Junghans – The German watch - Site expansion: Technical prospects and economic growth in historic buildings
September, 2012
Schramberg, 26 September 2012: Following a strong increase in sales in 2011, Uhrenfabrik Junghans GmbH & Co. KG also achieved excellent results in the first half of 2012. Now the Steim family is acquiring key buildings on the Junghans site in the Geißhalde. As a consequence, not only the Junghans brand but also the premises of the watch and clock factory are now owned once again by the Schramberg-based family.
Well equipped to face the future
The purchase has set a central strategic course for the future. A total of over 19,000 m2 is changing hands to the Steim family, including buildings 45 and 46. These house production as well as all relevant product realisation departments, such as design, development, construction, quality assurance and ad-ministration for Junghans. The newly-acquired area also in-cludes building 92, the so-called "Fischer-Kantine", as well as the heritage-listed Terrassenbau building. The step-like ar-chitecture of the Terrassenbau, designed by architect Philipp Jakob Manz, is considered to be a monument of German in-dustrial architecture. From 1918 onwards the building pro-vided employees with ample daylight and a pleasant working atmosphere for the manufacture of watches and clocks. On its own premises the company is set to expand the depth of manufacturing at the Schramberg site to include a new assem-bly line for radio-controlled movements as well as investing in the development of a new generation of movements for wrist-watches. With this, the venerable company is making a further major contribution to increasing added value, following on from the strong development of recent years: last year alone saw sales increase by almost 40 percent, with the number of em-ployees in the workforce since the takeover by the Steim family rising from 86 to 115.
About Junghans
For over 150 years the Junghans brand has displayed a firm commitment to Germany as a location. Characterised by longstanding tradition, innovations and values, the name Junghans has long been associated with quality, reliability, passion and precision. In the course of its long history the Schramberg-based company has managed to make its mark on the history of the watch and clock industry through new and continuously-developed technologies, maintaining its philosophy in the process: combining pioneering ideas with the strive for precision. One decisive foundation stone for the successful path to the future was laid in early 2009: Schramberg businessman Dr. Hans-Jochem Steim and his son, Hannes Steim, took over the manufacturer Junghans. With their close links to the location and commitment to the values embodied by Junghans, the Junghans owners are dedicated to preserving tradition and setting course for a successful future. Modern national and international business structures mean that it will be possible for Uhrenfabrik Junghans to continue to produce innovative German-made products in the future, as well as continuing the unique success story of the watches with the star.