Fire and Passion for Innovation and Quality
Interview with Colin Rokossa, Managing Director of Camina & Schmid Feuerdesign und Technik GmbH & Co. KG
A fireplace is much more than just a source of warmth – it is the heart of a home, a place that radiates coziness and security, and has always fascinated people. Camina & Schmid Feuerdesign und Technik GmbH & Co. KG stands for tradition, innovation, and the highest quality in the field of modern fire technology. This family-run company, which has shaped the market for over two decades, combines craftsmanship with the latest technology and sets new standards.
"Fire instinctively fascinates humans," says Colin Rokossa, managing director of Camina & Schmid Feuerdesign und Technik GmbH & Co. KG. "I find it very beautiful to work with a product that evokes emotions." With a deep understanding of the industry and its requirements, the company continually develops new solutions for greater installation comfort and better firing technology.
Firing Technology with Tradition
The roots of the company date back to 1997, when Waldemar Rokossa, the father of the current managing director, founded the company Camina Feuerungssysteme. It was established as a spin-off from the company Spartherm and initially specialized in system enclosures for firing technology. With the purchase of Schmid Feuerungstechnik in 2001, Waldemar Rokossa laid the foundation for today's Camina & Schmid Feuerdesign und Technik GmbH & Co. KG.
A significant milestone in the company's history was the acquisition of the production site in Rathenow, Brandenburg in 2004, where state-of-the-art fireplaces are produced on an area of 11,000 m2. Three years later, the acquisition of the building in Bissendorf followed, further driving the company's expansion. Since 2020, Camina & Schmid has also been active in the USA, where it successfully distributes a specially developed series of gas fireplaces.
Setting New Standards
The company offers a wide range of wood and gas fireplaces and places great emphasis on the highest quality and innovative technologies. In April of this year, Camina & Schmid presented the new EVO series, which sets new standards in the industry with pioneering technologies and stylish design. "EVO stands for evolution, but it's more of a revolution - we have filed several things for patents," explains Colin Rokossa. "With the patented flame correction and the integrated secondary air device, we have developed solutions for central problems in the industry."
These innovations ensure, among other things, a calm flame picture, reduce wood consumption, and minimize soot formation. Furthermore, the cleaning of the glass is significantly less necessary, and a strong focus was also placed on haptics and acoustics during the development of the pioneering new series.
The EVO fireplace inserts not only stand for maximum efficiency and minimal emission output but are also future-proof. With a wood load of 1.6 kg, they achieve a nominal heat output of 6 to 7 KW, with emission values that are far below legal guidelines: "Should the legal requirements become stricter, our fireplace inserts can be upgraded without much effort," emphasizes Colin Rokossa. Thus, the company remains true to its philosophy of developing products that meet both current and future requirements.
Good Prospects for Wood Stoves
Currently, the industry is facing major challenges, especially due to the discussion about the Building Energy Law and the misinformation regarding a planned ban on wood stoves from 2024. Despite this difficult market situation, Colin Rokossa views the company's position as strong: "Our products can be credited with 10% towards renewable energy. This puts us in the best starting position, politically we have never been better positioned. Our fireplaces are almost CO2-neutral and the emissions can be very well managed."
Camina & Schmid currently employs 185 staff and generates an annual turnover of just under 40 million EUR. Despite the growth, the company has never forgotten its family roots. "We are a family business with four shareholders and place great value on honesty, trust, and fair dealings," emphasizes Colin Rokossa. These values are reflected in the company culture and contribute significantly to the success of Camina & Schmid.
Another central aspect of the company philosophy is the regional roots. Production takes place almost exclusively in Germany, with the company relying on local suppliers. "The cast iron for our fireplaces comes 90% from Germany, the stones we source almost 90% from Austria. We consciously focus on regionalism because we believe that this is the key to the highest quality," explains Colin Rokossa. This orientation allows the company to ensure the highest standards in manufacturing while simultaneously contributing to sustainability.
Utilizing Potential
For the future, the company plans to further expand its export activities, especially in the USA, where the market potential is enormous. But also in other European markets such as the Benelux countries, France, and the UK, Colin Rokossa sees great opportunities for growth. The strategy is clear: "We want to make our product so good and clean that there are no counterarguments," sums up Colin Rokossa. "Wood is a regional energy source that we should also utilize."