J. Schmalz

J. Schmalz GmbH was founded as a razor blade factory in 1910 in Glatten in the Black Forest. Over the years, the company’s products changed from razor blades to transport equipment and finally to vacuum components, vacuum handling systems, vacuum gripping and clamping systems.

The company is a global market leader in the sector of vacuum clamping technology and one of the leading suppliers of vacuum technology in the fields of automation and handling engineering, employing around 600 workers (2008) The company’s sales network includes 16 overseas subsidiaries in Brazil, China, Finland, France, India, Italy, Japan, Canada, Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey and the USA. Schmalz is certified in accordance with DIN ISO 9001 (quality) and DIN ISO 14001 (environment) and has been validated in accordance with the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

History

In 1910, Johannes Schmalz founded the “Johannes Schmalz Rasierklingenfabrik” in Glatten. The “Glattis” brand was both well-known and highly successful in Germany, selling up to 600,000 razor blades every month The proliferation of the electric shaver required the company to change its focus. From 1948 onwards, Artur Schmalz led the company to further success by making innovative developments in the field of light motor vehicles. Schmalz supplied luggage trailers and mobile steps to airports and transport equipment to furniture factories. When Kurt Schmalz took over the management of the company in 1984, the company moved in a new direction and began to specialise in vacuum technology. In 1990, Wolfgang Schmalz joined the company’s management. Together, the two brothers have transformed a company with a long tradition into one of the world’s leading providers of vacuum technology. 1998 saw the opening of the company’s first branch office in Switzerland. Today, Schmalz has a sales network of 16 branch offices across the globe. In 2008, the company’s production area was increased by 10,170 m².

Products

Schmalz’s vacuum technology is utilized in production processes that require workpieces to be moved, ergonomically transported, or secured.

• Vacuum components: Vacuum components help a wide variety of users and industries to perform automation and handling tasks. The range of products includes vacuum suction pads, vacuum generators, mounting elements and system monitors.
• Vacuum gripping systems: Complex vacuum gripping systems significantly increase productivity in automated processes. The systems range from layer and large-area gripping systems to ready-to-connect vacuum spiders for use in all areas of automation.
• Vacuum handling systems: Jumbo and VacuMaster ergonomic vacuum lifting devices for workpiece handling and crane systems can be adjusted to meet a firm’s specific requirements.
• Vacuum clamping systems: Vacuum clamping technology is used with CNC machine tools in order to increase productivity and economic efficiency.

Sustainability

Environmental protection plays an important role both in Schmalz’s business aims and its day-to-day practice. Ecological considerations are an integral part of product development, the design of production processes, industrial operations and in the energy sector. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy, wood chips and hydro-electric power are utilized. Today, Schmalz is able to generate more energy than the company actually needs. The company’s work in this field has repeatedly been recognised by outside bodies.

Awards

• 2004: Ranked the seventh best German employer by business magazine Capital
• 2004: One of the top 100 businesses in the “Great Place to Work Institute Europe” contest
• 2005: Winner of the first German prize for business ethics
• Regularly certified in accordance with DIN ISO 9001 (1994, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2006)

Awards in the field of environmental protection

• 1999: Environmental Recognition of the State of Baden-Württemberg
• 2001: Environmental Prize for Companies in the State of Baden-Württemberg in the sector of industry in 2000
• 2004: BDI Environmental Prize in the category of environmentally friendly corporate management
• 2004: Winner of the European Commission’s Green Week “Management Award for Sustainable Development”.
• 2004: Business magazine Capital and the environmental organisation WWF Germany’s Environmental Manager of the Year Award 2004 in the category of medium-sized company
• 2007 European Solar Prize in the category of “Owners or operators of systems for utilisation of renewable energy”
• Regularly certified in accordance with DIN ISO 14001 and validated by the EMAS (1997, 2001, 2003, 2006)

References

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External links

• Official Web-site
• Web-site of Schmalz US
• Web-site of Schmalz IN
• Web-site of Schmalz CA