Werit - a success story in plastics

The fascinating material plastic has been at the centre of research and development at today's WERIT Kunststoffwerke W. Schneider GmbH & Co. KG has been at the centre of research and development since its foundation in 1949. The company, headquartered in Altenkirchen, Germany, produces customised, sophisticated products for many industries and sets far-reaching standards, not only with its versatile, modular and uniquely designed IBC range.

When the retired and life-experienced Wilhelm Schneider and his Son Helmhold in autumn 1948 a small Altenkirchen-based company with four Plastic Bakelite presses They do so out of the firm conviction that the future belongs to synthetic plastics. The signs are favourable for bold visions, as the war is just over and raw materials such as iron and wood are scarce.

Father and son boldly tackle the challenge, without realising that the still small company in Kölner Straße, the „WERIT-Werke“, would become the nucleus of an unprecedented success story. What developed over the next few decades at the Westerwald headquarters and the many branches throughout Europe set unimagined standards in the plastics industry.

Trend towards injection moulding

First of all, however, what is popularly known as the „Pressing plant Schneider“ In 1950, the well-known company established important contacts with the electrical industry and became a supplier of thermoset moulded parts. Thanks to Helmhold Schneider's entrepreneurial drive, which was to continue throughout his career, the company started to produce its own range of electrical products in 1951.

A Germany-wide network is created via the sales network of former customer Voigt & Häfner in Frankfurt, a global electronics group. In the meantime, however, the plastics processing industry is showing signs of Trend towards injection moulding after the supply range of thermoplastics has also grown in many ways. In addition to the four Bakelite presses, smaller injection moulding machines are added, which can be used to process thermoplastics.

The development and patenting of a machine with which glass fibre-reinforced moulded parts can be produced efficiently brings Helmhold Schneider The decisive breakthrough in 1954Soon, millions of safety helmets of all kinds were being produced, as well as bottle crates for the burgeoning beverage industry.

In his search for companies in which imported products made of conventional materials can be substituted by plastics, the Westerwald model entrepreneur then comes across the company Josef Mohr in Cologne-Merheim, which is known throughout Europe for its toilet sanitary products. Helmhold Schneider is able to convince the owner of his ideas and boost the production of plastic cisterns. In 1965, the one millionth cistern rolls off the production line - a success that continues to this day at the WERIT site in Buchholz with the sanitary brand „JOMO“ continues.

Great ideas are changing the industry

However, the WERIT founders„ drive for innovation never wanes. The establishment of their own toolmaking and injection moulding plant, the registration of the “Glasit„ trademark, the founding of the "Westerwälder Kunststoffwerkes“ in Altenkirchen and the first approval of a 1,000-litre heating oil tank are significant milestones on the company's not always easy path.

The presentation of the largest heating oil tank ever blown in one piece with a volume of 2,000 litres caused just as much of a stir as the construction of the world's largest extrusion blow moulding machine for plastic tanks with a filling volume of over 5,000 litres. The development of the IBC, the „Intermediate Bulk Containers“ on pallet.

Clever minds act with vision

Since Helmhold Schneider's sons, Ekkehard and Jörg Schneider, joined the company, responsibility and expertise have been spread across several shoulders. Ekkehard Schneider studied in Aachen, graduated as an engineer and returned to the company in 1982. Today, as a partner and managing director, he is responsible for production, development and administration as well as industrial property rights.

Jörg Schneider completed his business studies at the University of Cologne with a degree in business administration and combined this with internships in the USA and at a plastics machinery manufacturer in Austria. In 1994, he also became a partner and managing director at WERIT and has been in charge of the Group's sales since then.

„Our company is constantly changing, because as a family business we don't think in terms of quarters, but generations. We want to keep it that way in the future,“ emphasise Jörg and Ekkehard (left) Schneider.

Thanks to indispensable companions such as the „steel industrialist“ Willy Korf, the imaginative plastics expert Prof Thomas Engel and the long-standing Managing Director Wilhelm Marbach, a Rapid expansion of the company in Europe.

Committed to the location despite expansion

The fascination, to create something new from synthetic plastics, is still the foundation of the company philosophy and is in the entrepreneurs' blood. The strong presence on the market required further branches. The branch plant in Bludenz/Austria, established in 1969, was followed by a branch in Wissembourg/France in 1971. In 1972, the acquisition of Isoplex AG in Regensdorf, Zurich, paved the way for a European group of companies.

