Kunshan. More than ten years ago machines spat out the first Wirthwein parts thus symbolizing the beginning of a real success story. It was a long and painstaking road to get there. A lot has happened since then. At the end of June 2018 Wirthwein celebrated the tenth company anniversary of the plant in Kunshan.
All began with a single order concerning a high-speed railway system on the occasion of the Olympic Summer Games in 2008. Wirthwein got awarded the contract and sallied out for the Far East to found Wirthwein Fastening Systems (Kunshan) Co. Ltd. to serve the Railway industry and another company to serve the Home Appliances industry. Later on, latter company was renamed to Wirthwein Technical Plastics (Kunshan) Co. Ltd. and extended by the Automotive and Electrical Industry business units.
A little team of recruited staff of the newly established plant together with experienced colleagues from Creglingen, Brandenburg and Nauen made all arrangements to establish production of the first angle-guided plates and dowels on schedule. Only half a year later already fifty people worked for the two companies. Since then the companies have established business relationships with many new customers. Yet also partners Wirthwein has already been collaborating in Germany with quickly placed trust in the two Chinese Wirthwein subsidiaries.
Thanks to the commitment of our team in Kunshan and the brilliant cooperation with our customers the company has transformed from a single railway order executor to a successful plant with some 150 employees in the past ten years.
Company anniversary celebration at the plant in Kunshan
Wirthwein celebrated this big birthday in Kunshan together with all employees and long-term business partners. In their speeches Plant Manager Kuno Knobloch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Udo Wirthwein, and Chief Technical Officer Marcus Wirthwein looked back with pride on what has been achieved. They expressed their thanks to all employees for their commitment and wished all guests and their families further good health.
Among the invited guests there were also employees who have been working with the company right from the start and therefore celebrated their very own anniversaries. Besides Kuno Knobloch and Marcus Wirthwein also Chief Sales Officer Frank Wirthwein and Chief Financial Officer Rainer Zepke expressed their sincere thanks to all these ‘pioneers’. Finally Rainer Zepke together with Technical Director of Wirthwein AG Thomas Weberbauer determined the winners of the staff lottery. Their attempts to pronounce the Chinese names correctly raised a laugh among the guests.
The evening was filled with numerous music, dance and arts performances that gave the event its own particular charm. It was a successful ceremony at which all guests raised their glasses to the corporate development in Kunshan.
We are very proud of our Chinese subsidiary and already look forward to the next company anniversary celebration!
