In the food industry, some partnerships stand out for their longevity and innovative strength. One of these outstanding partnerships is the longtime collaboration between Wiltmann and Schröter Technologie. The two companies have been working together for 66 years – an impressive number in our fast-paced times. Such a long and fruitful business relationship can only work if it is based on trust, cooperation, and ongoing development.
Wiltmann and Schröter: A Successful Duo Since 1958
Wiltmann, based in Peckeloh in Germany’s Westphalia region, is a family business in its fifth generation. The company can look back on a long history, having been founded by Franz Wiltmann in 1887. Today, it is one of the leading suppliers of sausage and ham specialties in Germany. The company employs around 800 people, and its products are available throughout Germany and Europe. Among its varied range one can find classic salamis, jellied and boiled sausage specialties, as well as elegant pâté creations and trendy snacks. Wiltmann’s top priority is to ensure that all products are based on the craftsmanship that has been passed down from generation to generation.
The business relations between Peckeloh and Borgholzhausen date back to 1958. At this time, when Konrad Adenauer was the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Wiltmann relied on Schröter’s rotary smoking systems. This technology worked like a Ferris wheel with several cabins that were driven individually. During the smoking process, the cabins rotated within the shaft of the system. Erwin Kleine, grandson of Franz Wiltmann and managing director at the time, wrote a very enthusiastic letter to company founder Erich Schröter about the success of this smoking technology, stating that it had enabled a “substantial increase in capacity in my boiled sausage department” and that the rotary smoking system was working “to our complete satisfaction.”
Zitat
The collaboration with Schröter and the successful use of rotary smoking systems were important factors in the success and further growth of the Wiltmann brand. My grandfather often stressed that the rotary smoking systems had given the smoking process a decisive boost.
ANDRÉ BEHRMANN | Managing director of Wiltmann
“The original Wiltmann salami was also launched in 1958. Then, as now, it was a real bestseller and one of the most successful products in the company’s history,” reports Dr. Ingmar Ingold, who, alongside his cousin, is managing director at Wiltmann. “Our grandfather was quick to recognize that the secret of our success lies in the excellent quality of our products – that is, the outstanding ingredients they contain – and in the constant further development of our production facilities.”
As down-to-earth Westphalians, those responsible at Wiltmann have continued to rely on the dependable system manufacturer from Borgholzhausen over the years, with all of the company’s systems coming from Schröter and the park growing steadily and being modernized and expanded. After introducing the first rotary smoking systems from Schröter, Wiltmann continued to invest in modern technologies. Today, Schröter Technologie supplies the complete range of machinery. From THERMICjet® hot-smoke systems, cooking systems and cooking kettles to ARCTICjet® intensive chilling systems and CLIMAjet® raw sausage cold-smoking and post-maturing systems, as well as exhaust-air purification systems and dozens of wood-chip and steam smoke generators from the SMOKjet® RH/RD range: Wiltmann uses almost 70 Schröter systems, distributed over a production area capable of holding almost 2,700 trolleys.
Need proof? No problem. Customers, suppliers, and other interested parties have the opportunity to see Wiltmann’s production in action. Long before the term “transparent factory” gained popularity thanks to a certain car manufacturer, Wiltmann had already introduced this concept – in the late 1980s, to be precise. And according to the company, this maximum level of transparency is “still unique in Europe today.” “My father was the one who had the idea; he wanted to create transparency and break down prejudices,” reports Dr. Ingmar Ingold. Back then, an initiative like this was unusual in the industry, but it was very well received and remains in place to this day. A specially constructed gallery gives visitors a direct view of the production facilities. Klaus Schröter adds: “Wiltmann’s production facilities could double as our showroom, seeing as all relevant series are installed there and can be witnessed in action.”
“We’re proud of what we do and are happy to let people look over our shoulders while we work,” says André Behrmann. “The ongoing exchange with Schröter and the continuous expansion and modernization resulting from it are important components in our efforts to constantly improve our production processes and strengthen our market position.”
With a production area of around 100,000 square meters and a daily processing capacity of 160 tons of meat, Wiltmann is ideally equipped for the future. “We value our close cooperation with Schröter very highly,” emphasizes Dr. Ingmar Ingold, managing director of Wiltmann. And Dietrich Schröter, fourth-generation managing director at Schröter, adds: “It’s inspiring to see two family businesses combine tradition and innovation so successfully. We look forward to further expanding this partnership in the coming years."
Customer Insights
Facts and Figures
Wiltmann, a family-owned business based in Peckeloh in Germany’s Westphalia region, is one of the leading suppliers of sausage and ham specialties in the country. Founded in 1887 by Franz Wiltmann as Wiltmann Westfälische Fleischwarenfabrik, the company is now in its fifth generation with its products available throughout Germany and Europe.
- FOUNDATION: 1887
- MANAGING DIRECTORS: André Behrmann, Dr. Ingmar Ingold
- EMPLOYEES: approx. 800
- PRODUCTION AREA: approx. 100,000 m2
- QUALITY PROCESSED: 160 tons of meat per day
- PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: high-quality raw and cured sausage, boiled and cooked sausage, jellied specialties, ham delicacies, gourmet pâtés, organic specialties
- WEB: www.wiltmann.de