Space for sustainability: Frickenhausen company Winzki expands its production area.

The music player manufacturer has expanded its premises in Benzstraße in Frickenhausen by more than 100 percent to 1500 square meters in mid-November. The reason: The demand for Hörbert, the MP3 player for children, has almost doubled within a year to 8000 devices.

The young company builds the cases from wood and stainless steel, assembles exclusively in Frickenhausen, and constructs the device robustly and simply. The increasing demand proves that Winzki is hitting the nerve of children and their parents. Kindergarten teachers have become aware of Hörbert and are increasingly requesting factory tours. The children are supposed to gain a sense of sustainability and see where and how their portable audio player is built. Therefore, the previous 650 square meters for shipping, production, and storage had simply become too small. “Even our office staff were surrounded by our MP3 boxes and cartons,” says Rainer Brang, managing director and inventor of Hörbert. The Frickenhausen residents with the colorful buttons were lucky: in the same area, a hall became available, which the team was able to move into before the Christmas season. Now a total of 1500 square meters are available. Brang: “We now also have two new products, so the space comes just right for us.” The former software developer now also offers a Hörbert electronic construction kit, as well as a sewing kit for a felt cover in four colors and an retrofitable sleep timer. Now children can fall asleep with their favorite radio play, and parents can determine how long Hörbert continues to play. Also, the team of employees has already grown by four to 17 this year. Because felt, packaging, or modules need to be organized, assembled, and stored. The search for more employees will continue next year, those who enjoy quality and a creative working environment. It starts with hiring a marketing specialist.

“We employ many mothers and professional women returning to work part-time,” says Brang, who as a father of two sons knows the availability issue. Flexibility in personnel deployment must be present, just like in the product itself. Everything should remain high-quality handmade in Germany. “It is important that our employees see and feel the product,” says the managing director. Similarly, the preservation of individuality is a point that distinguishes Hörbert. Inquiries from caregivers in the field of dementia or for people with disabilities have been increasing lately, confirming the successful concept. “A large button for reaching with elbows, hands, or special color requests can make life easier for many,” says the 42-year-old. Therefore, they are now researching to find the suitable solution for people with disabilities.