"Customized engineering is needed for every bridge construction project!"
Interview with Georg Schreiber, Managing Director of Schreiber Brücken-Dehntechnik GmbH
Not only in bridge construction does tailored engineering make a difference. But when it comes to bridge construction and renovation, Schreiber Brücken-Dehntechnik is thus a sought-after partner for the public sector and construction companies. Managing Director Georg Schreiber talks about the 200-year history of the company and shows how it can benefit from further digitalization, robotics, and the use of artificial intelligence in the future.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Schreiber, the roots of Schreiber Bridge Expansion Technology go back 200 years, it is a classic family business with a long history. How did it become what it is today?
Georg Schreiber: It all started with a farriery, but the first steps towards where we are today were taken in the 1970s. At that time, an executive of the company GHH discovered the company during a stay in the region. Impressed by our work ethic – unlike many, even large, competitors, we also worked on Saturdays – he initiated a collaboration. This cooperation led to Schreiber becoming the exclusive supplier of bridge bearings and roadway transitions for GHH, who then ceased their own production. In the 2000s, GHH filed for bankruptcy. This gave us the crucial impetus to establish ourselves in the market under our own name – that was a decisive step in the company's development. In 2014, we sold the majority of the company shares to the Vicoda Group and still hold 10% ourselves.
Wirtschaftsforum: Let's talk about your performance portfolio: What is your core competence?
Georg Schreiber: We are specialists in bridge bearing, especially for bridge bearings and roadway transitions. Our range of services includes the entire engineering process: We receive an inquiry and analyze how the relevant bridge should be supported. In doing so, we advise on suitable bridge types, create technical calculations, and size the components. Afterwards, we take care of producing and
installing the components at the construction sites. In addition, we offer comprehensive aftersales service, including spare part delivery, maintenance, care, and adjustments. If a bridge is being widened or rehabilitated, we assist with the necessary modifications.
Wirtschaftsforum: Who are your customers?
Georg Schreiber: We differentiate between the client and the end customer: The client is always the public sector, the Autobahn GmbH or Deutsche Bahn. The end customer, however, is always the construction company that realizes the construction and engages us with our expertise for the respective project.
Wirtschaftsforum: What do you consider to be factors of success, and what particularly distinguishes your company?
Georg Schreiber: We are particularly known for our speed. When an end customer, an authority, or a district has an urgent problem, we benefit from our location advantage: Unlike many of our competitors, we still produce largely in Germany. Another major advantage is our engineering-driven thinking. We do not offer standard solutions, but develop tailored solutions for our customers. Our business is not based on prefabricated catalog products, but on individually tailored solutions that are precisely adapted to the respective situation, the components, and the specific boundary conditions.
Wirtschaftsforum: Can you give us an example of this?
Georg Schreiber: Besides new construction, we also take on renovations, including of historical buildings. The Wiesbaden train station dating from the year 1900 was one such project. It was to be renovated as authentically as possible, therefore the building components used had to look like the original parts from the period of origin.
Wirtschaftsforum: In this country, it is well-known that the state of repair and construction of infrastructure is not very good.
Georg Schreiber: There is a significant investment backlog in infrastructure – not only with bridges, but also with roads, waterways, and railways. For us, this represents a tremendous potential, as many projects urgently need to be implemented – consider, for example, the A45, one of the busiest highway sections in Germany and also the one with the most valley bridges, all of which are in very poor condition. On the other hand, the wheels turn very slowly at public institutions. Projects are often shelved for years. This indirectly affects our incoming orders and projects as well.
Wirtschaftsforum: What topics will occupy you in the coming years?
Georg Schreiber: One is certainly the further digitalization as well as robotics, and the other is the topic of AI. Especially in contract management, we hope this will significantly simplify things, but also in manufacturing due to the shortage of skilled workers. All this will support our further growth.