SYSTEMIC RELEVANCE AS A MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURER ENSURES THE GREINER BUSINESS. POLITICIANS INFORMED THEMSELVES ABOUT THE STRATEGY OF THE ENTERPRISE.
In this difficult time, with the economic and entrepreneurial challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic, the qualified exchange of ideas and experiences at regional and international level is of great importance. The GREINER management team welcomed the fact that highly interested politicians were able to find out about the company's crisis strategy.
As a manufacturer of medical products for clinics and medical practices worldwide, GREINER has an important task during the corona crisis: equipping a wide range of facilities with mobile operation and therapy couches, treatment and work chairs or the innovative SMT MediaTable system for patient communication. The company therefore takes on an important role in society, certified as systemic relevant, which allows it to continue operating even under the strict conditions to prevent infection.
In addition to the 'medbest' division, the company, which today looks back on almost 100 years of history with its 120 employees at the Pleidelsheim site near Stuttgart, also owns two other business areas: 'hairline' and 'traffic'. These successfully operate in different markets, with styling and shampoo chairs on one hand as well as aftermarket vehicle seats and seating technology on the other hand. However, the pandemic has almost completely halted the market for hairdressing facilities worldwide, which is why medical devices are all the more important for the company's goals in overcoming this challenge.
Patience, staying power and the great flexibility of the employees have really paid off. "After the initial shock of many customers, the first signs of improvement are coming."
The three politicians were interested in the company's general situation, the situation for employees and jobs, and in particular the effects of the measures within the crisis strategy: digitalisation and home working, hygiene at work, management and acceptance of shifts and division of labour. The GREINER management was able to report positive results for some of these topics, but for others, the assessment is still ongoing and is being monitored step by step.
In any event, GREINER GmbH's systemic relevance as a medical device manufacturer provides more planning security, since this classification ensures that the company, its processes and supply chains as a whole are protected. This means that, in the event that an employee becomes infected or ill, GREINER's operations can continue – of course with appropriate safety measures. The GREINER management therefore thanked Ralf Trettner, the mayor of Pleidelsheim, and his municipal authority, as well as Landtag member Fabian Gramling, who had given lasting support during the classification process.
Rainer Wieland, Member and Vice President of the European Parliament, was interested in how a global player like GREINER treats the crisis internationally and which prospects will emerge for the workplace of the future, based on recent digitalisation. "I have the feeling that we can get out of the crisis stronger than before," he said in an interview with the two managing partners, Kristina and Siegfried Greiner. Ms Greiner was able to report positive signs, "After the initial shock, the business is now picking up again," was her reply to his comment. In its internal processes, the company has learned re-evaluate the topic of home office versus permanent presence at the workplace.
GREINER wanted to give its employees more trust and also give them more flexibility in how they organise their work. Investments in digitalising workplaces have now proven their worth, Mr Greiner emphasised. For further investments, Kristina Greiner pointed out that the cash position of companies is generally the big issue. The company and politicians agreed on this point, for which Member of the Landtag, Gramling, was also able to report good news. He said that the state of Baden-Württemberg is currently developing a second stimulus package to help companies to overcome crisis-related liquidity bottlenecks.
Digital communication on the bed or chair – mobile, flexible and adaptable – is becoming real and is no longer a vision of the future. GREINER presents the new SMT SMART MEDIATABLE to the guests, which is patent pending and which is also in the line-up for the Baden-Württemberg innovation product of the year.The meeting at the GREINER headquarters in Pleidelsheim underlined once again how important the close dialogue between political actors and business remains.
Especially in times of crisis, it is our task to ensure the preservation of competitive industries and the jobs they provide, with constructive ideas and solutions. GREINER faces this challenge today and in the future.