From the Region, for the Region: How VWH Contributes to a Strong Westerwald Business Location

Is the success story of globalization over? A number of major events in recent years have at least given companies and economists pause: a container ship stuck sideways collapses supply chains for months, a Russian despot triggers an international energy crisis by turning off the gas tap, a pandemic brings global trade to a complete standstill.

Despite all these recent crises, declaring the "end of globalization" would certainly be overly pessimistic. Still, such events prompt certain thought experiments. Is our domestic economy strong enough by international comparison? Are the dependencies on partners or on events on the other side of the world perhaps too great? What can be done to sustainably strengthen the domestic business location?

Local Recruiting Secures the Future

As an internationally active machinery manufacturer, VWH GmbH from Herschbach in the Westerwald is also part of a cross-border web of economic relationships. But because the company has recognized the signs of the times here as well, strengthening the domestic business location plays an equally important role. As a "global player from next door," this specialist in automation technology and special-purpose machinery maintains strong networking in its home region, the Westerwald. As a training company, VWH naturally starts at the level of general schools: internships are regularly offered, all training fairs are attended, and the company's doors are repeatedly opened to school classes — showing the young talent of the day after tomorrow the outstanding technical know-how to be found right on their doorstep.

There is also intensive collaboration with the nearby Koblenz University of Applied Sciences. In addition to skilled-trade apprenticeships, VWH is a partner company for dual degree programs in mechanical and electrical engineering. Bachelor's and master's theses can also be completed at the company, making an important contribution to research and development in the mid-sized company's fields of activity. To this end, there are also repeated collaborations with the university itself, for example on research projects or in conducting courses and lectures for students.

Local Networking Strengthens Everyone Involved — and the Region

Good networking within the education landscape is certainly an important building block for a strong business location; another is collaboration with customers and partners. Here too, very close collaboration with well-known names from the Westerwald has proven very fruitful for both sides. "VWH lives here in the region on its good reputation and professionalism," says Head of Sales Cornelius Neuroth. "Customers from the region appreciate our proximity. If something goes wrong, we're quickly on-site. The short distances also reduce project costs." For long-term collaborative partnerships, the machinery manufacturer also runs a very intensive and sustainable obsolescence management program. This business unit was relaunched under the name "Renessenz" only at the start of the year. The core idea of "Renessenz" is long-term spare-parts supply to maximize the service life of both old and new machines. Through services such as retrofit, re-design, or re-engineering, additional optimizations can be made to machines and components — improving not just the pure operating life but also the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the equipment.

On the other hand, VWH also benefits enormously from its diverse customer base. Especially in the special-purpose machinery segment, in which the company has specialized in recent years, customer wishes and requirements repeatedly generate new learnings and insights that can be transferred to other projects and fields of work. The great diversity of tasks also keeps the team hungry for knowledge and motivated to tackle new challenges. In this way, networking creates a strong alliance for a business location that international crises can no longer harm much.