The production of razor blades was once a sharp business – today, Schmalz is the world market leader in vacuum technology, and its executives are committed to sustainability, education, and regional development . For this, they have now been awarded the Order of Merit of the State of Baden-Württemberg.
W. Schmalz, W. Kretschmann, K. Schmalz (from left)
Kurt Schmalz and Wolfgang Schmalz received the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg from the long-serving Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann. The state's highest honor recognizes their entrepreneurial achievements as well as their long-standing commitment to society.
Kretschmann awarded the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg to the brothers, who have shaped the economy and society in the Northern Black Forest for decades. Kretschmann said: "With their achievements, their talents and their personalities, with their professional ethics and their understanding of their duties, they have rendered outstanding service to our community, to Baden-Württemberg."
Long-term commitment
Together, Kurt and Wolfgang Schmalz transformed the family business J. Schmalz from the grandfather's razor blade factory intotoday's successful provider of modern automation solutions. Kurt Schmalz has been the company's managing partner since 1984, and his son Johannes Schmalz joined the management team in 2025. Wolfgang Schmalz served as managing partner from 1990 to 2017 before stepping down from operational responsibilities. Today, he is a shareholder and chairman of the advisory board.
The medium-sized company relies on solar energy, wind power, and other renewable energy sources. Kurt Schmalz is a co-initiator of the Campus Schwarzwald in Freudenstadt, a center that imparts expertise in digitalization, leadership, and responsible business practices. For almost two decades, he has also served as Vice President of the Northern Black Forest Chamber of Industry and Commerce and is active at the national level in the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce. He also actively supports social projects such as the work of the Diakonie Dornstetten-Glatten-Schopfloch.
Vice President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Wolfgang Schmalz drew on his experience for many years as a member of the state government's advisory board for sustainable development. He also participated in the "Dialogue on the Future of Germany" under former Chancellor Angela Merkel and in the Economic Initiative for Sustainability. Together with his wife Esther, he founded the Schmalz Foundation, which supports projects worldwide, including a photovoltaic plant in Namibia.
