"An excellent example of inventiveness and entrepreneurship in our region"

Exchange on expansion, internationalisation and other topics: Regional President Ullrich informs himself at the company Weiss Chemie + Technik GmbH & Co. KG in Haiger

Giessen/Haiger. The company has made industrial history and, over the course of centuries, has proven what cohesion means: In 1815 Philipp Carl Weiss founded his glue factory in Haiger with just one product, even before the advent of industrialisation. Today, Weiss Chemie + Technik GmbH & Co. KG is still based in the same place, but has multiplied its offerings. The regional president of Giessen, Dr Christoph Ullrich, visited the second oldest company in the Lahn-Dill district to gain an idea of the recent expansion, to inform himself about future plans and to exchange views on the mood in the local economy.

Christian Dölle (Haiger), Managing Director of Weiss, introduced the company to the Head of Administration in Giessen. The company's products in the three fields of bonding and sealing, sandwich and façade technology, and cleaning solutions can be found almost everywhere in everyday life. They include: Windows and doors, containers, caravans, sound and fire protection, in furniture, timber construction and vehicles or garage doors. Weiss offers over 400 varieties of adhesives alone. 

In the laboratory, the regional president was given a taster of the latest developments, to be introduced soon, from the head of innovation with a PhD in chemistry, Dr Oliver Flender. "The fact that the innovation team has been doubled for this purpose makes it abundantly clear to the Central Hesse region that we need it," explains RP Ullrich. He is also chairman of the "Mittelhessen e.V." network with its 377 members, composed of municipalities and companies, associations and institutions, but also individuals – including Weiss Chemie + Technik GmbH & Co. KG. "When I see for how many generations this company has offered the people in the region a job and consequently also an income and food on the table, this really illustrates its importance for Mittelhessen."

The fact that such a company, which continues to remain in family hands, can exist for so long is due to its ability to adapt to the wishes of its customers. In today's lingo, we call it: transformation. Christian Dölle showed RP Ullrich the many innovations that have been initiated since he took over the management 18 months ago. There is one important goal that is currently on many companies' minds: securing skilled workers. Since then, 100 new employees from the region have already been inspired about working in specialist and management positions. "In view of the shortage of skilled workers, this is a strong sign that our course is paying off," says a cheerful Sven Ringsdorf, authorised signatory and responsible for HR who is responsible for human resources, among other things. "Our employees are our most valuable asset," Christian Dölle also emphasises the importance of top performers.

Many of the products are individually manufactured according to customer requirements and for special fields of application. "We are now positioning ourselves even more internationally," Managing Director Christian Dölle explains. The company wants to focus more strongly on working internationally, for example in Benelux, the United Kingdom or Italy. Entering the markets of Spain, North Africa and South America is imminent and market access in the USA or China is going to be further optimised. "Even today, Weiss already delivers to over 70 countries worldwide," explains Mr Dölle. 

The topic brings us to the current economic situation nationwide: "This is the only way we can soften the recession in Germany," explains Dölle. It is crucial that politicians compensate for the competitive disadvantages traditional German companies face, otherwise being located in Germany will become unattractive. The owners deliberately decided to expand the Haiger site as a production and innovation hub. "In this context, we depend on the support of the Regional Council in many respects," says the Managing Director. At the same time, he calls for the reduction of excessive bureaucracy as well as for simplified approval procedures. 

This is where there is the most overlap between companies and the Regional Council of Giessen, which, in its central Hesse district of the five administrative districts, controls, among other things, occupational health and safety, but also approves expansions of companies or controls production processes and their consequences. As an administrative body with almost 1,500 employees, RP Giessen is a bundling authority, explains Christoph Ullrich. "In the event of an expansion, for example, we must keep an eye on the regional plan but also coordinate the legal requirements of environmental protection and nature conservation." Many different interests would need to be weighed up here. Nevertheless, there is a reason why the Regional Council's motto is: "For the citizens, for the economy, for the region." 

Christian Dölle takes a positive view of the exchange with Regional President Ullrich, who in turn comments on the course taken as follows: "The Weiss Group is an excellent example of ingenuity and entrepreneurship in our Central Hesse region, which is getting ready for the third century of its company history." His administration will continue to support the growth process in a positive manner, within the scope of the legal possibilities.

The President of the Giessen Region, Dr Christoph Ullrich, visits the company Weiss Chemie + Technik GmbH & Co. KG in Haiger with Jan-Eric Walb (RP Giessen) and is welcomed by Dr Oliver Flender (from left), Sven Ringsdorf and Christian Dölle (right).