60 years of Beck+Heun
From an idea to industry-wide technology leader
When Reinhold Beck invented the concrete roller shutter box in 1962, nobody could have guessed that it would develop into one of the most important companies in the industry. Today, 60 years later, Beck+Heun GmbH, with more than 600 employees at three locations, is the technology leader in roller shutter boxes. Dozens of patents testify to the innovative strength of the family-run company, now in its third generation.
In the 1960s, ROLLER SHUTTERS were installed in sheet metal boxes on the façade, if at all. Reason enough for Reinhold Beck to congenially combine lintel and roller shutter box. Initially produced for the company's own needs, demand for the load-bearing concrete roller shutter box grew steadily. Soon afterwards, series production began in a company founded by Beck+Heun. Less than six years later, company co-founder and namesake Willi Heun left the company. The name Beck+Heun remained, as it was already known far beyond the delivery borders.
Expansion in the kitchen
"The next big step towards the future began in the kitchen of senior boss Ursula Beck," recalls Managing Director Bernhard Beck. It was here that an unconventional BASF representative demonstrated the expansion of rigid foam in the cooking pot for polystyrene, which was still relatively unknown at the time. Reinhold Beck recognized the possibilities and pushed ahead with the production of roller shutter boxes made of EPS rigid foam. As neither the technology nor the appropriate machines were available, everything was developed in-house and production began in 1969.
Economically valuable inventions
The new material eliminated the two biggest disadvantages of the successful concrete roller shutter boxes: their high weight and poor thermal insulation. This further boosted the acceptance of the "new" roller shutter box. Thermal insulation remained the focus of the inventive company founder. In 1981, an insulating formwork system developed by Reinhold Beck was patented, and two years later it was recognized by the Hessian Minister of Economics as an economically valuable invention.
Two new locations
In 1990, Beck+Heun moves to the new federal states: a former production cooperative of the skilled trades in Erfurt is reprivatized and continued as Rollei GmbH. This means that the entire Beck+Heun product range is also quickly available in the new federal states. In the same year, the 2nd generation of the Beck family takes over the management of the company. By renting a hall near Augsburg, the third location opens in 1998 and the Beck+Heun South branch is founded. The development, production and sale of tiled roller shutter boxes remain the main focus of this location.
Focus on sustainability
Sustainability has been an important issue for the technology leader from a very early stage. As early as 1993, production waste and scraps were shredded and recycled in the company's own recycling plant. Today, PV modules can be found on all load-bearing roof surfaces of the company buildings, the lighting has been converted to LED lamps and the vehicle fleet has been gradually converted to e-mobility. Step by step, the company has developed a zero-waste production process and is taking all options for the sustainable use of energy into account in the current construction of the new aluminum center.
Unique variety
The incredibly wide range is characteristic of the roller shutter box specialist from Mengerskirchen. More than almost any other manufacturer, Beck+Heun offers suitable roller shutter boxes for almost all common masonry materials and dimensions. The diversity of the product range has also been extended to include privacy and sun protection. At the same time, the focus remains on further development: in addition to boxes that are closed on the room side, highly insulating and burglar-resistant, Beck+Heun is considered the inventor of the top-mounted box, which can be individually configured for any available window profile.
Trendsetter in construction
As part of the product improvements, two relevant additional functions have been integrated into the roller shutter box: the PLATINUM® stabilization system, which is still unique today, and the AIRFOX® decentralized ventilation system. The latest innovation is the complete window system WINDOWMENT®. With this unique complete system, the window, shading unit with roller shutter, external venetian blind or ZIP screen and matching drive technology as well as the internal and external window sill are installed in the rising masonry at an early stage in just one work step on the construction site.
Focus on customer satisfaction
Many of the new or further product developments are based on customer suggestions. "For all our innovative spirit, customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do," explains Sales Manager Matthias Gangeler. "What use is the most innovative product development if it fails to meet our customers' needs," adds Philipp Beck. The resourceful roller shutter box professionals repeatedly use customer events such as trade fairs to present prototypes. "Here we can capture customer reactions directly on the new product and incorporate them into the final phase of the new launch," says Matthias Gangeler, emphasizing the importance of customer proximity.
Win-win situation thanks to digitalization
The digitalization promoted by Jonas Beck, the youngest member of the management team, promises even more customer benefits while simultaneously optimizing the production process. "Of course, many sub-areas are already digital, but the connecting link is missing in order to achieve sustainable process optimization," Jonas Beck makes clear. This is to be achieved with the recently launched RokaConnect online portal, among other things. Here, the customer can configure and order the roller shutter box online, tailored to the property and equipped with all the desired extras, including error checking. This saves time, which translates into shorter delivery times. "A win-win situation for both sides," says a delighted Jonas Beck.
Tested quality
Customer satisfaction is closely linked to product and production quality. To ensure that Beck+Heun products fulfill all the promised properties, they are thoroughly tested in advance. In the test center set up specifically for this purpose at the Mengerskirchen site, the equipment is not only standard-compliant, but was largely purchased directly from test centers or from test center suppliers or developed and built in-house. A unique feature for manufacturers is the in-house sound measurement room, in which, for example, the sound insulation of boxes with and without additional equipment such as fans is tested.
Practical solutions for the future too
Beck+Heun is extremely confident about the future. "We assume that we will not only recognize the megatrends in ten years' time, but also set some trends in our industry ourselves," Philipp Beck makes clear. "At the same time, we are working on further improving ourcarbon footprint and optimizing existing processes through digitalization. After all, we want to continue to grow with our team," adds Jonas Beck. "Despite all the dynamism, customer proximity and the associated dialog will remain important to us in the coming years," adds Matthias Gangeler. "Because there is one thing we still want to be in ten years' time: the reliable partner for practical problem solutions."
Three generations of the founding Beck family with Beck+Heun managing directors Bernhard, Philipp (3rd and 4th from left) and Jonas (member of the management, 2nd from right) as well as senior manager Ursula Beck (center).
