(12/2020) KaWe is a traditional company with small devices for medical diagnosis. The company is representative of the German spirit of entrepreneurship and development in medical technology. Old values, modern technology, this is the conclusion of the MTD editorial team when they visited the company, which is run by Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk in the fourth generation.
Family businesses are also stable, solid and reliable in medical technology. This particularly applies to Kirchner & Wilhelm GmbH & Co. KG, or KaWe for short, in Asperg near Stuttgart. "Giving the best for the company and for the employees, as the generations before me did," is a motto of Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk. She has been with the company for 34 years and has been the sole managing partner since 2006. But, for her, “giving the best” also means a change of direction and expansion. After expansion in 2003 and 2008, 1,500 square meters of space in the immediate vicinity were acquired in 2015 and also built on in 2017, although not all of the rooms are currently being used, but are reserved for future expansions. 5 million euros were invested. In total, the operating area now comprises 5,500 square meters. There was a change at KaWe not only with regard to the size of the company. While maintaining traditional values, the markets served and the range of products on offer also changed, whereby the small diagnostic medical technology remained fundamentally true. And above all, the quality of the products of the company, which has now been in existence for 130 years, stands. Violation of this would amount to sacrilege. The certification according to DIN EN ISO 13485 is only proof of the quality standards.
Quality is in the foreground
The 75 employees develop, produce and sell stethoscopes, otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, dermatoscopes, laryngoscopes, diagnostic sets, blood pressure monitors, examination lights, diagnostic instruments for doctors and other products. Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk is a little proud that her company is one of the oldest manufacturers of stethoscopes in Europe. Of course, such a broad product portfolio cannot be produced in-house in full. “With small products and small series, it is uneconomical to have your own CNC turning shop or electroplating. In a global world, development takes place and the production of components is outsourced, ”says Kirchner-Gottschalk, explaining why external contracts are awarded. For KaWe, globalization is also very regional in a positive sense. Most of the orders for components developed in-house are awarded to specialists from the region, with KaWe among others. benefits from the know-how of numerous, long-established suppliers. But product development is in-house. The numerous patents are an indication. A small part of the range is purely commercial goods. When it comes to research and development, the Aspergers also cooperate with external organizations such as the Fraunhofer Institute or the Ulm University of Applied Sciences. With the latter z. B. built a measuring station for the acoustic frequency parameters of stethoscopes. This allows stethoscopes to be tuned for an accurate diagnosis. The fine-tuning makes it possible to diagnose the healthy or diseased heart, vascular, lung or intestinal noises. And blood pressure measurement is even more accurate. This results from the use of the high-quality KaWe stethoscopes, such as B. the Prestige stethoscope. The company offers the right stethoscope for every examination area. The existing products are mature. Of course, leap innovations are not to be expected with an otoscope or laryngoscope. But such products can also be further optimized. Lighting technology in particular has made enormous progress in recent years. The aim is to use only the latest LEDs in all products. "Our aim is to further develop our products, otherwise there will be a standstill," says Kirchner-Gottschalk.
