The Wonderful World of Invisible Elements
Interview with Günther Haag, CEO and Oliver Fuchs, Head of Corporate & Sales Strategy at Sauerstoffwerk Friedrichshafen GmbH
A Disney musical. An ambulance. An iPad. Or even a chop on the grill. Our sophisticated social life is possible because a lot is pre-thought and developed in the background, which consumers do not perceive. This also includes the use of gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and others, with their diverse properties and various application areas. Sauerstoffwerk Friedrichshafen GmbH has been an acknowledged expert in this field for over 100 years.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Haag, Mr. Fuchs, a historic name stands behind the oxygen plant in Friedrichshafen – Count Zeppelin, who made hydrogen usable for aviation. Does this legacy continue to have an influence?
Günther Haag: Absolutely. And the spirit of innovation from back then has been carried over to the present. After challenging times, visionaries came together in the 1970s to make adjustments for today's company. Portfolio diversification, our own production of various air gases, and market positioning, especially to support small and medium-sized enterprises – in the DACH region and beyond – with our locations in Friedrichshafen, Bielefeld, and Aitrach.
Wirtschaftsforum: Gas remains an abstract topic. Could you elaborate on your product portfolio for our readers?
Günther Haag: Certainly. Our facilities are designed for the separation and liquefaction of air – such as oxygen and nitrogen, which we then use, for example, for projects such as a lifelike ice stage set. We separate oxygen and achieve one of our USPs, a purity level of the highest quality, a proud 99.9999 Vol.%. This enables us to serve not only the medical sector but also the semiconductor industry, which needs this for chip manufacturing. Ultimately, the food industry in the area of frozen goods or the large field of environmental technology also relies on our gas-based processes, for example, for cleaning processes at sewage treatment plants.
Wirtschaftsforum: In this market environment, there are many large players, but only a few smaller ones. How do you position yourself?
Oliver Fuchs: From our laboratories and facilities, we produce 400 gases and gas mixtures, which we can deliver to the customer in the desired composition. We listen carefully and consider the implementation from A to Z. This customer focus is particularly well received by small and medium-sized enterprises. Decades of know-how, reliability, speed, and above all, safety – those are precisely the points with which we can score, alongside our broad and high-quality range of products.
Günther Haag: I would like to add that it has always been our claim to be better and to deliver more quality than others. Our production facilities are also Made in Germany. And for this quality, we may invest an extra million EUR. It simply pays off in the long run and makes us future-proof.
Wirtschaftsforum: Can it be said that you are counteracting the crisis with your investments?
Oliver Fuchs: We have certainly achieved a degree of supply security with the investment in our facilities that others do not have. The oxygen production carried us through the Corona period, when many companies were threatened in their existence. Demographically, the Home Care sector and the health sector as a whole are growth markets for which we are well positioned. On a broader scale, we are also a system-relevant company that is value-creating for the future of society. We supply the large Health Care and Social sectors up to the emergency medical technician who uses our oxygen cylinders.
Wirtschaftsforum: Sustainability, climate, and environmental protection are big future topics for companies. What is the contribution of the Friedrichhafen oxygen plant here?Günther Haag: We have long been helping with environmental protection issues with our performance portfolio, for instance taking on the purification of drinking water through oxygen-based processes.
Of course, we are now also asking ourselves about reducing emissions in production and are working vigorously on optimizations. The topic that traditionally drives us is then naturally hydrogen as a green energy source of the future. We have this as a strategic business goal in sight and also a possible CO2 liquefaction on the radar.
Wirtschaftsforum: Is the future outlook for the oxygen plant in Friedrichshafen very positive then?
Oliver Fuchs: Definitely, but also a bit more than that. We have designed a 2030 strategy, and are on top of all future topics, including AI. Our topics also connect us with research: A renowned institution is a customer. Being able to contribute to making the world a better place, contributing to real future security, we see this as a mission that we want to advance together with our clients and employees.