Wanzl metal goods factory
| Wanzl metal goods factory
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| legal form | GmbH & Co. KGaA |
| founding | 1918/1947 |
| Seat | Leipheim |
| management |
|
| Number of employees | 1,957 (2017)
5,000 (2017, group) |
| sales | 381 million euros (2017)
700 million euros (2017, group) |
| Branch | Metal industry |
| Website | wanzl.com |
The Wanzl GmbH & Co. KGaA , the world's largest producers of cart and luggage trolleys .
The company, headquartered in Leipheim , employed around 4,000 people in 22 countries in 2015. Annual production was around two million shopping trolleys.
history
In 1918 Rudolf Wanzl sen. in Giebau in Moravia a locksmith, he for scales construction management and goal for agricultural machinery store with 20 employees. After the expulsion took place in 1947 by Rudolf Wanzl jun. the re-establishment in Leipheim, where a workshop for car construction and repair service was set up. The impetus to devote oneself to self-service came from the cash register manufacturer NCR in Augsburg. Custom-made shopping baskets were ordered for one of the company's demonstration rooms. Around the same time, the Hamburg consumer cooperative ordered 40 trolleys and 100 hand baskets for the opening of the first German self-service shop. In the early 1950s, Rudolf Wanzl traveled to the USA and came into contact with the inventor of the shopping cart, Sylvan Goldman . On the return flight, he designed his own, more agile model that forms the basis of all today's shopping trolleys. In 1951 the first shopping trolley with a fixed basket was patented. Three years later, the participating Siegel brothers left the company and founded their own under their name, which was taken over by Wanzl after bankruptcy in 2007. For many years, the two largest manufacturers of shopping trolleys in Germany were based in Leipheim .
In 1956, Wanzl had 74 employees.
1960s
A new plant is put into operation in Kirchheim to expand production capacities. Wanzl is adding manual access turnstiles to its product range in order to direct customers and minimize theft in the ever larger supermarkets in Germany . In 1966 the company already employs 400 people.
1970s
After the expansion of the German retail chains into nearby foreign countries, the first regional branches are established. For the first time, luggage trolleys for train stations are being delivered to Deutsche Bundesbahn . In the course of the renewed expansion of production, another plant is being built near the Leipheim train station. At times this plant also had its own siding . In 1978 the company was awarded the Golden Sugar Loaf .
1980s
For the first time, the family company is delivering luggage trolleys to an airport for Frankfurt Airport. As a special feature, these trolleys can also be transported on escalators . In order to better serve the French market, a new plant is being built in Schlettstadt, Alsace . The increasing spread of hardware stores let the production figures rise further, sales branches in Great Britain and Belgium are set up. 1989 Wanzl employs 1,600 people.
1990s
In 1990, Plant 4 in Leipheim was completed not far from the A8 motorway . The company's headquarters are now located in this factory. In 1991, Wanzl founded the shopfitting division. From now on, the furnishings of entire supermarkets are planned and shelving systems are manufactured. With the fall of the Iron Curtain , the self-service concept is also spreading in Eastern Europe and opening up new markets. In 1995, a production plant is opened in the Czech Republic not far from Rudolf Wanzl's former home. After ten years as managing director, Gottfried Wanzl took over the complete management of the company from his father in 1998. Large orders such as the delivery of luggage trolleys to the new Hong Kong airport are causing employment and sales figures to continue to rise. In 1999, 1 million shopping trolleys per year are manufactured for the first time.
2000s
The markets in the traditional retail business are increasingly saturated in Western Europe, while the self-service principle is on the rise, especially in developing countries . In 2005, another Wanzl plant with production and administration is opened in Shanghai . With the increase in online retailing , Wanzl is expanding its product range to include order picking and storage trolleys. Hotels are also being supplied with a special product range for the first time. After the insolvency of the former competitor Siegel , Wanzl took over the majority of its employees. In the same year, Wanzl received the Bavarian Quality Award . To expand the shopfitting division, the company integrates the Ulm joinery Unseld.
