65 years of SUMA - Unmistakably sustainable and consistently innovative
SUMA uses innovative approaches to show how climate protection, social responsibility and economic success can be reconciled. True to the company slogan: "We solve and move", for 65 years the company has set itself the goal of playing its part in solving the climate crisis, providing impetus for others as a pioneer and thus also making a difference in the context of society as a whole.Solve and move. With enthusiasm.
SUMA has been manufacturing agitators and, more recently, pumps since 1957. The products are used wherever residual materials are recycled: when biogas is produced, wastewater is treated and clarified or liquid manure is used to fertilise the fields. The company produces almost 100 % at its Sulzberg site. The products are successfully sold in over 60 countries worldwide. So successful that the existing production facilities were bursting at the seams and a solution had to be found: a new production hall.
New hall, new possibilities
Protecting the environment and the climate is a matter close to the heart of the owner family Thürwächter and deeply anchored in the company's philosophy. The greatest possible ecological compatibility was therefore decisive for the design of the new company building. The go-ahead for construction was given in 2019, and it was clear from the outset that the building would take place on the existing site; not only a commitment to the Sulzberg location, but also one to its employees. Owner Paul Thürwächter wanted to prevent employees from leaving the company due to a change of location. His calculation worked out. The building is up and running, and all the employees have stayed. Building in the nearby industrial area would have been the cheaper alternative. But the builders decided against further land consumption and sealing. The new hall is a modern pile construction that creates numerous covered parking spaces in the basement due to its design.
The building offers space for the assembly of the rod agitators, office and meeting rooms as well as the canteen.
The new building follows a sustainable energy concept. Geothermal energy heats the new building and a neighbouring building.
Large window fronts in the hall and offices provide sufficient daylight to reduce the need for artificial lighting. More solar modules were installed on the roof, adding another 200 kWp to the existing photovoltaic system for a total of over 500 kWp.
The system supplies electricity for buildings, production machinery and the vehicle pool. A commercial storage tank with a storage capacity of 286 kWh and a separate transformer station absorb fluctuations in electricity production during the day.
The meeting place for the 120 employees is the canteen. Lots of wood radiates warmth and invites people to linger during breaks. The food comes from a local caterer who only uses regional and seasonal ingredients. Drinks come from water dispensers. Plastic-free is also the motto here.
The construction of the new hall brings SUMA much closer to its goal of climate neutrality.
Things are moving here - electrically
SUMA's mobility concept also fits seamlessly into the overall approach to environmental protection. Almost half of the workforce drives emission-free. The agitator manufacturer provides its employees with e-cars for their commute to work and private journeys. "We want to set an example with this. E-mobility is the mobility of the future. After all, acting entrepreneurially means making forward-looking decisions. Even if the financial benefit is not immediate," Paul Thürwächter explains the decision to invest in the E-Smarts. Demand is high. By summer, another 7 E-cars will be purchased for employees. In the company car park, employees charge the current 55 E-cars free of charge with solar power produced by the company's own photovoltaic system. A total of 36 charging stations are available. Electricity from renewable energy makes e-mobility a coherent overall concept.
Owner and senator in one
Thanks to its many measures to protect the environment, SUMA has gained a reputation beyond the borders of the Allgäu region as an innovative, sustainable agitator manufacturer. For example, Paul Thürwächter was recently appointed to the German Senate of Industry and Commerce for his pioneering spirit.
Two generations, one vision
The company has recently been certified according to the internationally recognised standard for environmental (DIN ISO 14001). This provides a systematic approach and optimises internal, environmentally processes. This shows once again that standing still is not an option at Suma when it comes to protecting the environment. Innovation is always the driver for new approaches. It is unlikely that this innovative spirit will be lost one day. With daughter Lena Thürwächter, the next generation is already in the starting blocks and she, too, has a lot of plans for preserving a future worth living.
