District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo (Saarpfalz district), District Administrator Ralf Leßmeister (Kaiserslautern district) and District Administrator Otto Rubly (Kusel district) recently visited the WOLF group of companies together at the headquarters in Bruchmühlbach-Miesau. "This meeting of three district administrators is a historic event," said a delighted Gunter Jung, Managing Director of WOLF Werkzeugtechnologie GmbH, as he welcomed them. In fact, such joint meetings are rather rare, even though the exchange between the neighbouring districts is always characterised by constructive cooperation. Constructive cooperation and understanding between business and politics is also a major concern for Gunter Jung and Operations Manager Claudia Schläfer. Jung not only sees a corporate responsibility for Germany, but also for the local region, in which the district councillors also have a duty. "It is also our responsibility to strengthen small and medium-sized businesses and their jobs, which we provide and which are very important to us. We have employees from your three districts, as well as from Neunkirchen, St. Wendel, Birkenfeld, the Saarbrücken regional association and even Heidelberg," emphasised Jung, who took over the management of the global player from company founder Horst Wolf together with Frank Stenzhorn. Looking at the factory premises, it is hard to believe that Horst Wolf started building the company in his garage at home over 35 years ago.
"We specialise in the development, manufacture and marketing of innovative metal cutting tools as well as PVD hard coating of highly stressed precision parts, components and tools," said plant manager Claudia Schläfer, explaining the company's field of activity.
The company structure now comprises seven locations - three locations in Germany with the headquarters and development centre in Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, then Heusweiler and Bochum, as well as one location each in the USA, Croatia, India and China.
The medium-sized company WOLF is not only a globally active technology partner to leading companies in the automotive and aerospace industries, mechanical engineering, the medical sector and the energy sector. It is also an important employer for the region and provides training in various professions - from cutting machine operator and precision tool mechanic, electronics technician for industrial engineering, machine and plant operator, surface coater to industrial clerk and IT specialist for system integration, and of course for all genders. The group of companies also acts as a network partner for numerous research institutes, universities and industrial companies with an effective output of innovative machining solutions.
Claudia Schläfer made no secret of the growing challenges in the face of high competitive demands, which in turn are offset by declining demand, labour shortages and shortages of skilled workers in various sectors. She assured the audience that WOLF is tackling these challenges with a positive corporate philosophy that is open to adaptation and change.
The three district councillors, each of whom had previously been in contact with the company, were impressed by the history outlined and the expansion that led to the takeover of AS Feinmechanik GmbH in Heusweiler this year. In the discussion round, they left no doubt about the importance of WOLF as a local regional employer, contributing to the growth and prosperity of the national economy. They opened up the discussion to the question of how they, as heads of administration, can contribute to ensuring that local SMEs remain stable and can continue to generate growth in the future. The topics of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and climate neutrality, which the group of companies is currently working on, were also discussed.
After a detailed tour of the workshop halls, Dr Theophil Gallo, Ralf Leßmeister and Otto Rubly thanked Gunter Jung, Claudia Schläfer and the accompanying employees for the intensive insight into the remarkable production work of the Wolf company on site.