Sustainable plastics for tomorrow's technology
Interview with Dr. Thorge Brünig, Managing Director of Technoform Kunststoffprofile GmbH
Since its foundation in 1969, Technoform Kunststoffprofile GmbH has developed into a global provider in the field of thermoplastic solutions. The combination of decades of experience, a deeply rooted commitment to innovation, and a customer-oriented philosophy has made the company division Technoform Kunststoffprofile a leading company in its industry. Managing Director Dr. Thorge Brünig provides insights into the history, the challenges of the past years and the future orientation of the company.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Dr. Brünig, Technoform has a long history. Can you tell us about its beginnings?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Technoform was founded in 1969 by the Brunnhofer and Caprano families. Since then, the philosophy of the founding families - especially customer proximity, flexibility, and innovation - has shaped our actions. As early as the 1970s and 1980s, successful spin-offs led to the formation of our current divisions, including Technoform Insulating Solutions and Edge Bond Solutions. From the beginning, we have focused on creating small, decentralized, and flexible market units that specialize in their respective markets and can respond quickly to changes. Continuous growth and internationalization are a central part of our development.
Wirtschaftsforum: What current challenges do you see in the industry?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: The past few years have undoubtedly been very challenging. The pandemic and the war in Ukraine have posed enormous challenges to many industries. For our customers, delivery reliability became a central issue. Here we were able to excel because we rely on long-term relationships with our suppliers—some partnerships have been in place for over 30 years. While many companies struggled to maintain their supply chains, we were able to score points through our stable relationships and our flexibility. Another important trend is the increasing demand for finished solutions. Customers are now ordering finished goods more than semi-finished products as before. This opens up new opportunities for us to take on more value creation within the production chain and offer comprehensive solutions to our customers.
Wirtschaftsforum: Sustainability is a hot topic. How does Technoform meet this challenge?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Sustainability has long been a part of our corporate strategy. It not only presents challenges but also opportunities. Our customers increasingly demand environmentally friendly solutions, especially with respect to CO2 footprint and GWP values (Global Warming Potential). We have been using recycled materials for years and offer our customers product redesigns, such as reducing wall thicknesses to save materials and resources. A specific example is a cycle we have established with one of our customers: We take back scrap material, recycle it, and reintroduce it into the production process. Sustainability is a crucial competitive advantage that we aim to continuously expand.
Wirtschaftsforum: What role does digitalization play in the company, and which new technologies are particularly important to you?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Digitalization plays a central role in the development of our production processes. It helps us not only to increase efficiency but also to work more sustainably by conserving resources and reducing waste. Smart production systems allow us to better monitor processes and react more quickly to changes. Another important issue is making manufacturing more future-oriented and exploiting potentials for automation. The goal is to create attractive working conditions for the next generation, for example, by reducing the shift system.
Wirtschaftsforum: Which social values are particularly important to you in everyday corporate life?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: The philosophy of the founding families still has a strong influence today. An important part of our corporate culture is creating a balance between the interests of our customers, the company, and the employees. We rely on flat hierarchies and place great value on a pleasant working atmosphere. We regularly offer workshops in which our employees are trained on topics such as sustainability, communication, and quality. We live these values every day, which is also visible in the way we integrate new trends such as hybrid work models or work-life balance into our company.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you see the future direction of the company?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: Technoform Kunststoffprofile GmbH has developed significantly in recent years and is a leading provider in the area of customized plastic profiles depending on the material, especially with high-tech plastics like PPS or polyamide with a high filler content. We are also very well positioned in thermal insulation and electrotechnology – such as flame protection. Another growth area is in e-mobility, where we are working on solutions for battery-electric vehicles. In the long term, we want to continue to drive forward our technological development and increase the depth of value creation. It is also important to us to make our supply chains more resistant to external fluctuations in order to be able to deliver stably even in times of crisis.
Wirtschaftsforum: When you personally look at your work at Technoform: What motivates you the most?
Dr. Thorge Brünig: I am excited by the opportunity to help shape things. From my scientific perspective, I find it fascinating to see products in everyday use that I have been involved in developing. At the same time, it motivates me to create conditions in which my colleagues can realize their ideas. It is particularly important that our employees are proud of their work and know that they make a valuable contribution – whether in the development of new plastic profiles or in the optimization of existing products.