also important to us to make our supply chains more resilient to external fluctuations so that we can deliver in a stable manner even in times of crisis.
Wirtschaftsforum: When you personally look back on your work at Technoform: What motivates you the most?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: I love the opportunity to help shape things. From my scientific perspective, I find it fascinating to see products in everyday use that I was involved in developing. At the same time, it motivates me to create a framework in which my colleagues can realize their ideas. It is particularly important that our employees are proud of their work and know that they are making a valuable contribution - be it in the development of new plastic profiles or in the optimization of existing products.
Link to the article: Nachhaltige Kunststoffe für die Technologie von morgen | wirtschaftsforum.de