2010s
In January 2012, Wanzl increased its stake in the North American Technibilt group, which it had held since 2006, to 100 percent.
On February 11, 2012, a fire broke out in the electroplating building . The 40 x 40 m large hall burned out completely, resulting in damage in the double-digit millions. Almost two years after the major fire, the rebuilt electroplating plant was put into operation at the same location.
Business areas
Retail Systems / Shop Solutions
In addition to metal shopping trolleys, the company has been manufacturing plastic shopping trolleys for several years. These run under the product names Tango and Salsa and are exported in particular to other European countries, but also worldwide. Other products for setting up retail stores such as shelves, displays, turnstiles and complete shop fittings are part of the product range.
Logistics + Industry
In 2002 the product range for industrial and logistics customers was combined in this division. In addition to carts for order picking , the company also produces transport containers and pallet attachments.
Airport + Security Solutions
Luggage trolleys , access controls and room dividers from Wanzl are in use at train stations and airports around the world . Customers include large air traffic hubs in Frankfurt , Hong Kong and Paris . Luggage trolleys from Wanzl are also in use at the Eurostar destination station at St Pancras .
Hotel service
This business area was introduced in 2006. Products for hotel equipment such as B. Laundry, serving and cleaning trolleys are offered. The cars can also be found on some of the AIDA Cruise Line's cruise ships .
Production facilities
Wanzl has three plants in Leipheim , one in Kirchheim and one each in France ( Sélestat ), the Czech Republic ( Hněvotín ) and China ( Shanghai ).
Foreign branches
From 1970 onwards, numerous service and sales branches were founded worldwide.
|
|
Management
Gottfried Wanzl, a son of Rudolf Wanzl junior, who was awarded the Bavarian Founder's Prize in the Lifetime Achievement category in 2006, is chairman of the company's supervisory board. In 2014 Klaus Meier-Kortwig took over the chairmanship of the management. Markus Bergmann is the managing director for finance, Harald P. Dörenbach for technology and Bernhard Renzhofer for sales.
Logos
1950s
1960s
from 1970
from 2005
measure up
Wanzl is a regular exhibitor at the EuroShop trade fair, which takes place every three years in Düsseldorf .
Competitors
Caddy , headquartered in Schiltigheim (France) with seven subsidiaries in other countries, has existed since 1928 and sells shopping trolleys in 130 countries. Marsanz , based in Torrejon de Ardoz near Madrid, sells shopping trolleys in 80 countries. A large number of shopping cart manufacturers have now emerged in China.
Web links
- Company website
- Article about the company from brand eins 3/2011
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Our imprint for you | Wanzl. Retrieved March 17, 2020 .
- ↑ a b Federal Gazette. Retrieved July 12, 2019 .
- ↑ a b Current press releases | Wanzl - 2017: 70 years of Wanzl, 700 million euros in sales. Retrieved July 12, 2019 .
- ↑ Wanzl takes over Siegel Donau 3 FM , August 21, 2007, accessed on July 6, 2015.
- ↑ Wanzl takes over Ulm operation . In: Augsburger Allgemeine , February 5, 2010, accessed on July 7, 2015.
- ↑ At full speed through North America . In: Augsburger Allgemeine , August 28, 2013, accessed on July 7, 2015.
- ↑ Berthold Veh: Double-digit million damage at Wanzl. In: Augsburger Allgemeine , February 11, 2012, accessed on July 15, 2012.
- ↑ The major fire at Wanzl is history . In: Augsburger Allgemeine , April 2, 2014, accessed June 30, 2015.
- ↑ Hermann Simon mentions the Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik in his book of the same name as an example of a hidden champion . ( Hidden champions of the 21st century: The success strategies of unknown world market leaders. Campus, Frankfurt am Main 2007, ISBN 978-3-593-38380-4 , p. 21.)
- ^ Company. Caddy.de, accessed on July 15, 2012.