I recently had a chance to visit Weinmann and Hundegger in Germany. Having partnerships that we can talk about and advertise is great, but having partnerships where we take steps to learn each other’s products, procedures, and people is what allows us to grow into a stronger machine vendor overall. At Stiles, we’re fortunate to able to build on our relationships.
Weinmann is located in St. Johann, a German village surrounded by beautiful mountains and fields. Spending days meeting associates that I have worked with for the last year and a half was not only a fun experience but an education also. Being able to see and learn their business model and processes first-hand helps me to become a better partner. Weinmann is growing as the need for offsite wall panel equipment and systems is exploding worldwide. By the end of 2022, they will have tripled their number of people and will have started additions on their office. Now Weinmann is focusing on the North American market, so the next few years are going to be exciting.
Hundegger’s sprawling compound is just outside the village Hawangen. Hundegger has an impressive manufacturing facility, and seeing how those saws are built was a treat. We also got to see most of the saws running and got to deep dive into the functionality of each one. The size of the PBA and UFA was especially exciting to see close up.
Stiles is committed to building the strongest partners we can so that we can be the best vendor to our customers. Growth, partnerships, collaboration – this is currently the focus of Stiles to accommodate the ever-changing landscape of offsite construction.
Another benefit to having partners is the trip itself. With Covid numbers still an issue, we kept it tight to just one week. Driving through the countryside and villages is always a beautiful and fun experience though, regardless of how long you’re there. It’s always amazing to experience a different culture, from the architecture to the atmosphere to the people, and I consider myself very fortunate to be able to have had a chance for this trip.
Of course, no trip is complete without sampling the local cuisine [for photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue]. Sweet tooth, anyone?