Sustainable corporate management has been firmly anchored in WIKA since its founding 75 years ago. As is usual in family businesses, we think in terms of generations rather than quarters. Our corporate guidelines define our social responsibility, as well as our responsibility towards the environment.
“We are committed to our social responsibility, secure jobs and a clean environment.”
With our 75th anniversary, we are starting the next chapter and aligning our sustainability strategy with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2023, we will publish our first sustainability report and show our path to becoming, as far as possible, a sustainable company.
WIKA already complies with all national and international environmental legislation. In addition to the highest quality, continuous attention is also paid to energy savings in manufacturing. New buildings, for example, take energy efficiency into account and integrate thermal recovery systems. CEO Alexander Wiegand has been committed to this since 1996 and, in this way, is successfully continuing his family's legacy.
As a family business, valuing our employees is particularly close to our hearts. Trust, cooperation and the promotion of strong personal qualities play a major role in employee culture.
Trust
Jürgen Reinhard, Technical Manager, WIKA Germany
Will to change
Ma Chi, Assembly Worker, WIKA China
Innovation
Angeline Wang, Project Manager, WIKA China
Accountability
Luke Cochran, Controller, WIKA USA
Appreciation and diversity
Nayara Camargo, Process Analyst, WIKA Brazil
Cooperation
Beatrice Colabraro, Distribution Team Leader, Southern Europe
SDGs stands for “Sustainable Development Goals”, also known as the 17 goals for sustainable development. All 193 member states of the United Nations set these targets in 2015. They therefore apply equally to industrialised, emerging and developing countries. They are intended to ensure sustainable development at the environmental, social and economic level. The goals must always be considered in relation to each other, as the three levels are interconnected.
WIKA is already actively contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. The following figure shows some examples of the individual objectives. We are continuously working to contribute more to the SDGs, especially internationally. It is also of great concern to WIKA to improve in the future, so that the UN 2030 Agenda can be realised.
Details on the individual sectors can be found in the Environment, Social and Governance tabs, as well as in Success stories.
The protection of the environment plays a special role at WIKA. This is also reflected in the certification of the WIKA headquarters in Klingenberg in accordance with the international ISO 14001 environmental management standard. In addition to the location in Klingenberg, the manufacturing subsidiaries in Switzerland, China, Brazil, Poland and India, among others, fulfil the requirements of ISO 14001.
For this purpose, WIKA draws up a departmental environmental programme every year, which is regularly reviewed and further developed. The employees are thus motivated to behave in an environmentally conscious manner and to contribute new ideas. Training courses and employee information complete the programme. They are designed to promote awareness and responsibility for environmental protection and energy-saving behaviour among all employees in a targeted manner.
Comprehensive energy-saving and the associated environmental protection are, alongside the high quality of the products and efficient occupational health and safety, equally important goals in the company. Here, WIKA complies with prevailing national and international environmental laws and regulations. Since 2013, more than 6.4 million kWh have already been saved through energy savings:
Savings in energy consumption in kWh/year compared to the reference year 2012
WIKA has always been committed to social issues. The emphasis is on employees and the promotion of regional and international projects. The commitment ranges from one-off campaigns to long-term cooperation and partnerships. The projects we support are partly initiated by the employees and partly by the company itself.
Support for employees
The company wants to offer employees a pleasant working environment. On average, they have worked at WIKA for 16 years (average in Germany: 10 years). Employees' wishes and suggestions are listened to and, where possible, implemented. Among others, the following have been available in Klingenberg for many years:
- Kieser Training as well as use of the cardio room on the factory premises
- WIKA bus and subsidised rail subscription to aid travel to work
- WIKA Canteen with breakfast and lunch menus
Support around education
Education is very close to WIKA's heart. Therefore, there are many long-standing partnerships, cooperations and offers in this area. For example, in Klingenberg and the surrounding area these are:
- WIKAlino children's day care centre
- Dr. Konrad Wiegand School
- Mosbach Dual University
- Aschaffenburg Technical University of Applied Sciences
- WIKA summer camp for children and young people
Support around the world
WIKA supports the Tharangini Matha Boarding Manginipudi boarding school in India. Children from rural families are often unable to exercise their right to education and health. By supporting the school, the boys and girls have the opportunity to receive a good education, good food, accommodation and sanitary facilities:
- 56 children are learning in the school
- Visit by Alexander Wiegand in 2016
- 10 years of financial support with another 5 years planned
Support for social projects
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” - Brundtland definition
As a family-owned company, WIKA sees economic stability as the basis for sustainable management.
Examples of sustainable, economic action at WIKA
- Foundation of the company WIBuy by the apprentices in 2019. Machinery and accessories that are no longer needed are sold via the online platform eBay. The resulting profits are donated to the Dr. Konrad Wiegand Foundation.
- Creation of the Code of Conduct for all companies of the WIKA Group in 2020. This has been mandatory for WIKA employees and suppliers ever since.
- Compliance with legal requirements and other obligations in order to ensure the protection of employees and the environment. Likewise, the self-commitment to comply with legal and official requirements applies to ensuring product conformity.
- Promoting cooperation with external service providers, for example in Germany with RENE AG in the context of WEEE for the correct disposal of electrical and electronic equipment in certified facilities.
- Acquisition of innovative companies, e.g. T-S-T Trennmembran-System-Technik GmbH, which specialises, among other things, in the repair of diaphragm seal systems. This allows - in terms of sustainability - the product life cycle to be extended, which, in turn, is in line with the idea of a circular economy.
- Construction of a new development centre in accordance with the KFW70 energy standard. Space for around 450 employees in the heart of the company headquarters in Klingenberg to stimulate communication, new ideas and pioneering innovations.
When it comes to sustainability, WIKA makes a significant contribution with technical know-how in combination with the quality and precision of the products offered.
Because: “Sustainability begins with measurement.“
Through innovative solutions and a wide range of products, WIKA supports customers with every measurement, in diverse applications, to promote sustainable process improvements. We are also working constantly on expanding our product portfolio in order to continue to provide customers with the best-possible support on their path towards sustainability. Through the newly built development centre, WIKA will continue to promote this innovative and creative product development in the future.
Examples of successful areas of application:
