With 140 employees, Asma Kunstofftechnik PUR is the largest employer in Weitra.
„We don’t just want to make great products, we also want to be a good employer.“
Interview:
You are not only active in the company as managing director, but also responsible for human resources in the company. What is your top priority?
We not only want to make great products, we also want to be a good employer. For many years we have been working steadily to offer our employees a workplace where they feel comfortable. Here are just a few benefits that our employees are happy to accept: future insurance, flexible working hours, various discounts in the company, a healthy snack and much more.
There have already been several awards for this in recent years. Which ones are you particularly looking forward to?
Yes, our commitment has been recognized several times. We are the only production company in this region to be certified as a family-friendly employer by „Family and Career“. We are particularly proud of the award from Great Place to Work. We are pleased to be among the best employers in Austria again in 2021 (as in 2017). The certificate of company health promotion or the third place in 2020 as a family-friendly company in Lower Austria are a nice feedback and a great motivation.
Image: asma HR department – Nicole Decker and Claudia Steininger (right)
Since it was founded 40 years ago, asma can look back on an impressive success story. What defines success?
My father Maximilian Aspelmayr founded the company in 1980. Together with my mother, he started producing in the garage in the residential building in Wultschau. I am one of the two managing directors and second generation owner of the company. Together with my colleague Thomas Brandeis in the management and the extended management group with my husband Gerhard, the operations manager Markus Wiesmeier and the sales manager Mario Weninger, we make all important decisions and develop strategies in order to be able to further expand our successful course in the future.
What were the highlights in the company’s history?
Fortunately, the company has grown steadily. In 1998 we bought a former textile factory (Respo) in Weitra and adapted it for our production. Our core competence lies in the processing of polyurethane. This is an elastic material which has very good mechanical properties and is very wear-resistant. Our products can be found in all areas of industry, e.g. steel industry, mining, paper industry, ect. As I have already mentioned, we moved from Wultschau to the former Respo building in Weitra in 1999. In 2004, a subsidiary was founded in Poland near Warsaw. Unfortunately, in 2016 we also had to get to know the downsides of life. A major fire massively destroyed parts of the company. In autumn 2020, asma was able to successfully complete an extensive expansion of the company. We are very proud of the new hall, which characterizes the appearance of the company.
What are your wishes for the future?
Asma is still a family business. We currently employ around 140 people. The ultimate goal is certainly to continue to successfully manage asma with a sure hand and good instincts, despite unforeseen influences such as pandemics or economic crises.