How is Hoffmann + Krippner faring at its Buchen location? What issues is the company currently addressing, and what prospects are emerging for the coming years? District Administrator Dr. Achim Brötel, Mayor Roland Burger, and Ines Braach, Head of Economic Development and District Development at the Neckar-Odenwald District Office, sought answers to these questions during a personal visit to H+K.
Together with Ralf Krippner, CEO of the holding company HK.SYSTEMS AG; Frank Wahlandt, Managing Director of Hoffmann + Krippner GmbH & Co. KG; Holger Werner, CFO of HK.SYSTEMS AG; and Johannes Jakob, CEO of HK.DIGITAL GmbH, the discussion focused on the company’s development, current projects, and the importance of the Buchen location.
Insights into a Diverse Company
During an in-depth tour of the company, guests gained firsthand insight into the various divisions of H+K. It became clear how the company has continuously evolved over the past decades and now combines a variety of technologies and areas of expertise.
Since its founding more than 50 years ago, H+K has continuously expanded its expertise. In addition to its traditional core competencies in the field of membrane switches, the company’s range of services now includes touch systems, electronics, complete HMI solutions, and digital technologies from its sister company, HK.DIGITAL. This broad technological focus enables the company to serve customers from a variety of industries and respond flexibly to changing requirements.
“We have continued to evolve over the decades, embracing new technologies early on,” explains Frank Wahlandt. “At the same time, we benefit from our established core competencies. Today, this combination serves as an important foundation that enables us to respond flexibly to varying market and customer requirements.”
H+K as Part of the Buchen Business Community
Another focus of the visit was H+K’s role as an employer and training provider in the region. The company’s positive growth creates opportunities for skilled workers, emerging talent, and young people who wish to shape their professional futures in the Neckar-Odenwald district.
Mayor Roland Burger emphasized the importance of H+K to the town of Buchen: “Hoffmann + Krippner is a growing company that continues to seek new employees and, as a renowned training partner, helps many young people get a successful start in their professional careers. As the town of Buchen, we naturally support this development as best we can.”
District Administrator Dr. Achim Brötel was also impressed by the company’s growth. Especially given the current challenges facing many industries, companies that are growing provide important momentum for the region.
A Discussion on the Future of the Region
In addition to business development, the discussion also focused on how Buchen as a business location and the region as a whole can continue to develop in the long term. It became clear just how important personal dialogue is between businesses, municipalities, the county, and the economic development agency.
“This personal visit has once again demonstrated how important close cooperation between business and government is for a strong region and for our company itself,” says Ralf Krippner. “If we want to achieve our growth goals in the coming years, trusting and effective collaboration with the city and the county will play a key role. Our goal is clear: We want to shape the future together—for our employees and for the entire region.”
Ines Braach also emphasized the importance of collaboration: “A successful business hub emerges where companies, municipalities, the county, and the economic development agency work together to think ahead—pragmatically, in partnership, and with an eye toward the future.”
Future Prospects for the Buchen Location
The visit thus not only provided insight into H+K’s current development but also offered an opportunity to discuss the location’s prospects together.
The initiatives already underway and the planned projects show that H+K is looking to the coming years with confidence and remains committed to the Buchen location.
For the company, it is clear that economic development and regional responsibility go hand in hand. H+K aims to capitalize on its own future opportunities while continuing to contribute to the region as an employer, training provider, and technology company.