More than 190 guests from business, politics and society gathered at Ehrenbreitstein fortress last  Friday in the early noon for the large ceremonial act of the chemical company Zschimmer & Schwarz. Against the unique historical backdrop, the 125^th anniversary of the family business, which has a long tradition and is headquartered in Lahnstein, was celebrated. The official ceremonial act consisted of welcoming addresses, speeches and a round of talks – some in keeping with the history of the company, of course, and others with a clear focus on the future of Zschimmer & Schwarz.

“Sustainability with economic, ecological, societal, and social responsibility is what we stand for,” said Dr Katrin Schwarz, shareholder of Zschimmer & Schwarz. “With our General Management, we are in an excellent position and have successfully entered new markets and business divisions in the past few years. After all, we do not plan from one day to the next, but from today for tomorrow – that is to say, for future generations. An essential part of our planning is to advance Zschimmer & Schwarz as a wholly family-owned business and an international corporate group over the next generations as well.”

Dr Bernd Reckmann, Chairman of the advisory board of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group, agrees: “The history of Zschimmer & Schwarz is also the history of a changing Germany, of Europe and the world growing together. Despite all the changes over the course of our 125-year history, however, it has always been central for us to stay true to ourselves as a family business and never to forget where we come from.”

Connected to the region

The new corporate headquarters, which is also located in Lahnstein, is a symbol of the future and an important sign of sustainable planning for the entire region. “Zschimmer & Schwarz has been connected to our state for a long time already and is deeply rooted here as an innovative business in a growing industry and as an active part of society,” said Roger Lewentz, Minister of State at the Ministry of the Interior and Sports of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. During the ceremonial act, he was presented with a photo album offering impressions of working life at the company during the post-war era in the state by Dr Eberhard Schwarz. This was symbolic of the new partnership between Zschimmer & Schwarz and the House of Cultural History of Economy and Technology in Rhineland-Palatinate at the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress Cultural Centre. “I am pleased to be here today on occasion of  the 125^th anniversary of a local global player that does such important work right here, being an employer, an economic factor as well as a true partner of this region and offering research, innovation and professional training.”

Peter Labonte, Mayor of the town of Lahnstein, also congratulated Zschimmer & Schwarz on the company’s anniversary: “Being successful as a family-run business for 125 years on the international market is a very special milestone. Furthermore, the company’s headquarters has been located in Lahnstein since 1959, so this is a special anniversary as well. We are glad that Zschimmer & Schwarz very clearly commits to our region with its new headquarters and has found a home here.”

A celebration of togetherness

After the ceremonial act, guests could engage in further conversations while enjoying a flying buffet. The big staff party in the evening concluded the festivities. Staff from locations across Germany and from the company’s French subsidiary, Interpolymer, arrived with their plus ones to enjoy an extraordinary programme of show hosting, speeches, food, drink, music, and dance in the unique atmosphere of the fortress. “As a joint highlight of the festivities, we wanted to fully focus on what has made our company so successful over the past 125 years: our staff,” Dietmar Clausen, General Manager of Zschimmer & Schwarz, said happily about this all-round successful evening.