Official presentation of the key to the new production hall built for SFB Schwäbische Formdrehteile Babenhausen: Minister of State Josef Miller, architect Jochem Ecks, Silvia Steibli with daughter, Thomas Steibli, Petra Steibli and building contractor Jürgen Unglehrt.
Copy/photo: clb

"An investment for the future"
New production hall inaugurated for SFB in Babenhausen

Babenhausen: The SFB Group charted another milestone in its company history last Friday with the inauguration of its new production hall. The hall is another decisive investment in the company's future.

This major event – not just for the company – was attended by numerous guests of honour, including Minister of State Josef Miller, Counsellor Dr. Hermann Halsch and Babenhausen's mayor Theo Lehner. As Thomas Steibli explained, the company set a positive signal both internally and externally with this new hall. While the economy as a whole remained sluggish and many firms continued to file for bankruptcy, the SFB Group was able to enlarge its capacity through quality awareness and concentrated marketing efforts. All this, however, was only possible with a motivated team and a sound, forward-looking company management. The hall's completion marked a step forwards. Internally, the company was already moving into the new premises, for the new machines would be arriving shortly. All that remained for him was to thank all the firms involved in the hall's construction and the public authorities for their cooperation. He also thanked the company's workforce for their hard work in the past months.

"SFB's exemplary entrepreneurial commitment to the Allgäu region as an economic location deserves our greatest respect. The Group with its workforce of 530 men and women produces high-tech goods made in Allgäu. You may be proud of your company, for it enjoys a high reputation throughout the world," said Josef Miller addressing the company's two managing partners Petra and Thomas Steibli. However, he continued, SFB's success also made it clear that small and medium-sized manufacturing companies remained the motive force driving the economy. With the construction of its production hall, SFB had not only taken a major step towards the future, but also demonstrated its commitment to the region. "Economic success is ultimately only possible with a courageous and dynamic management with visions for the future as well as highly motivated employees. SFB is an exemplary firm in this respect," said the Minister.

Both Counsellor Dr. Hermann Halsch and mayor Theo Lehner stressed the company's importance for the market and the region. Its success was based on exemplary management combined with far-sightedness and circumspection, together with a motivated workforce. The company's proprietors had made the right decisions in economically difficult times and taken their efficient Group and its international operations to the top of the class. Both speakers thanked the company for its productive and cooperative approach towards public authorities and commended it for creating new jobs and taking on trainees.

Stabilizing effect on the market
Inauguration of SFB's new production hall in Babenhausen: 3750 square metres more

Festive ceremony at SFB Schwäbische Formdrehteile Babenhausen: inauguration of the company's new production hall with a useful area of 3750 square metres after just eight months of construction. "Both internally and externally, the company aims to set a sign with this new hall and strengthen not only the company itself, but also the entire region," said managing partner Thomas Steibli. This investment not only creates new jobs in the CNC sector, but also assures the company's future existence.

"We have succeeded because everyone supported us," said Steibli. A motivated workforce, sophisticated technology and sufficient space combined with full order books provided the foundation allowing the group of companies to face the future optimistically despite the difficult economic conditions.

Agriculture Minister Josef Miller emphasized that "SFB is exactly the type of company we need in times of far-reaching change and increasing global competition".

From its beginnings as a turning shop for screws and bolts more than 60 years ago, the firm had grown into a flourishing Group providing jobs for a total of 550 men and women, including almost 50 trainees. "Such companies as SFB in Babenhausen have a stabilizing effect on the labour market," said the Minister of State and commended the managing partners Petra Steibli and Thomas Steibli for their company's exemplary entrepreneurial commitment to the Unterallgäu region.

Counsellor Dr. Hermann Halsch also praised the building's construction: with a length of 80 metres and a width of 50 metres, the hall with a built-up volume of 29,000 cubic metres had been erected without incident in a very short space of time.

Above all, the Counsellor thanked the two managing partners for their decision in 1994 to maintain and expand the company instead of selling it to a major corporation.

And Babenhausen's mayor Theo Lehner assured SFB's managing directors that "this production hall built almost at lightning speed marks a fundamental decision for the future entirely in keeping with your deceased father's intentions".

The internationally operating company Schwäbische Formdrehteile Babenhausen provided jobs for numerous men and women in the Fuggermarkt area, as well as sound training for many young people in the region.

The man responsible for the project, the firm's construction manager Thomas Kenzle, and planning architect Jochem Ecks presented the new production hall's construction and function in a detailed technical description. The symbolic key to the building was then handed over in the presence of numerous guests, including political and industrial personalities, acknowledged by resounding applause.