The acceptance of social responsibility due to regard for economical, ecological and social aims is one of the most important fundamental principles for Christoph Maaß, as managing director of the NorddeutscheTeppichfabrik.
"Sustainability" is the present day term for this basic principle which has been practiced at NORDPFEIL for many years. Hubertus Rösel, the current general manager’s grandfather, also managed the Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik according to the principles of sustainability.
Excellence
The Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik has always been planned round the principles of ecology. The surrounding woods were largely maintained during planning, construction and expansion of the Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik and the production buildings were harmoniously integrated into the landscape. In 1969, the company was awarded a silver badge from the Ministry for the Environment and Town Planning in a state competition for „industry in the landscape“.
A founding member of GUT
Furthermore, NORDPFEIL is one of the founding members of GUT-Gemeinschaft umweltfreundlicher Teppichboden e.V (association of environmentally-friendly carpets).
All products meet the strict criteria of the association, such as regarding the safety of the raw materials used as well as the end product, and are therefore awarded the GUT seal of excellence.
Everything under one roof
The Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik has been producing everything "under one roof" at all stages of production since the 1960s.
In addition to its own development department, NORDPFEIL also has an in-house spinning mill and dye house. Furthermore, the carpet flooring can not only be tufted but also woven; a method of production which is particularly suitable for heavy wear areas.
Full-stage production means that energy consumption and environmentally damaging transport is not required along with the use of packaging for the intermediate products. All subsequent refinements, technical checks and order-related packing are carried out on site at Geesthacht. The Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik therefore has a unique market position in Germany.
Low emissions thanks to combined heat and power systems
In terms of energy supplies, we turned towards efficient, environmentally-friendly systems very early on in Geesthacht.
In 1998, a combined heat and power system was erected on the company premises in a joint-venture project with the local town utility council. The CHP units mean that electrical energy and usable heat are produced simultaneously. The unit has an electrical power of 5.2 megawatts and produces 44.000.000 kWh of electricity each year. The waste heat which is produced creates steam which NORDPFEIL uses for the operation of machines and the heating of all company buildings. Excess steam is also used for warm water production and is fed into the Geesthacht district heating network. Since the initialisation of this system, the consumption of heavy oils and the emissions values, which were already low, have been reduced by a further 50% – a significant contribution to relieving the environment.
Employee assets
The most important asset at the Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik is its employees. The economic success of the company was seen and is still seen by the company management by achieving a secure standard of life for many families - some families have several members from different generations working at NORDPFEIL.
Working with customers and suppliers
The partnerships have been maintained for many decades in a lot of cases. The results of these successful business relationships
include a constant high quality of raw materials which means that the Norddeutsche Teppichfabrik can keep their products at the
same high level of quality.
In addition to the priority the company is giving to provide highest standards of service, it is always striving to find the best possible solution to comply with customers' requirements.