Hidden jewel

The Group subsidiary BENZ Tooling is located in a Black Forest valley. The specialist for tooling systems and machine technology supplies future-oriented industries in Germany and abroad. Now, this hidden champion is opening up new sales areas.

A river meanders through the valley, there are farms on the slopes, and the old town features a church, a town hall, and old half-timbered houses. At first glance, Haslach im Kinzigtal looks like the cliché of a rural Black Forest idyll.

But the picturesque setting should not hide the fact that the town is located in a flourishing industrial region. With world-renowned companies. And hidden world market leaders. Among them is BENZ — a subsidiary of the Dürr Group, specializing in precise tooling systems and machine technology. Angle heads, motor spindles, and rotary distributors are some of the products that are shipped from Haslach to customers all over the world. The combination of local ties and modern technology is part of BENZ’s identity, according to Managing Director Martin Schreiber. “Regionally rooted, internationally successful” is how he describes the company’s credo.

Schreiber is a manager with international experience, who worked in Asia for a long time. At BENZ, he appreciates the special atmosphere in everyday working life. “I am fascinated by the company’s technologies, the ingenuity, and commitment of the people here,” says the 55-year-old.

During the tour with Schreiber, visitors also get a sense of the family atmosphere. He keeps stopping, shaking hands, and knows the first names of his employees. In turn, they address their boss as “Martin”. Schreiber greets Katharina, a young colleague who is assembling a motor spindle for woodworking. A rather complicated aggregate consisting of a drive, sensors, many cables, and precise mechanics. Once the spindle is finished, it can very efficiently perform various drilling processes and create recesses. Customers use them, for example, in machines for the production of fitted kitchens.

BENZ manufactures various machining units for industrial customers according to their needs. In many cases, the requirements are so special that other manufacturers have to pass. BENZ, however, specializes precisely in such cases.

To explain what kind of challenges the experts must overcome here, Schreiber uses the model of an aluminum case that normally encloses the battery of an e-car. The manufacturer has designed it in such a way that holes for screws or pins are located even in places that cannot be reached without special tools. “In such cases, for example, we design a unit that can be used mechanically to drill 'around the corner',” Schreiber explains.

The demands placed on the precision of the tools are enormous. Sometimes it comes down to a thousandth of a millimeter. Seals in vehicles, for example, must be one hundred percent tight. That’s why a major Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer is among the companies that rely on the precision specialist from the Black Forest. “Even though the new electric drives eliminate processing tasks in combustion technology, they do offer the potential for new tasks as well. That is partly a blessing for us, depending on how you approach the matter,” Schreiber says optimistically in view of the changes in the automotive industry.

Manufacturing such digitally controllable assemblies requires experience and concentration. “For this, we need talented experts who enjoy working things out and implementing them,” says Schreiber. BENZ makes every effort to find talented young people and trains them to become skilled workers. Almost one tenth of the staff are apprentices. Ivo Reinberger monitors their selection. More than ten years ago, he himself was an apprentice at BENZ; now, he is responsible for industrial training. Reinberger also organizes collaborations with schools. Every Tuesday, a class comes to the company to have lessons in technology. Some of those students are later hired as apprentices. “The shortage of skilled workers is not yet a big problem for us,” says the 32-year-old.

This is also because BENZ promotes cohesion among the workforce. For example: Those who have landed an apprenticeship are invited to a company tour followed by a barbecue dinner — and they may bring their parents along, too. “The atmosphere in the company is very friendly. Many employees also know each other privately, which creates trust,” confirms Jasmin Eble, who grew up ten kilometers away. She recently completed her apprenticeship as an industrial clerk and now works in marketing.

Melanie Neumann feels similarly about the atmosphere. The trained industrial mechanic works in the assembly department. For her, too, BENZ is a big family. Her brother is a working student and her father also works here. “He used to take me to the company a lot when I was a kid. That’s why I knew what to expect from the apprenticeship.”