German Industrial Tour: Insights into the Craftsmanship Spirit, Inspiring the Path of Innovation

Insights into the Craftsmanship Spirit, Inspiring the Path of Innovation

sseldorf, the latest technologies in the global plastics and rubber industry were dazzling. From new polymer materials pushing performance boundaries to intelligent production equipment integrating AI and the Internet of Things; from circular economy models of closed-loop production to digital solutions spanning the entire industry chain, a comprehensive blueprint for industrial transformation was outlined.

However, what moved me more than these specific technologies was the on-site visits to three German equipment manufacturing companies: Kampf, founded in 1920, has consistently focused on slitting and winding technology, becoming the world's largest manufacturer of film slitting machines; Brückner Group, founded in 1960 and still family-owned, with its earliest and primary subsidiary, Brückner Maschinenbau, successfully maintaining its leading position in the global market and technology for film stretching lines; and W&H (Windmöller & Hölscher), a family-owned enterprise with a 156-year history, is a world leader in the manufacturing of flexible packaging machinery. After the overall visit, I had many reflections and would like to share some insights.

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The Craftsmanship Spirit of German Companies: Integrated into Business Practices

The craftsmanship spirit of pursuing extreme quality: The brilliance of German manufacturing is built on a foundation of specialized division of labor, with each company striving for excellence in its respective field. During visits to Kampf, Brückner, and W&H, I deeply felt the unique character of the German craftsmanship spirit. This spirit is not only reflected in the products but is also ingrained in the DNA of German companies. They are not concentrated in big cities or development zones but are scattered near "remote" yet beautiful small towns. There is no hustle and bustle of a metropolis, no rush hour traffic jams; instead, there is peaceful small-town life and regular work. It is precisely in this environment that people can calm their minds, focus on being good craftsmen, and entrepreneurs can serenely plan their century-long ventures.

Long-term business thinking: Germany, a country with just over 80 million people, has 3.6 million enterprises, 92% of which are family-run. The 100 largest family businesses have an average age of over 90 years. Germany is home to over 800 companies older than 200 years and thousands of century-old enterprises, making it a highly productive country for "senior" companies. These businesses do not blindly seek rapid growth but insist on continuous improvement and sustained effort. As the motto of Germany's oldest private bank, Bankhaus Metzler, goes: "More haste, less speed," prioritizing stability first and speed second.

Emphasis on technological R&D: Many German companies place great importance on technological research and development. They are willing to invest significant human and material resources in technological advancement, which in turn drives industrial development. Advanced technology keeps German companies invincible. They are often "small companies" or "slow companies" focused on a specific field or product, rarely "bad companies," and certainly not "shell companies."

Extreme attention to detail: In Kampf's production workshop, I noticed that every equipment component underwent precise measurement and marking, and workers adhered to strict standards for the torque applied to each screw.

Avoiding malicious competition: German products do not engage in price wars, partly due to industry protection and partly because price is not the sole determinant. German companies pursue profit, but as long as reasonable profit is ensured, they are not overly greedy, instead considering longer-term, sustainable development. Germans prefer to "guarantee basic profit while converting part of the profit into higher quality products and more comprehensive services."

Rigorous standardized processes: Germany has established a comprehensive set of industry standards and quality certification systems. Since 1918, the German Institute for Standardization has developed 33,000 industry standards, over 80% of which are adopted by European countries. During the visits, I observed clear operating procedures and inspection standards for every process. Some components at Brückner undergo aging tests in the factory for over six months, strictly adhering to standards in production.

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The Cultural Foundation of the Craftsmanship Spirit: A Collective Consensus in German Society

The German craftsmanship spirit did not form by accident but has deep social and cultural roots. German social life everywhere reflects the individual's dependence on the social collective, demonstrating a collectivist spirit of collaboration. In Germany, "hidden champion" companies account for nearly half of the global total. These companies identify and deeply cultivate niche markets, achieving leadership in their respective fields through focused effort. They do not seek to be the largest in scale but strive to be the strongest in their specific domains. Furthermore, Germany's unique "dual system" of vocational education provides institutional assurance for the传承 of the craftsmanship spirit. In Kampf's factory, we witnessed the scene of companies and schools jointly training skilled workers – it takes a company one or two years to train an apprentice before they can start working independently.

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The Craftsmanship Spirit of German Companies: Integrated into Business Practices

I deeply contemplate how to integrate the German craftsmanship spirit into our own corporate practices. What we need to learn is not superficial imitation but that deeply ingrained pursuit of quality.

Adhere to long-termism: In industrial manufacturing, we must have a vision for long-term planning and not shake our original aspirations due to temporary matters. We should abandon short-sighted, quick-profit thinking and be willing to invest time and energy in product R&D and quality control.

Focus on niche markets, strive for excellence and depth: Germany has over 1,500 "hidden champion" companies, whose common characteristic is deep cultivation in specific areas. Our high-speed visual inspection technology is industrially applied for defect detection in various web materials and films. It can inspect printed content at speeds up to 800 meters/minute, and inspect substrate surfaces at speeds up to 2000 meters/minute, with a maximum width of 12 meters. More importantly, the core components are fully self-developed and controllable. We have achieved absolute domestic leadership in this niche field. The German tour has strengthened our belief that this is a difficult but correct path!

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Conclusion: Becoming Chinese Enterprises with the Craftsmanship Spirit

Reflecting on the German tour, I deeply feel that the craftsmanship spirit is not merely a technical pursuit but a cultural gene. It manifests in the emphasis on details and the commitment to long-term value, and in the high importance placed on patience, focus, and a sense of responsibility in corporate development. Gudu Vision Control is committed to the field of industrial visual inspection, acting as the "gatekeeper" of product quality. We must take the German craftsmanship spirit as our benchmark, treating every line of code, every algorithm, and every inspection with an attitude of extreme pursuit. We will pay more attention to refining details in product R&D, emphasize long-term value in customer service, and focus more on standards and norms in internal management. We must make the craftsmanship spirit the core culture of our enterprise, so that employees take pride in it and customers trust us for it. The craftsmanship spirit is not only a pursuit of technology but also an adherence to value. Let us advance together, forging the soul of the enterprise with the craftsmanship spirit, and jointly build Chinese brands with German quality and Chinese wisdom!