Major investment at sfm medical devices GmbH in Wächtersbach
At our Wächtersbach site, we will create additional production, logistics, and administrative space over the coming years to ensure sustainable growth, technological advancement, and the highest quality standards.
sfmPLUS represents state-of-the-art manufacturing, efficient processes, and the long-term strengthening of our site in Germany. Our goal is to further expand our expertise in metal and plastics processing, assembly, packaging, and sterilization - and align it even more closely with the needs of our international customers.
A central component of the project is forward-looking factory and building planning, integrating aspects such as process flow, quality, occupational safety, energy efficiency, and sustainability from the very beginning. This will create the foundation for stable supply chains, high scalability, and continued profitable growth.
With sfmPLUS, we are making a deliberate long-term and substantial investment - across generations — in our employees, our technologies, and the future of sfm medical devices.
Putting People First at sfm
With sfmPLUS, we are transforming our headquarters in Wächtersbach, the heart of the sfm Group, into a site designed around people. Our employees are at the core of our success, and this project reflects that belief.
A defining feature of the new facility is the “People Axis.” Along this central spine, our value-creating production areas are arranged. At the same time, it connects key aspects of everyday work life: entrances and exits on both sides of the building, additional parking spaces, modern locker rooms, employee amenities, and an atrium with integrated garden elements. These spaces are designed to create a welcoming environment that encourages connection, collaboration, and moments of quiet reflection.
At a later stage, we will also add a new main entrance and a conveniently located cafeteria designed to serve employees, visitors, and guests.
To accommodate growth in our administrative functions, we originally considered constructing a separate three-story office building. We consciously decided against that approach. Instead, office spaces will be integrated directly into the factory environment. Bringing administrative and production teams closer together strengthens collaboration across functions and enhances communication between areas such as product development and manufacturing.
This creates new connections throughout the organization. Direct lines of sight make production more visible and an even more integral part of daily work life. Manufacturing, production-related administration, and development teams will work more closely together, fostering stronger interaction and a deeper understanding of each other’s contributions.
The result is not only better collaboration but also a stronger sense of shared purpose. Shorter distances, greater interaction, and a common understanding of what we do help make us a stronger company.
Our employees are not the only ones who benefit. In the future, customers and visitors will be able to experience firsthand, in a transparent and authentic way, how we work and how our products are made while moving along the People Axis.
The future is created where trust meets courage.
Our shareholders, the owners of our company, think in generations rather than quarters. They have entrusted us with the confidence to pursue this vision. Together with our leadership team and supported by our Advisory Board, we are shaping the long-term future of sfm. This long-term perspective and entrepreneurial independence are among the unique strengths of a privately owned mid-sized company.
The future of our manufacturing starts with a digital twin
How do you plan a modern factory today? No longer with just 2D drawings and layout plans, but with a highly realistic digital representation of the existing production environment.
As part of our sfmPLUS project, our current manufacturing facility was fully captured by SEAD Mission 360° using state-of-the-art 3D scanning technology. This process generated a highly accurate point cloud of our production environment, complemented by 360° photographic imaging to realistically depict surfaces, textures, and colors.
Using this data, detailed 3D models of our equipment and production areas are being created. Together with the factory planning experts at Dr. Schönheit + Partner, we are using these models to virtually design and optimize our future manufacturing environment long before the first machines are relocated.
This approach provides significant advantages:
Virtual walkthroughs of the future factory during the planning phase
Early identification of bottlenecks and optimization opportunities
Improved material flow and more efficient machine and equipment layouts
Faster, better-informed decisions through realistic simulations
Fewer planning revisions and change cycles during implementation
Early involvement of our employees, who can experience and help shape their future work environment before it becomes reality
The images below provide an impressive illustration of the journey from the 3D scan and point cloud to the virtual visualization of our production environment.
A powerful example of how modern technology, collaborative partnerships, and advanced planning expertise are creating the foundation for the factory of the future.
Many thanks to SEAD Mission 360° for the digital capture of our facility and to Dr. Schönheit + Partner for their partnership in the development and planning of sfmPLUS. Together, we are laying the groundwork for more efficient processes, shorter implementation timelines, and sustainable growth.
Building Permit Application Submitted for sfmPLUS
Important Milestone for the Future of Our Site
A significant step has been achieved for our future-focused project, sfmPLUS: the building permit application for the planned expansion of our site has been officially submitted to the responsible building authority by our architectural firm, Dr. Schönheit + Partner.
With sfmPLUS, we are creating the foundation for continued growth and making a targeted investment in the long-term development of both our company and the Wächtersbach site. The project represents an important component of sfm’s future strategy and underscores our strong commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainable growth.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of this milestone is that the building permit application was submitted entirely digitally through the authority’s new online approval process. This enabled the complete application process to be handled efficiently and in a forward-looking manner.
Throughout the planning phase, sfm and the architectural team worked closely with the relevant authorities. The constructive discussions and positive feedback received on the project give us confidence as we move forward with the next steps toward bringing sfmPLUS to life.
The successful preparation and submission of the building permit application are the result of the close collaboration of numerous employees and various departments. Their commitment, expertise, and support played a key role in achieving this important milestone. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved for their valuable contributions.
