Innovations made in Bavaria: Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger visits OECHSLER AG

Securing the future starts now

Despite all its successes, OECHSLER also has to cope with the enormous challenges facing the company as a result of geopolitical developments or the necessary decarbonization of an energy-intensive industry. For this reason, OECHSLER initiated the BE:FOCUSED program in mid-February. The focus of this transformation program includes concentrating on just three promising business divisions and strengthening the locations in Bavaria by relocating central tasks to the company headquarters in Ansbach. As a result of this and new requirements for job profiles, BE:FOCUSED will create new jobs, but some will also be lost. In total, around 135 jobs will be cut in Germany. This is also the subject of discussions between the Chairman of OECHSLER's Supervisory Board, the company's management and Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger.

However, the management team led by its spokesman Karl Ostler makes it clear that OECHSLER's ability to innovate will not diminish. Double-digit millions have already been invested in the new "Health" division. Minister Aiwanger can see this for himself on site in one of the new clean rooms. In these rooms, the concentration of particles in the air is very low, which is essential for the production of medical-technical devices.

However, OECHSLER has also already invested millions in the company's ambitious goal of achieving climate-neutral production by 2030. For example, a solar plant was built at the production site in Weißenburg, Bavaria, which can produce 2,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year. This corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of around 640 German two-person households.

"I am very impressed by OECHSLER's ability to innovate, which has now lasted for more than 160 years. The company is also an impressive example of the many companies in Bavaria's extremely efficient SME sector. However, these medium-sized companies in particular are currently facing major challenges. I therefore continue to advocate that the framework conditions in Bavaria for companies like OECHSLER will continue to improve," said Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Huber Aiwanger during his visit to the management and trainees of the Ansbach-based plastics specialist.

"We are proud of the visit by the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs and the interest shown in our company. We also see this as recognition of the great achievements of our approximately 1,100 employees in Bavaria. It is good to know that with our Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger we have an advocate when it comes to the interests of the Bavarian economy to successfully meet the enormous challenges of the future," commented Wolf Mang, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of OECHSLER AG.