Despite the market environment dominated by Covid-19, Würth Industrie Service GmbH & Co. KG was able to achieve sales of EUR 536 million in the 2020 fiscal year. “The past year was challenging in every respect,” said Rainer Bürkert, member of the Central Managing Board of the Würth Group. “The coronavirus temporarily forced us into a lockdown, combined with many extraordinary measures to maintain our ability to act in all business units, the delivery capability of our logistics and full-service system support in C-parts management, but above all to protect our colleagues.”

In this context, restrictions due to lockdowns in numerous countries, early plant shutdowns and plant closures, or delays in the movement of goods due to border controls proved to be additional challenges, particularly in the first half of the year.

“Thanks to our multi-channel strategy, which means that our customers can interact with us via a wide variety of channels – in person, stationary, but also contactless, digital and electronic – we offer our customers precisely the procurement options they need for optimum C-parts management under all conditions, including the pandemic,” says Martin Jauss, Managing Director of Würth Industrie Service.

To ensure the best possible security of supply and high product, service and system quality, the company has invested over EUR 366 million since the start-up years. In addition to the consistent expansion of storage capacity, the existing facilities have been supplemented with innovative technologies. With the measures currently being implemented and those planned, Würth Industrie Service is setting an important course for supplying customers in the future and thus tapping the potential in the areas of automation, digitization and robotics.

In 2020, the Würth Industrial Network also saw a corresponding development. In over 60 companies. In more than 40 countries. With over 5,000 employees worldwide. This made it possible to provide comprehensive, personal advice and the smooth transmission of all important information at a uniformly high quality and system standard – above and beyond the specific requirements of individual production locations. In total, worldwide sales of 1.587 billion euros were achieved in the past fiscal year.

“Our most valuable asset is our employees,” Bürkert said. Despite the Corona crisis, the company did not feel compelled to make structural staff cuts. As before, the number of jobs amounts to over 1,700, with the training of young junior staff playing an immensely important role. In 20 professions, 200 colleagues are undergoing training or dual studies at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University.

There was an organizational change in the Würth Group right at the beginning of 2021. Effective February 15, 2021, Rainer Bürkert, previously Head of the Würth Group’s Business Units and Managing Director of Würth Industrie Service, was appointed to the Central Managing Board of the Würth Group. He will have overall responsibility there for the newly created Würth Industry Line division worldwide.

The company is optimistic for 2021, as the beginning of the first quarter of 2021 is already characterized by increased demand in the market environment. Thanks to a solid financial basis and a strong, technological industrial network comprising more than 60 companies in over 40 countries, the company is well positioned to deal with the crisis and, especially once it subsides, to provide its customers with innovative system solutions and products reliably and safely.