Two days, more than 40 innovation topics, hundreds of visitors on site and online; for the first time in its 70-year company history, REHAU invited its employees worldwide to learn about new products, materials, processes and, for example, the current state of digitization as part of Innovation Days. Beyond its core business, the company wants to establish itself in new markets and secure the future success of the company.
More than 40 teams were present at booths during REHAU Innovation Days to present their developments, answer questions and enter into dialogue with one another. The employees of REHAU were not only able to visit the event on site at the REHAU ART communication center in Rehau, Germany, but were also able to participate in the event virtually.
“Our goal is to become an innovation leader and the diversity of our innovation projects shows that we are on track. Our employees must be familiar with the topics that, in addition to their core business, are intended to ensure the corporate success of tomorrow, and understand our strategy,” explains Dr. Stefan Girschik, deputy CEO of the REHAU Group and the host of the event.
The variety of innovation topics that the company presented to its employees comprised a range of products and services. From window alarm systems and media-tight lights for agricultural applications, integrated system solutions for real estate and digital planning software for bathroom renovations to new production and recycling processes and e-learning offers; more than 40 innovation topics could be discovered. The event was not limited to the REHAU ART communication center, the inner courtyard of the company premises also became the scene of innovations. The electric minibus e.GO Mover was looked over and the cooperation with the electric vehicle manufacturer from Aachen was presented. With the help of a moderator, the development team explained what vehicle advertising of tomorrow could look like, using geolocation services projected onto the rear window, for example.
“Today in many areas it is not only the quality of a product that counts. The importance of services and additional functionalities is increasing,” explains Girschik. Constantly changing international markets, a demanding competitive environment and changing customer requirements pose challenges for companies worldwide. REHAU President Jobst Wagner, who addressed his employees before a round of talks, emphasizes, “We must succeed in positioning REHAU in new markets, reaching new customer groups and thus growing further beyond our current business. We have innovative ideas. Now it is important to bring these products to the international markets.” New business models, innovative approaches and metrics, the bundling of know-how and competencies, as well as strategic alliances should help to achieve this goal.
Polymer specialist REHAU makes sustainable contributions to the ecological and economic challenges of tomorrow. More than 20,000 employees around the globe are committed to this. Innovations, state-of-the-art production technologies and flexible logistics have made the family-owned company, which has existed for almost 70 years, a partner with know-how in almost all business sectors. The focus is on mobility, energy-efficient construction, use of renewable energies, future living and water management.