DESMA 'factory of the future' completed

Reporting on the opening of this Germany-based footwear machinery producer's new factory and office complex.

Thirteen months after holding a ground-breaking ceremony, footwear machinery manufacturer DESMA Schuhmaschinen GmbH has officially completed its new production and office complex in the north German town of Achim. This development features a 12,000 square metre production complex and a three-storey office building which has a total floor area of 4,500 square metres.

The design of the building is said to reflect the latest workflow and logistics principles and, according to a company spokesperson, it has sufficient reserves for future growth. Production and commercial business units have already moved into the facility. DESMA managing directors Klaus Freese and Christian Decker presented the new complex to the public in the presence of Rainer Ditzfeld, mayor of Achim, and Peter Bohlmann, head of the Verden District Authority.

“We are optimising our production and logistics processes and thus strengthening our position in the global market,” said Mr Freese. Mr Decker added: “From intake of the individual parts, storage, surface treatment, processing and final assembly right through to delivery of the finished machines, we have now gathered our core processes under one roof.”

Before the construction of the new factory, the company designed and made its equipment in various buildings spread around a 93,000 square metre site. In order to produce its machines more efficiently, the old premises would have required time-consuming and expensive conversion work and the addition of new annexes.

Therefore, in 2017, the management and Salzgitter AG (DESMA’s parent company) decided to build a completely new facility in order to introduce more efficient production processes and promote digitisation. According to DESMA, each milestone throughout the entire project – up to the handover of the keys – was achieved on schedule and in line with budget.

Said to enable production to be organised on the basis of modern workflow methods, the manufacturing area is U-shaped and reportedly combines modern warehousing logistics with spacious, ergonomically-designed workplaces. LED lighting is used in the factory buildings and acoustic baffles have been installed to reduce noise levels.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, DESMA has cancelled plans for a major event to celebrate the inauguration. The House Fair scheduled for this year has also had to be postponed as a result of the crisis. Nevertheless, the company’s directors are confident that both of these events will take place during 2021, when DESMA celebrates its 75th anniversary.

DESMA Schuhmaschinen GmbH was founded in Achim in 1946 to design and manufacture plant for industrial footwear production. The company’s core technology is direct soling, with automation technology representing a new growth sector. According to DESMA, its systems are currently involved in the production of one-tenth of all the shoes made worldwide.

The photograph above shows, from left: Rainer Ditzfeld, Christian Decker, Klaus Freese and Peter Bohlmann in front of DESMA’s new complex.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 12 of the September 2020 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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