What happens to a tube after it leaves our facility? That’s the question at the heart of the “Schoeller Factory Day” – a format that gives employees the opportunity to experience the further processing of our products directly at the customer’s site. The series kicked off with a visit to Geberit Mapress in Langenfeld: on June 17, around 30 colleagues toured the plant and saw first-hand how Schoeller tubes are used as part of supply systems across a wide range of applications.
Customer Insight – How Schoeller Tubes Are Further Processed
At the invitation of Geberit Mapress, our employees got a close-up look at what happens after our tubes are delivered. The format pursues two closely related goals: understanding the applications that Schoeller tubes are used for – and developing a clearer sense of the specific requirements our customers place on the product. Because once you’ve seen how a tube is processed at a customer’s facility, you think about your own work differently.
Internal interest was high: around 125 employees had expressed interest in an internal survey. As a first step, approximately 30 colleagues took part – and more visits to Geberit are already in the pipeline.
Showroom and Hydraulics Wall – Tube Systems Live in Action
After a company presentation and safety briefing, the group headed to the Geberit Information Center. In the showroom, it became clear how Schoeller tubes are used as part of finished systems – systems that operate out of sight every day. A hydraulics wall added another dimension – a live simulation of real installation scenarios showing how press fittings and tube systems perform under actual operating conditions.
Particularly impressive was the subsequent plant tour: participants watched live as Schoeller tubes were further processed on site – including being bent into fittings, partly using modern robotic systems. What leaves our facility as a tube takes on an entirely new form here.
Plant Tour – From Tube to Finished Package
The plant tour offered further targeted insights along the entire value stream: from the tube warehouse and dent detection at goods receipt through to final inspections covering weld seam quality, mandrel expansion, and burst testing. Each station brought to life the journey a Schoeller tube still has ahead of it at the customer’s facility – and the role it plays along the way.
Closing Together – Exchange Between Schoeller and Geberit
The day wrapped up with a shared dinner at a traditional Cologne brewhouse – a chance for conversations away from the production floor and for personal exchange between the two teams.
The Schoeller Werktage at Geberit are more than a company outing: they give employees the opportunity to see their own work in a larger context – from the tube to the finished system. More visits at Geberit are to follow.
A warm thank you goes to Geberit Mapress – for the invitation, the organization, and the on-site contacts who guided our colleagues through the day with such dedication and expertise.