100 years of SÜDWEST
“The secret to a company making it to old age is actually keeping things fresh and new all the time.” This was Hans-Jörg von Rhade’s opening statement at the event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of SÜDWEST. “And it’s just as important to be able to build on a team that doesn’t just go with the change, but actually shapes it. On the occasion of our anniversary, SÜDWEST would therefore above all like to thank everyone who works here and ensures that we have such loyal customers – and have done for 100 years now.” Around 200 guests accepted the invitation to celebrate this milestone anniversary at the headquarters, including the president and the managing director of industry association VdL, Peter Jansen and Martin Kanert, the president of the Bundesverband Farbe association Guido Müller, and – from parent company Sto – chairman of the Supervisory Board Jochen Stotmeister and Executive Board members Rainer Hüttenberger and Rolf Wöhrle. Dr Thilo Kaffenberger, the grandson of the company founder and SÜDWEST managing director until the company was taken over by the Dyckerhoff Group in 1986, was also among the guests, as were many long-standing trade customers from Germany and abroad, some of whom had travelled long distances from locations across Europe and as far afield as Taiwan to spend this special day with us.
In two short discussion panels, presided over by TV presenter Mara Bergmann, the guests gained an insight into SÜDWEST’s history and, in particular, the company’s plans for the coming years. “We will be continuing to place particular emphasis on proximity to customers, flexibility, and reliability in order to always be a dependable partner for retail and trade. Through high product quality and tailored service, we are contributing to delivering optimum work results. By developing environmentally friendly products, we are also pursuing clear sustainability goals,” stated von Rhade, looking to the future. This was underlined with the presentation of the new Corporate Design: a modern logo as the core element and a completely redesigned corporate identity was the gift that SÜDWEST gave itself to mark its birthday. “With our new corporate identity, we are clearly demonstrating that SÜDWEST is built on tradition and is building on the opportunities of the future,” said von Rhade in summary.
