Contract packaging in workshops for people with disabilities

Around 300,000 people with disabilities work in workshops in Germany. These workshops offer a comprehensive range of services, including packaging, packing and logistics. Customers receive all services from a single source via the cooperative of workshops (gdw).

As a non-profit organisation, the Cooperative of workshops (gdw) services that a workshop alone cannot provide, such as nationwide document destruction. Customers benefit from this, that you only have one contact partner with gdwThe cooperative provides a platform through which they can access various services from different workshops - without having to organise such joint projects themselves. The cooperative also ensures the transfer of expertise between the workshops.

"However, our primary goal is to place orders with the workshops. We want to enable people with disabilities to participate in working life and offer them meaningful activities." Thomas Hilleproject manager in the Berlin/Brandenburg division of gdw mitte

To this end, the cooperative coordinates the work of a total of 682 workshops nationwide - also via its sister companies gdw nord and gdw süd. For example, gdw is the Germany's largest network of specialist companies for document and data carrier destruction.

Well packaged, securely shipped, regional and sustainable

Most of the workshops focus on specific areas of work, including office services, digitisation and digital archiving, recycling of old electrical appliances, printing and graphics, gardening and landscaping, laundry and manufacturing. One workshop in Hanau now runs the second unpackaged shop.

As a full-service provider with a nationwide network of affiliated workshops, gdw also offers a wide range of services. Extensive range of services in the assembly and packaging of goods. "The majority of our workshops have facilities in this area, and the division generates a third to a quarter of our sales," says Thomas Hille. The entire spectrum can be covered: Packaging, sorting, display pieces, blistering, sleeving/sealing, foiling, coding, labelling, picking and dispatching. From warehousing to packaging and logistics, gdw works with customers to develop customised service packages.

gdw gives people a meaningful activity

The orders are usually in the medium quantity segment, where the use of machines is not worthwhile for customers and they want to outsource the work. A modern machine park is available for processing, which is used to pack and assemble large and small quantities of goods according to industrial standards.

"Of course, our workshops also have machines, but it's all about giving people meaningful work. That's why we really come into our own where machines reach their limits. Our employees assemble and process many items manually. Small quantities for mailings and sample folders are just as much part of our daily business as the assembly of displays and the handling of returns management. These are areas in which we are already one of the leading providers in Germany. Although our focus is on employing people with disabilities, we are of course also active in the market. That means we have to produce certain quantities in a certain amount of time." Thomas Hille

Short logistics routes are also part of this: One of gdw's affiliated workshops is almost always close to a customer and can take on packaging and customisation tasks.

Successful Berlin joint projects

The company is strong in offering all services from a single source. For example, the employees fill bottles with liquid soap, apply the label and do the final packaging in boxes, address them and make them ready for postage. For the medium-sized company SAL de IBIZA, for example, gdw workshops fill salt into bags or ceramic cups after first removing any impurities. They then label the containers and pack them in cardboard boxes ready for transport. Five workshops are involved in this project in Berlin. Three other Berlin workshops fill popcorn bags ready for despatch for the successful start-up Popkonditorei Knalle.

Of course, workshops for people with disabilities across Germany have also been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, production has continued so far in order to fulfil the most urgent orders, albeit with reduced staffing levels in some cases. Priority was given to orders in the field of medical technology, for example the packaging of disinfectants or the sewing of face masks.

Customers can rely on the quality of the services at all times. Some require compliance with high safety standards, while others are subject to strict legal regulations and specifications in their execution. Every workshop entrusted with these tasks has the necessary certifications and requirements. The Quality is maintained in the long term and, above all, at a consistently high level. and documented in accordance with EN ISO 9001.

gdw exhibits at FachPack 2019 for the first time

Last year, gdw Mitte exhibited at FachPack for the first time. "This makes us other sales channels, made contacts and wanted to develop new projects. find. I had already visited the trade fair the year before to find out whether it made sense for us to take part as a contract service provider." In 2019, gdw was represented at FachPack with seven partner workshops.

[infotext icon] Orders are worthwhile for companies
Every company with 20 or more employees is obliged to fill at least five per cent of jobs with severely disabled people. Companies that are unable to do this must pay the statutory compensation levy for severely disabled employees. The advantage for gdw customers: 50 per cent of the wage payment can be offset against the severely disabled persons' equalisation levy. This is interesting for all companies that do not employ disabled people and have to pay the compensation per workplace.