New Ideas Tip the Scale
When it comes to ideas about weighing, “Soehnle Professional” is throwing its entire weight behind its scales. We weighed in again to find out what's happening.
“We have applied for 25 patents in the last three years,” says Stephan Gerster about the innovative thrust of this young company with a rich tradition, “and the trend is continuing – by summer this year, there were another ten,” adds the Managing Director of “Soehnle Professional GmbH & Co KG.” Below: The smallest scale in the world for adjusting an airbag to the weight of passengers.
“We want to solve problems,” says Gerster. “Thinking about problems leads us to new ideas.” New ideas are also something that the former board member of Leifheit AG needs. In 2006, Gerster bought Soehnle’s professional division from his employer. The weighing technology company founded in 1868 by Wilhelm Soehnle had been acquired by Leifheit AG in 2001.
“We want to solve problems,” says Gerster. “Thinking about problems leads us to new ideas.” New ideas are also something that the former board member of Leifheit AG needs. In 2006, Gerster bought Soehnle’s professional division from his employer. The weighing technology company founded in 1868 by Wilhelm Soehnle had been acquired by Leifheit AG in 2001.
Wellness is the way forward
“The cost pressure on bathroom and kitchen scales is still there of course,” recalls Gerster. In 2005, production was outsourced completely to the Far East therefore. However, the sophisticated industrial scales remained. The dynamic businessman from Bremen saw growth markets here. The former employee and board member of Leifheit spun off this division as “Soehnle Professional GmbH & Co. KG”, making it an independent company. Sales totaled €12 million in the first year. In addition, Lothar Späth, former Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg and currently a successful entrepreneur, singled out the Murrhardt company as one of the top 100 most innovative companies in the SME sector.
Soehnle Professional and T-Systems: A partnership of weight Tangible innovations. “New markets can only be developed with new ideas,” says Gerster, illustrating his claim with his Balance-X-Sensor, which also contains a scale – the emphasis on “also”, because the main function of the device is to digitally measure the equilibrium reflex and the muscle power applied in the process. The supporting muscle analysis device measures and documents equilibrium problems. “The range of applications is huge, ranging from medical to sporting to wellness,” explains Gerster. The risks of bone loss (osteoporosis) and falls can also be estimated with this very simple-looking device, as it is suitable for monitoring and managing muscle training programs. “Wellness” in particular goes down well. A chain of fitness studios in the USA has just ordered 1000 units of a scale that displays the fat and water content in addition to the body mass index (BMI).
The innovative company is controlled with Navision, together with the consolidation of the IT landscape by T-Systems as the general contractor. “The consequences for the company have been simply sensational,” exclaims Stephan Gerster.
Read the full report on Soehnle Professional in the current edition of Best Practice.
