Spartherm - The Fire Company

~~Under one roof: research, development, manufacture – and series production

SPARTHERM Feuerungstechnik GmbH manufactures about 60,000 stoves and fireplace inserts each year – from the top seller to the custom unit

In 1986, nearly 30 years ago, Gerhard Manfred Rokossa, the current head of the firm, founded SPARTHERM Feuerungstechnik GmbH in Melle near Osnabrück as a metalworking shop with two employees back then. He now runs the company with his son, Frank.

Today, SPARTHERM has nearly 900 employees in Germany and Poland. The company makes turnover of EUR 60 million and produces around 60,000 stoves and fireplace inserts each year for export to 50 countries.

The production, storage and exhibition space covering 22,500 m2 at the company's Melle headquarters gives an idea of the dimensions the enterprise has now reached. For many years it has ranked as one of the leading manufacturers of modern fireplaces in Germany and Europe, as well as one of the most technically innovative.

But unlike many of its competitors, this firm does not just produce “off the peg”. As well as ultramodern production processes including innovative CAD technology, sophisticated 3D programs and CNC controlled production, this company still makes things by hand, following a good old tradition – with outstanding results. Cutting, polishing, galvanizing and enamelling are carried out at the company’s own factory. Entirely to the customer’s particular requirements.

Modern storage technology is coming in – with 30 per cent growth rates

However, the future is not so much about fire as about water. The big trend now is for intelligent storage technology, with annual growth rates of 30 per cent being achieved by the water-heating stoves and fireplace inserts developed and constantly optimized by SPARTHERM and the company’s Helix, Thermobox and Magnetherm product ranges.

Some figures: 11,000 tonnes of steel, 42,000 litres of dipping dye, 6,000 m2 window glass and 40,000 shaped panes – round, curved, prismatic or angled – speak for themselves and illustrate what it means to indulge in a passion more and more people are catching on to: the elemental force of fire.

At the company’s Polish site in Strzelce Krajenskie, not far from its founder’s Silesian home town, about 250 units are produced every day and the trend is an upward one. Once again, the bare figures are impressive: the throughput time for one unit is 45 minutes. Two to three fully laden lorries leave the factory every day for Melle. And ten metalworkers follow apprenticeships there each year.

There’s lots of coming and going, with a substantial fleet of about 70 vehicles, from the truck with the lifting platform to the service van to the show truck, as well as brisk trade between the two neighbouring states in Central Europe.

Innovative technology combined with traditional craftsmanship

But back to the development and design centre in Melle. Innovative technologies and traditional craftsmanship are not incompatible here. Quite the opposite, in fact: they actually complement and benefit each other. Toolmaking and, above all, automation of the production processes allow any particular heating cassette or fireplace insert to be made – and in a remarkably short time.

The two plants are linked by a SAP IT solution that comprises all the steps of processing, evaluation and documentation from the purchase order to booking a new order right through to delivery of the goods to the customer. Accounts, payroll accounting and materials management are all connected into the system. SPARTHERM has already won several awards for this, as an innovative enterprise in the field of forward-looking production technologies and modern IT systems.

For all that, the company’s founder has always remained firmly grounded. His family is important to him. And that doesn’t just mean his son and his wife, Ulrike. His employees are part of the family, too. So it’s hardly surprising that, in the opinion of neutral auditors, the workplace safety standards are ‘exemplary’.

For more visit www.spartherm.com.

SPARTHERM – THE FIRE COMPANY

Spartherm

We create something special for you! If you want to experience the special warmth of a stove or fireplace insert, then Spartherm is the right choice for you. This is our daily mission .

Our values are founded on the especially high quality of our products. As a family-run business, our name stands for top quality and modern design.

The way we see it, we are one with our customers and our products. Above all, we are passionate about what we do.