HSM brings recyclable materials back into the cycle

Since the early years of the company's foundation, the focus at Hman Schwelling Maschinenbau, known in the industry as HSM GmbH + Co. KG, specialises in the core competencies of shredding and pressing. The entrepreneurial family is clearly focussing on Germany as a production location and has a strong equity base: all signs point to expansion.

Hermann Schwelling was fascinated by technical solutions from an early age. When he decided in 1971 became self-employed with the production of industrial components, In addition to his business idea, he had a clear vision in mind. Did he expect to become a leading global player in environmental and office technology when he founded his partnership?

„I firmly believed in successful development. But you can only be successful and independent if you have your own ideas and implement them with determination.“ Hermann Schwelling, company founder

His forward-looking decisions were characterised by the changes in the market and repeatedly added new successful chapters to the history of his company. Today, after 50 years, ambitious goals are more alive than ever. And the anniversary is a fitting occasion to look back on the global success story and, at the same time, to look further ahead.

HSM focuses on expansion right from the start

The master industrial mechanic began manufacturing machine parts in the basement of his home and returned in 1971 inspired by his visit to the Hanover Trade Fair. Just two years later, he presented his first baler there and hit the bull's eye. Since then, the company has been on course for expansion. By 1974 there were already ten employees, Today, 900 employees and over 100 sales and service centres the main pillars of global growth.

Traditional family values generate innovative ideas

The production facilities were soon bursting at the seams, and in 1975 the ground-breaking ceremony for the new building was held. of a plant in Salem on Lake Constance set up. A year later, production of baling presses began there. In 1981, the product portfolio was expanded to include document shredders, while the first fully automatic baler marked another milestone. At the time of reunification HSM In 1991, the opportunity to build the „Rationalisierungsmittelbau Reichenbach“ as the only East German manufacturer of baling presses and to found the second plant.

This was followed in 1996 by the expansion of document shredder assembly with the takeover of the factory in Frickingen, where the company's headquarters have also been located in the newly built administration building since 2009.

HSM currently processes the following at its plants in Salem, Reichenbach and Frickingen around 10,000 tonnes of steel and more than 500 tonnes of plastic granulate annually. This immense amount of material corresponds to the production of around 5,000 cars per year. All three plants are certified according to the quality management standard DIN EN ISO 9001. From here, the machines and appliances are exported all over the world.

Core competences shredding and pressing

Since the early years of its foundation, HSM has focussed on its core competencies of shredding and pressing. The quality concept is based on „Made in Germany“ production, which for the southern German company means „Made by HSM“. Because the degree of vertical integration is unique: metal and plastic processing, in-house toolmaking, in-house turning centres, CNC precision machines, hardening systems for cutting shafts, laser cutting systems, welding robots, electrical engineering, powder coating and paint shops.

The focus is on expertise in all areas and the latest production technologies. In this way, the steering wheel remains firmly in hand and the company remains on course for quality. A large part of the profit flows back into modernisation to ensure that the highly specialised production facilities are always state of the art.

Flexible in all areas

A family business also enjoys the freedom to make decisions quickly and align strategies for the long term. The combined resources of the three German production plants enable the company to respond to changing markets with agility. HSM has maintained the necessary proximity to global growth markets to this day. with six foreign subsidiaries constructed.

This creates room for ideas that are utilised innovatively: After Germany introduced the deposit on disposable bottles in 2006, HSM was able to utilise the potential with its patented crusher technology quickly. The European market share is currently 75 to 80 per cent.

Another milestone was the development of the largest fully automatic channel baling press built by HSM in 2012, with a pressing force of 150 tonnes. the company holds around 200 active patents.

People at the centre

Commitment to Germany as a business location is one of HSM's success factors, as is its strong equity base. These values have always been lived by the entrepreneurial family, the management and the company's own employees. In addition to product and service quality, the focus is on people. Hermann Schwelling is particularly committed to their ongoing training. The internal HSM Academy has been a permanent institution for more than 15 years, where employees, customers, operating personnel, interested parties and dealers can experience and learn live what the state of the art is.

Sustainability in the genes

Environmentally friendly and resource-conserving behaviour has also always been part of our self-image. In the field of environmental technology the balers reduce the volume by up to 95 per cent. They make it possible to return secondary raw materials to the circular economy. Some document shredders in the HSM Securio product line have been awarded the „Blue Angel“ environmental seal. Another example is the frequency-controlled drive presses developed by HSM. Compared to conventional drives, they save up to 40 per cent electricity.