Politics meets industry

As part of our regular visits to Hagen companies, we were pleased to welcome our mayor, Erik O. Schulz, and Dr. Christopher Schmitt from Hagen’s Economic Development Department.

The current macroeconomic situation dominated the two-hour discussion. The focus was on how the city administration can best support Hagen’s companies in the future. We reported on the positive experiences we’ve had with economic development in recent years. Claudia Klein, Green Coach for Economic Development, has been supporting Schlager Industrieofenbau GmbH for some time now, both with funding programs and through the city’s network.

Thomas Hüttenhein emphasized that the companies’ primary concern was not financial support, but rather the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles through open and constructive dialogue. The goal is to work with the city administration to increase Hagen’s attractiveness – a crucial factor in counteracting the exodus of companies and skilled workers. Hagen’s convenient location, especially after the successful renovation of the infrastructure, could become a key growth driver for the entire region. The constructive discussion concluded with a tour of the company’s facilities, during which Schlager Industrieofenbau GmbH was able to demonstrate its technological expertise. The two visitors were particularly impressed by the all-electric rotary earth furnace with a diameter of almost six meters. This energy-efficient electric furnace will heat forged parts for the aerospace industry starting at the end of the year – not in Germany, but at our French neighbors.

This is a reason to encourage the outgoing mayor’s successor to seek proximity to the local economy, continue to support economic development, and help ensure that Hagen companies continue to invest in the future! We have already extended an invitation to the future mayor to visit us. It remains to be seen whether the invitation will be accepted.