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Werner Schmid GmbH has invested ten million euros in its plastic production. It is the largest single investment in the company's 80-year history – and in difficult economic times.
Fulda – “It's a gigantic project that wasn't actually planned to be so gigantic at the beginning,” says Matthias Hauß, Managing Director of Werner Schmid GmbH, at the official opening of the new plastics production facility on Fulda's Donaustrasse. And the challenge has not yet been overcome. While operations are ongoing, the move is currently taking place from the old to the new, directly adjacent production hall, which was acquired in 2018.
Largest investment in Werner Schmid’s company history
At the end of 2021, planning began for a fundamental renovation and upgrade of the production hall. Plastic injection molded components are produced here, primarily for the ventilation industry.
The decisive factor for the project was strong growth in plastics production, as demand for ventilation technology skyrocketed during the Corona period between 2018 and 2022. With the move to the new production hall, the family business has an expansion potential of 30 percent. The managing directors Matthias and Joachim Hauß are now correspondingly satisfied and want the investment to be seen as a clear commitment to the Fulda location.
Despite the current difficult situation, the Hauß family sees potential in Germany. Matthias Hauß speaks of a fragile economic situation and complains about excessive bureaucracy and immensely increased cost pressure in view of rising personnel and energy costs.
The new hall is intended to save money on the latter in particular, as the hall's heating concept is based on the waste heat from the production facilities. The head of plastics production, Sebastian Iwers, describes the renovation of the building including the roof, a fire protection wall, the electrical installation including LED conversion and the renewal of the floor slab as the basic building blocks. There are also tool cooling, central material drying and conveying systems and a second photovoltaic system. He hopes that the move will be completed by the end of the year with a good order situation.
Company in numbers
220 employees employs Werner Schmid GmbH. 34.3 million euros was the company's annual sales in 2025.
1254 tons of raw material granules the company processes annually. That corresponds 5 tons per working day and a lot of 430 million table tennis balls. Add to that 6357 tons of metal in the year.
In their greetings, District Administrator Bernd Woide and Sebastian Müller (both CDU) as well as IHK general manager Michael Konow agreed with the Schmid managing directors' statements. Above all, they praise the entrepreneurial courage of the Hauß family and their commitment to the location.
“If you, like you, concentrate on your strengths without always being criticized, you are on the right path,” emphasizes Woide. Müller agrees with the words and adds: “It is an accolade for a company when employees remain loyal to it for years.” The self-image as a “specialist for complicated molded parts” opens up perspectives.
Konow also recognizes the company's commitment to training. Looking at the overall situation, he warned that Germany should not allow itself to be dependent on China in key industries. The famous speech by the former Federal President Roman Herzog that Germany had to go back is still valid today.
The city of Gersfeld is also making a million-dollar investment. The wildlife park there is facing comprehensive change.
