Particularly important was the restructuring starting in 2017, which ultimately led to the sale to a Swiss investor in 2020. This was a turning point for FAIST, as since then we have not only strengthened our market position, but also significantly increased our revenues.

Wirtschaftsforum: What role do your employees play, and how have your revenue developments evolved over the recent years?

Wilfried Thies: Our 250 employees are the cornerstone of our success. At our Bremen site, which specializes in the development and production of air filtration systems, we generate a revenue of 50 million EUR. Establishing this site was the start of my collaboration with FAIST. Overall, our annual revenue amounts to 100 million EUR – a figure that has been steadily growing over the years. At the time of the sale in 2020, our revenue was about 57 million EUR, but we were able to increase this significantly through targeted measures and the support of our investor. Our corporate philosophy, which is based on the ‘4 Fs,’ plays a central role in this. ‘FAIST’ represents our corporate culture and teamwork, which we have redefined in the last years. ‘FIT’ focuses on efficiency improvements to secure margins. ‘FOR’ centers the customer and their needs, and ‘FUTURE’ is our motto for growth and innovation. I would like to particularly highlight our long-term partnership with Siemens Energy, which shows how well-established we are in the industry. As the third largest system supplier for Siemens Energy worldwide, we play a key role in supplying air intake systems and other components.

Wirtschaftsforum: The market certainly also brings challenges. How do you address these, especially in terms of energy costs and regulations?

Wilfried Thies: The rising energy costs and increasingly strict regulations such as the Supply Chain Act pose a challenge for us and many medium-sized companies. In particular, the documentation obligations associated with sustainability laws require additional personnel and financial resources. To be more flexible in responding to market changes, we have strategically repositioned ourselves in procurement. For example, we are shifting some of our sourcing from China to India. This decision is based not only on economic considerations but also on geopolitical risks that we want to minimize with a diversified approach. Our global purchasing power gives us a significant advantage. Moreover, we are among the leading providers of noise protection solutions for energy plants and power stations, which secures us a stable market position, even in economically uncertain times.

Wirtschaftsforum: You mentioned international markets. Which regions are particularly interesting for FAIST, and what does your strategy look like?

Wilfried Thies: Our international orientation is one of our major strengths. In the acoustics field, we focus on the European market, where we impress particularly in the automotive industry with our sound-insulating solutions. Due to the economic situation in Europe, we are currently expanding our acoustics products into the global market. In the power sector, we have been operating globally for a long time. Here, we cover almost all markets and benefit from the global demand for efficient filtration systems and noise protection systems for turbines and generators. The USA and Dubai are particularly exciting right now. In both regions, we are establishing locations and setting up service businesses to secure long-term growth. Trade fairs also play a role for us, especially in the service and aftermarket sectors. In the new plant sector, we work closely with major customers such as Siemens Energy and GE, with whom we maintain long-term partnerships. These customers know us well, which is why we rely less on trade show appearances and more on direct collaborations.

Wirtschaftsforum: What future visions do you pursue for FAIST Anlagenbau?

Wilfried Thies: We are optimistic about the future. Our order books for 2025 are already full, and we plan to invest about 10 million EUR in Germany over the next few years. The goal is to expand our production capacities and drive forward future-oriented projects. Particularly exciting are our 'Future Projects', with which we want to open up new business fields. These include the oil and gas sector, which still offers potential despite the transition to renewable energies, as well as cleanroom technology. We see the latter as a natural complement to our existing competencies in acoustics. With our production in Krumbach, we already have the necessary manufacturing capabilities to develop this area. Our long-term goal is to increase our turnover to 130 million EUR, open up new markets, and continue to expand our market leadership in key areas.

Wirtschaftsforum: What do you expect from the next government to support businesses like yours?

Wilfried Thies: Above all, we wish for a reduction of bureaucracy, particularly with regard to the Supply Chain Act, which heavily burdens medium-sized companies like ours. Reliable predictability of energy costs is also essential. It's not about prices decreasing – we don't expect that – but about companies having a clear perspective. Only then can we safely implement strategic investments, like the planned 10 million EUR for the location in Germany. Furthermore, we hope for stronger support in the promotion of sustainable projects and innovations, so that we remain competitive in the future. The medium-sized business sector needs clear and reliable framework conditions. Only then can we plan in the long term and secure our future – while continuing to drive innovation and growth.