Family-owned and operated world market leader
Bausch + Ströbel manufactures machines for processing ready-to-fill syringes.
Bausch + Ströbel features major activities in manufacturing machines for filling and closing ampoules and ready-to-fill syringes with utmost speed and precision.
Since founded in 1967, Bausch + Ströbel has been particulary successful in providing both the national and international markets with well-engineered and innovative solutions. With a current headcount of around 900 people, the company in Ilshofen (Germany) manufactures packaging machines. To be more precise, these are high-precision filling and closing machines tailored and assembled to meet the special needs of the customers. As these machines are used in the medical industry, the requirements for cleanliness and sterility are even more demanding than in the food industry. Errors during filling, caused either by wrong doses or contamination, might have fatal consequences. For this reason, Bausch + Ströbel favors an extraordinary in-house production depth, or in other words: Manufacturing most of the machine components in-house best ensures quality and prompt delivery. Especially because of the confidence customers have in the machines from Ilshofen, Bausch + Ströbel has become well-known in the pharmaceutical industry all around the world. With a whole host of patents, the machines have also set standards in terms of technological progress . Moreover, the company has proudly managed to avoid enforced redundancies since it was founded 42 years ago. The recent purchase of five acres of land around the existing company premises shows that the management strongly believes in the further growth of the company. Even in times of economic crisis Bausch + Ströbel has taken on 37 apprentices this year, spends several millions of euros for building projects and further millions of euros for new machinery and equipment - there is every indication that the company is heading for future expansion.
Since the reorganization of the company ownership in 2007, when the Bausch family left the company, the descendants of Rolf Ströbel and Siegfried Bullinger have been taking increased responsibility in the management, export business, legal advice and marketing divisions. In this way, smooth preparation for further growth is ensured without the loss of know-how.
The founders invented and assembled machines while their wives were looking after the financial side
From the very beginning, the families of the founders of Bausch + Ströbel have been closely involved in the development of the company. As the banks refused to grant a loan, the foundation of the company was financed by private loans from relatives.
While Rolf Ströbel and Siegfried Bullinger were and still are the driving forces behind the company, their wives were looking after the children and keeping the household in order. Yet they were also looking after the financial side: Elisabeth Ströbel worked at the accounting department of the mechanical engineering company and Margot Bullinger was and still is keeping the books for the company subsidiary Flair Park-Hotel Ilshofen.
The ambitious founders of Bausch + Ströbel were not only concerned about the refusal of the banks to grant them a start-up loan, but also about the fact that the small Michelbach-based garage business was refused by the local councils to settle within their boundaries. Schwäbisch Hall, the next bigger town, also gave them the cold shoulder. Even the Ilshofen council decided by a close vote of six to five in favor of the company Bausch + Ströbel which was unknown at that time.
Knowing at that time how things would develop could have saved the founders a few sleepless nights. "I still remember very well that we called customers to remind them of outstanding accounts so that we could pay our staff", said Bullinger. Together with their wives, the young entrepreneurs also managed to overcome this difficult situation.
According to the staff of Bausch + Ströbel, the owners are down-to-earth, not presumptuous or overbearing. "We have always taken only what we needed for living", Ströbel criticizes the self-service mentality.
This has been typical of the company over the years: The bosses are within grasp, know their staff and assist them if they have any problems. Just like in a big family.
