While the factory premises in Türkismühle were a hive of everyday activity, preparations were underway for a special event in the administration building: On the morning of April 4, 2024, French Consul General Sébastien Girard paid a visit to the SCHMIDT headquarters to mark the company’s 90th anniversary. This place marks the origin of an impressive success story that has made the company the market leader in neighboring France. At the Saarland production site, the diplomat exchanged views with Anne Leitzgen, who is the third generation to run the binational family business. After a warm welcome from Managing Director Wolfgang Thorwart, the group of visitors began their tour of the production halls. Equipped with high-visibility vests and safety shoes, the visitors had various work steps explained to them by production manager Carsten Engelhardt. He not only shared impressive facts and figures, but also gave an insight into the visions of the long-established company. Furthermore, some of the high-tech machines were closely scrutinized – so that the French representative could get a comprehensive picture. And Sébastien Girard proves to be an inquisitive listener, often even seen writing notes in a small black booklet. “That was a very nice experience for me today. And I was also surprised. Of course, as a Frenchman, I know the company. But I didn’t know that it was founded in Saarland. It was impressive that a lot of young people and many women work here,” said Sébastien Girard. And he summed up his observations in words of appreciation: “I have experienced an extremely innovative family business that is looking deep into the future. The visible investments in the location are a strong signal for the regional economy. My congratulations go to SCHMIDT for a success story that has now lasted 90 years.”

One of the investments is the new robot drilling system, which, together with the modernized production environment and production line, is revolutionizing the main plant on the Saar. This year alone, 2.3 million euros are being invested in this pioneering project, which will increase production capacity from 600 to 2,000 cabinets a day. “The system will be fully installed by the end of the year, but we will be starting operations in the next two weeks,” announced Carsten Engelhardt. The topic of training was also addressed during the visit. Here, the Managing Director in Germany surprised his audience with the latest training initiatives: “Until now, we have primarily trained carpenters, but we are now making the switch to machine operators. The demands of the modern working world require technically adept specialists, and we are now meeting this need with this change.” The tour ended after an hour and was followed by a visit to the adjacent SCHMIDT studio. Thorwart gave a short presentation of the kitchen exhibition and highlighted the latest innovations and special product features. “On the one hand, SCHMIDT is a guarantor of valuable jobs in our region. On the other hand, the company is of course also an important source of trade tax,” emphasized Andreas Veit, the mayor of the municipality of Nohfelden.

SCHMIDT is deeply rooted in both Saarland and Alsace. This geographical anchoring is reflected in a corporate culture that has always been based on a Franco-German fusion. It combines the best of both worlds: outstanding quality and groundbreaking design form a harmonious combination and create an unmistakable brand image. At SCHMIDT, employees at every hierarchical level in Alsace and Saarland pull together. After all, closely networked decision-making channels are essential to ensure that a production network in two countries actually works in day-to-day business across cultural boundaries. “Consul General Girard’s visit was not only an honor for us, but it also gave us the opportunity to look at the connection between our locations in both countries from a new perspective. It is inspiring to see how much our work is appreciated across borders and how our joint efforts result in a strong brand,” summarized Anne Leitzgen. SCHMIDT is, so to speak, the prototype for cross-border cooperation. The company not only combines history with the future. But also Germany with France.