Sustainable, Efficient, Innovative: The Transformation of the Plastics Industry
Interview with Steven Herpichböhm, CTO of Gramß GmbH Kunststoffverarbeitung
Since its foundation in 1989, Gramß GmbH Kunststoffverarbeitung has evolved from a small operation to a significant player in the plastics industry. Under the leadership of CTO Steven Herpichböhm, the company focuses on innovation, sustainable production, and international expansion. With state-of-the-art technology and a clear vision for the future, Gramß GmbH successfully asserts itself in the global market. In the interview, Steven Herpichböhm provides insights into the business challenges, the importance of digitalization, and the company's future plans.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Herpichböhm, Gramß GmbH has been on the market for over 30 years. What milestones have shaped the company?
Steven Herpichböhm: Our company was founded in 1989 by Peter Gramß and started with just a few injection molding machines. The first relocation took place in 1994, followed by the move to the current location in Sonneberg in 2004. Since then, we have expanded through continuous investments. A major step was the construction of our production hall in 2007 and the expansion in 2010 with a warehouse. In 2019, we took over another location, and at the beginning of 2024, we added a third production site through the asset deal from Heinz Plastics.
Wirtschaftsforum: How has Gramß GmbH managed during crises, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine war?
Steven Herpichböhm: We have come through these difficult times well. During the pandemic, we had to register for short-time work, but luckily we never had to use it. Also, the electricity and plastic prices, which have risen sharply due to the war in Ukraine, have challenged us. But meanwhile, the plastic prices have stabilized and we have been able to maintain our production capacities.
Wirtschaftsforum: How important is the international market for Gramß GmbH?
Steven Herpichböhm: About 50% of our sales are generated in the DACH region, the rest comes from international markets, including the USA. We export closures for various industries, including cosmetics and food. Our international customers appreciate our flexibility and the quality of our products.
Wirtschaftsforum: How does your company implement sustainability in plastic processing?
Steven Herpichböhm: Sustainability is a central issue for us. Wherever possible, we use re-granulate, that is, recycled granulate. In addition, we utilize heat recovery and a combined heat and power plant to generate process heat and our own electricity. Our new chillers operate with a very low GWP value, which further reduces our ecological footprint.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does digitalization play in your company?
Steven Herpichböhm: Digitalization is highly integrated in our operations. Our machines are connected through a central system, which allows us to control processes more efficiently. This gives us a precise overview of the production and enables us to access production data at any time. Artificial intelligence is currently not a major issue in our production, but we are closely monitoring the developments.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you shape the corporate culture and leadership of employees at Gramß?
Steven Herpichböhm: We place great emphasis on a family-like corporate culture. Peter Gramß, our founder, is still active in the company and is available to all employees. We maintain an open door policy, which ensures short decision-making paths. In addition, we train skilled workers and also recruit internationally, for example in Macedonia and Vietnam, to counteract the shortage of skilled workers.
Wirtschaftsforum: What are the biggest current investments and plans for the future?
Steven Herpichböhm: Our biggest investment is the construction of a new production building for over 20 million EUR. It includes not just machines and tools, but also a modern production hall that should be completed by April 2025.
Wirtschaftsforum: What personally drives you in your work?
Steven Herpichböhm: I am a technician through and through. I am driven to question existing processes and always look for opportunities to optimize. Nothing is a given for me, and I always want to get the best out of our processes and products.