Today, WERIT is also represented with state-of-the-art production facilities in Ottendorf-Okrilla (Saxony), in Montélimar (France), in Manchester (England), in Granollers/Barcelona (Spain), in Blonie gem. Miękinia (Poland) and in Brno (Czech Republic).

The time-honoured company headquarters in the district town is still Altenkirchen The centre of the WERIT world. This is also where the in-house toolmaking department is located. All branch offices are equipped to the latest technical standards and are constantly adapted to the needs of the industry. Most recently, in 2016, the New pallet production at the Buchholz site in the Westerwald. Among other things, the universally applicable Euro H1 hygiene pallet is also manufactured here.

„Industrial Packaging & Domestic Engineering“ by WERIT

As experts in packaging and building technology, WERIT finds cross-industry solutions for every problem. The company management works side by side with over 600 highly qualified employees.

The Product range of the medium-sized company is as extensive as it is high-quality. One of the company's core products is the Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC), the Versatile pallet containers with inner containers of 300, 600, 800 and 1,000 litres capacity. The IBC guarantees safe and reliable transport of liquid filling materials, offers solutions for non-hazardous, hazardous and flammable liquids and is optimised for reuse and recycling.

Reusable transport packaging such as Euronorm stacking boxes or swivel stacking containers, customisable plastic pallets made of pure and first-class materials, plastic screws and nuts, the large „JOMO“ range for the sanitary sector, home and garden articles as well as heating oil and industrial tanks are just some of the many other products in the broad WERIT product range.

A clear statement in favour of the environment

In keeping with the main theme "Environmentally friendly packaging" at the „Fachpack 2019“ trade fair in Nuremberg, WERIT presented resource-saving and fully recyclable top products, which also have a good CO₂-balance sheet.

The Euro H1 pallet for open pooling is the optimum solution for all hygiene-sensitive applications and is an integral part of many purchasing specifications in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. With the Certification from GS1 Germany is the durable returnable load carrier exchangeable across the board and immediately recognisable in incoming goods by the GS1 Germany logo.

Examples of environmentally friendly packaging are the returned IBCs from the RECOline seriesAfter cleaning and replacement of the inner container or individual components, the IBCs, which are considered to be as good as new, are returned to the economic cycle.

With the 300-litre COMPACTline WERIT meets the demand of manufacturers of high-quality filling media who supply small and medium-sized companies. With its compact dimensions, „the little one“ also fits through normal doors and saves space in production, storage and transport. Thanks to UN and FDA approval, the container is suitable for transporting foodstuffs and hazardous goods.

Personalised. Reliable. Focussed.

„We challenge ourselves for our customers,“ emphasised the managing directors, thereby involving all employees. „As a medium-sized family business, we attach great importance to excellent service and absolute reliability. Through the High vertical range of manufacture and a Efficient logistics chain we have the Necessary flexibility, to be able to react quickly to the wishes of our customers.“

For special topics, WERIT also supports the development of the associated standards. Thanks to decades of experience, the company has the expertise to develop product solutions with added value for customers.

WERIT also stands for the highest quality standards: In order to offer customers the highest level of safety, the company's products are certified by recognised, independent institutes in accordance with special requirements.

Looking ahead: „We're visionary!‘

„Our Europe-wide organisation Family business should be independent remain. We want to act sustainably, realise further resource-saving product concepts and build a strong brand,“ is our wish for the future. „The focus is clearly on the further development of existing products. In order to achieve our goals, we will keep abreast of the latest technological developments.“

Based on this premise, WERIT combines economic success with social responsibility. The company managers want to take joint responsibility for strengthening the company they have inherited and passing it on to the next generation.

WERIT has captured the European market with its versatile products and thus secured the conditions for expansion and continued existence. Helmhold, Ekkehard and Jörg Schneider are therefore looking to the future with confidence.

[infotext icon]Innovative solutions - also in the future

Through continuous process and product optimisation, WERIT is always committed to improving performance and thus customer satisfaction. „Targeted training and further education will continue to ensure the high standard of our Specialists“, says the company management. „We are already working with colleges, universities and various European institutes on technologies that will help us offer solutions.“

Of course, WERIT is also committed to the employees of tomorrow: around 30 trainees a year prepare for a career in the company's various specialist departments.