When a company makes it to 100 years, it is a significant achievement.
You only have to think of some of the global economic maelstroms there have been during that period to realise that for companies to endure they have to adapt, excel and meet customer’s needs of the day.
For Herford-based manufacturer of plant and machinery serving wood-based materials for the furniture and wood-based panel industry, Wemhöner has joined this illustrious club, and it was determined to enjoy the milestone with a series of events in May.
Celebrations on May 1 and 24, 2025 saw around 1,800 customers, employees and dignitaries congratulate Heiner Wemhöner and his family on the success story of his owner-managed company, now in its third generation.
MANUFACTURING HISTORY
Wemhöner began its journey in the Eastern Westphalia region in 1925 as a small locksmith’s shop. On May 1 of that year Mr Wemhöner’s grandfather Heinrich Wemhöner founded his one-man business, shoed horses and carried out repairs as a service provider.
As a clever inventor, he developed his own machines and brought them to series production. With the introduction of machine production in the rapidly growing craft businesses of the emerging furniture industry in East Westphalia-Lippe, the three-disc disc sanding machine became a bestseller from the 1930s onwards – and ‘incidentally’ set the course for the future strategic direction of Wemhöner production.
After the Second World War, it was a rebuilding time in a destroyed Germany – also for the founder, who remembers his roots. Things quickly picked up and in 1951 his eldest son Heinrich joined the company. He soon founded his own company, which presented the first pneumatic press for series production.
Father and son recognised the trend towards series furniture production and chipboard as a base material. The reconstruction of Germany contributed to an upswing in demand.
A patent application was made for a through-feed press with tray belt feeding system in 1960 and the première of a fully interlinked machine line in 1964 laid the foundations for the company’s later market leadership.
A Russian deal signed in 1970 was another milestone for the company, seeing machines ordered for 50 new furniture factories – resulting in export sales of DM100m.
The third generation of the Wemhöner family took over responsibility in the 1980s with grandson Heiner Wemhöner, who was born in 1950.
The first press for the Asian market – the “gate opener” – was also manufactured during this time. Exports accounted for 90% of the business at the time, which justified the establishment of the company’s own Chinese production facility in Changzhou from 2005.
Shortly afterwards, Heiner took over overall responsibility for the family business, which then had a turnover of over €90m.
Thanks to his leadership and the commitment of the 500 employees, the financial crisis in 2008 was overcome, albeit with some pain. Another plant in China was connected to the grid in 2018 and total sales are now at around €200m.
Wemhöner says its values have remained unchanged for 100 years – describing its ethos as being solid and reliable, setting maximum quality standards, driving innovation and ideas wherever possible, seeing challenges as opportunities and always remaining confident.
At the anniversary celebration speeches, this “mission statement” also accompanied all the speeches at the big family party on May 1. The guests celebrated Wemhöner’s 100th birthday at the headquarters’ open house in Planckstrasse and at Alter Güterbahnhof Herford. Well over 100 employees, some with their children, had travelled all the way from China.
The Wemhöner family, including Heiner Wemhöner, his wife Elke and their children Kathleen and Philipp, organised a party full of enjoyment and fun: ice cream, popcorn, grilled treats, beer, and cocktails, with several bands, including two employee bands.
The guests of honour were Herford’s mayor Tim Kähler, Wemhöner Works Council chairman Jan Dingerdissen and Changzhou’s vice-mayor Hang Hongwei, emphasising Heiner Wemhöner’s extraordinary commitment as an employer and a driving force for the industry.
Heiner Wemhöner, who has been with the company for 46 years – 38 of which as managing partner – and his CEO for the Chinese branches, Xufeng He, thanked both the employees entrusted to them and their customers in Europe, Asia and overseas, some of whom have been loyal for decades.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the East Westphalia Chamber of Crafts in Bielefeld presented certificates of honour for the anniversary celebrations.
Three weeks later, on May 24, the second company party for the same occasion delighted a large number of customers and interested parties, particularly from Asia. The focus here was on a visit to the “open factory” in Planckstrasse and the Wemhöner collection currently on display in the Marta Museum in Herford under the title “Other People Think”. The collection currently comprises around 1,800 works by 400 artists.
A film about the company’s 100-year history was shown to guests, and the upcoming fourth generation of the Wemhöner family was highlighted – soon to take over the operational responsibility of company.
