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By Romy Altmann-Kuehr
Thomas Krüger will never forget this big job: The Seville stadium roof. Even though it was several years ago, it remains in his memory. In 1998, the Neugersdorf-based company Heytex provided the huge roof for the Olympic Stadium with a special coating and delivered it to Spain. It is just one of numerous exciting orders in the company's now 30-year history. In 1993, Heytex tied up with the textile industry in the Oberland. At that time, the Heytex company based in Bramsche in Lower Saxony, the Neugersdorf operation from the Treuhand.
Thomas Krüger has been with the company for 30 years - and even longer. The production manager still knows the company from GDR times. He started here in 1987, when the company was still called Gutex and was one of the largest employers in the area after Lautex. Even then, textiles were coated and finished in the plant.
From Neugersdorf to the whole world
This is still the case today. What has changed, however, are the products for which Heytex coats fabrics. "We started out with normal truck tarpaulins," Thomas Krüger and his colleague Pawel Taczala remember. He has been with the company almost as long, since 1994. In the meantime, deliveries are made worldwide. That is the profession of shipping manager Pawel Taczala. "By shipping container, truck, train or plane, our products go all over the world," he says. The U.S. and China are large markets, and the whole of Europe anyway. The company is currently trying to gain a foothold in South America.
Heytex buys raw fabric and coats it. The fabric webs are stored on huge rolls in the factory hall and await further processing. The rolls weigh tons and are so large that they have to be clamped onto the holders by crane and can also only be moved using heavy technology. Up to 3,000 meters of fabric are wound onto a roll. The fabric weighs around 180 grams per square meter. Coated textiles can weigh more than three and a half kilos per square meter. "But then there are only 500 meters on the roll," says Thomas Krüger with a smile - in view of the enormous weight that comes together.
Various coatings are used in production, depending on the intended use. The company is active for almost all industries. The coated textiles are used, for example, in the food industry, here for lining wine presses or on conveyor belts in food production. A special coating is required for use with food. "After-Eight chocolates run over textiles made by Heytex," says shipping manager Pawel Taczala. Sporting goods are made from Heytex fabrics, such as stand-up paddles or gymnastic mats, oil booms that are used when an oil tanker leaks in the sea. One major customer is the door and gate manufacturer Hörmann.
Open to all - joining the late shift for the first time
"We are a specialty store," says plant manager Jean Oertel jokingly. It is well known in the industry that textiles for all kinds of applications can be coated in Neugersdorf. "Because we are not so large and can produce smaller quantities, we can also respond individually to special customer requests," says the plant manager. Depending on the order, the employees in Neugersdorf develop the appropriate finishing.
Although this is well known in business circles, Heytex is one of the hidden champions in the region that only a few people know about. The company now wants to change that and is taking part for the first time on November 3 in the "Late shift" takes part. On this day from 4 to 10 p.m., companies open their doors to the curious. The "late shift" is primarily aimed at schoolchildren who want to find out about career opportunities. But of course, anyone can take a look inside the company there. Jean Ortel hopes that new blood will also be found in this way. "We currently have two trainees again. The last few years we didn't find any at all." The company would be happy to train more young people - for example in the laboratory, as machine operators, warehouse logistics specialists or in the office. Currently, the company is looking for a mechatronics technician or electronics technician.
Currently are in Neugersdorf 72 employees. This is the highest number since Heytex was founded in Neugersdorf. It all started 30 years ago with just a dozen employees. Plant manager Jean Oertel herself is one of the younger additions. The graduate process engineer has been the boss at the Neugersdorf site since April of this year. She now also has the task of mastering the challenges of the current era. Alternative energy is a major issue here. Up to now, the plant has relied one hundred percent on gas as an energy supplier. "We have to think about how we can become more independent," says Jean Oertel.
Sustainability is another important keyword. Up to now, PVC coating has been used. The vision is to develop a PVC-free coating, but one that is just as robust and waterproof.
About Heytex:
- Heytex Neugerdorf GmbH is part of the Heytex Group. This group produces functionalized technical textiles at five locations worldwide (Germany, Netherlands, USA, China) on three continents.
- Heytex Neugersdorf produced 4.5 million square meters in 2022 and made 30 million euros in sales.
- There are 72 employees at the site.
