Story 12: Off to new horizons: asphericon’s new site in the Czech Republic

To supplement its production operation in Jena, asphericon was on the lookout for a new location – somewhere that was closer to the Eastern European market, and where it could establish new technological partnerships. In 2017, it found a suitable site in the Czech city of Jeřmanice.

Being production manager at asphericon, Stefan Roehl was heavily involved in setting up the company’s first branch there on rented premises. He remembers this time well: “Opening our second factory was a huge step for us. In particular, moving the machinery was a major logistical achievement.” The new production lines that were set up were arranged in the same way as in Jena. But there was a snag: “The premises were so small that you could hardly get a cigarette paper between some of the machines. It was like playing Tetris with a forklift!” says Stefan Roehl with a grin, recalling some of the precision manoeuvring required.

First production site of asphericon s.r.o. before the construction of the new building - more practical than comfortable

The valuable experience gained at asphericon’s production plant in Jena was very useful at the new location. The factory’s centrepiece – its in-house software system – had to be installed in Jeřmanice and adapted to the manufacturing processes in order to ensure the same high level of quality. Thomas Kurschel, co-founder and CTO at asphericon, is particularly proud of this: “We got the entire network up and running at the Czech site in just three days. That was a real accomplishment.”

Shell of the company building in 2018

With construction taking only 18 months, the plant opened in November 2019. The project’s rapid implementation was due in no small part to the reliable contractors involved, the company’s own team of employees, and the network of experts from Jeřmanice and the surroundings advising asphericon. The plant’s completion marked the development of asphericon from a startup into an international corporation.

Grand opening on November 22, 2019 with representatives of photonics and politics from Germany and the Czech Republic

asphericon’s Czech plant is just three hours’ drive away from its headquarters in Jena. This short journey time is a clear advantage when it comes to arranging meetings between colleagues from the two sites. Even though during the pandemic a lot of communication took place online, there’s nothing to beat face-to-face meetings! Staff training courses, inter-site collaboration, not to mention shared experiences outside working hours, all create a bond and a family-like atmosphere among colleagues. Cultural differences are regarded as a challenge to be risen to. Constant communication helps, along with the introduction of interface managers at both sites who are in constant liaison with each other. The new plant now employs nearly 30 people working on projects involving aspherical and spherical solutions.

Manufacturing site of asphericon s.r.o.

The planned expansion of the Czech plant with new staff and machines confirms the factory’s success. Stephan Schlegel, head of the purchasing department at asphericon, is delighted: “What’s impressive is the short time in which we achieved everything. Our mechanical engineering and manufacturing processes are of a very high standard. The new factory is an enormous help when it comes to implementing our strategy and our development pathways.”