Another successful year for ASSMANN Office Furniture

ASSMANN Büromöbel GmbH & Co. KG remains on a growth course and closes the 2017 financial year with an increased turnover. Last year, the family-owned company’s turnover increased by about six per cent to 114 million euros (2016: 107.5 million euros). According to Dirk Aßmann, Managing Partner of the company, this result confirms the innovation and investment course taken and places ASSMANN above the industry average. 

Melle company born and bred

According to Dirk Aßmann, one of the most important components for the company’s success is the strategy that every investment is consistently geared towards continuously and sustainably expanding its own strengths. Today, these strengths include reacting very flexibly to market and customer demands. The foundation is one of the most modern office furniture manufactures in Europe. Investments were once again made in 2017, with 6 million euros invested in new machines to convert cabinet production into a semi-automatic production facility. The completion of the new cabinet furniture line is scheduled for April 2018. Anyone who suspects plans for simultaneous job cuts should be advised: the number of employees rose by slightly more than six per cent last year. The company currently employs 353 people (2016: 332). In 2017, the total investment volume amounted to 4 million euros. For 2018, further investment measures of up to 9,7 million euros are planned at the Melle site. Among other things, ASSMANN will build a new administration building in the next two years, thus also creating state-of-the-art working environments for its own employees.

ASSMANN Office Furniture consistently focuses on efficient and automated production systems and processes, primarily in the field of roller container and cabinet furniture production. “We have never been a company that thinks about outsourcing production to so-called low-wage countries,” says Aßmann. “Germany and Europe are our markets, so it makes the most sense for our customers and for us if we manufacture in Germany.” Last year, 2,500 pieces of furniture were produced in Melle and delivered every day. The largest market is Germany; the export rate remains relatively constant at just under ten per cent. ASSMANN is synonymous with high-quality office furniture in 30 European countries, with the UK being the strongest market. Sales in Russia are expected to increase significantly in 2018.

The ASSMANN Office Furniture brand’s products can be experienced live in Germany’s and Europe’s major cities. In showrooms in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg, as well as London, Paris, Moscow, St Petersburg, Neuchâtel and Amsterdam, current and prospective customers can find out more about design highlights, innovations, new products and furnishing solutions for today’s modern working environments. 

Sustainability and further development as a challenge

For Dirk Aßmann, reliability and durability are essential values. This includes sustainable ideas and actions as a natural part of everyday working life. Every two years since 2012, the company has published a sustainability report with an environmental statement. “Sustainability – also in terms of a process of continuous improvement – for instance with a certified environmental and quality management system, is an integral part of our corporate culture, in keeping with our guiding principle ‘good work’,” says Aßmann.

Meeting the challenges of increasing automation and digitalisation while preserving a down-to-earth attitude as a locally rooted family business is one of the big challenges for the coming years. The stated goal is healthy growth under its own steam to strengthen the ASSMANN brand. ASSMANN will expand its market position as one of the leading office furniture manufacturers in Germany as well as continuing to grow and expand in the European markets. The company will be present at this year’s Orgatec, the leading international trade fair for modern working environments in Cologne, as well as at the European office furniture trade fairs in London and Paris.