This prestigious award, the so-called “Oscar of medium-sized enterprises”, was given to just four enterprises from across Germany this year. After being nominated in 2009 and winning in 2010, this award has once again found its recipient in Schwandorf
On 20 October, at a gala event in Berlin, the winners’ awards were presented. Among 3,600 nominated enterprises from various regions of Germany, “HORSCH Maschinen GmbH” took the win. Horst Keller – commercial director and board member at HORSCH – accepted this award on behalf of all the company’s staff: “Every single employee, from the fitter to the board member, worked hard and contributed to the company’s success, so, above all, this is our shared award for years of hard work. This award motivates us to work even harder. We’re very pleased that, in receiving this award, we can show the public that medium-sized enterprises can remain profitable and competitive even in economically difficult times.
The Oskar-Patzelt-Stiftung foundation assessed enterprises based on the following criteria:
– Enterprise development
– Job creation/preservation
– Modernisation and innovation
– Public activity – service, customer proximity, marketing
In the jury’s view, HORSCH, as a trendsetter in the field of agricultural machinery, meets all the criteria listed above. The jury’s conclusion stated: “HORSCH is one of the most innovative enterprises in its class and has been among the top ten agricultural machinery manufacturers for many years now, specialising in manufacturing seeding, soil-cultivation and crop-protection equipment. The company has been among the ten best-known agricultural machinery manufacturers for several years running. The company’s 2011 turnover was EUR 165 million (net), and its headcount has grown sharply over the past five years, reaching 950 people in 2012.
The company is also active in social work – in 2006, the HORSCH charitable foundation was founded. Its goal is to invest funds in economic projects in various countries to fight poverty, under the leadership of the Christian organisation MEDA. This organisation’s members use their skills and resources to improve countries’ economic development and raise every person’s well-being. HORSCH also supports regional community initiatives in the regions where its factories are located, in Schwandorf, Ronneburg and Landau.”
