As a future-oriented family business, a long-term orientation with stable values, sustainability, and long-term customer and supplier relationships are particularly important foundations. Sustainability at Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG is based on these three pillars: economy, social issues and ecology. With passion and social commitment, the plastics expert develops customized solutions from a single source for the medical technology, diagnostics and pharmaceutical industries, taking ecological and economic aspects into account.
Rising demand for bioplastics
Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co.KG already offers its customers alternative raw material solutions based on bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG has been dealing with this topic for several years already and produces precision molded parts made of biodegradable plastics that dissolve over time in contact with water. Moreover, the company has already manufactured individual products made of bioplastics for screw caps. With pilot and pre-series molds, Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG is able to produce biodegradable plastics at short notice according to a flexible, master mold-based prototype concept with individual injection molds for initial trials. Among customers, the issue of sustainability, in the form of ecological alternatives, is increasingly coming into focus. "It is a matter of course for us, as a family business with a long-term orientation, to work for our customers in a future-oriented and, above all, sustainable manner. As a system supplier as well as plastics and clean room specialist, we also offer environmentally friendly solutions based on biodegradable plastics or biopolymers in the fields of diagnostics, medical technology and pharmaceuticals, and implement these together with our customers," says Managing Director Dr. Thomas Jakob.
Investments in innovative and efficient solutions
In addition to the investment in adsorption refrigeration technology, Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG expanded its vehicle fleet by an electric car. Unlike conventional refrigeration machines, adsorption refrigeration machines work without refrigerants. This results in energy savings of around 30 percent. As a result, the company obtains the drive energy it needs from the free waste heat. In addition, so-called hybrid and all-electric injection molding systems ensure efficiency in production, also through low energy consumption. "Through the conscious, careful use of resources and the use of innovative technologies in mold, injection molding and assembly technology, we reduce emissions and minimize our carbon footprint and energy use," says Harald Vlachos, Energy Management Officer at Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG. New mold concepts are always designed and implemented under the aspect of optimal plastic consumption. Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co.KG works according to aspects of ISO 50001 certification.
Recycling - reuse of resources
Where waste cannot be avoided, the entire company fully separates the valuable raw materials. Plastic rejects that are generated during production, for example, are separated by type and thus fed into the recycling loop in a controlled manner. This saved around 250 tons of CO₂ in 2020. "At Wirthwein Medical, quality and sustainability are top priorities. The importance in the company of contributing to environmental protection motivates me in my work every day. We return raw materials that we cannot reuse in the company to the recycling loop," says Environmental Management Officer Jörg Häuser.
Employees' sustainable ideas are taken up and implemented. These include, for example, planting fruit trees on the company premises, implementing a sustainable garden culture or even setting up beehives. Every single employee of Wirthwein Medical GmbH & Co. KG is an elementary and important component in implementing and achieving customer and company goals. "It is important to offer employees development opportunities and to inspire employees for our company in the long term" says Dr. Thomas Jakob.
