Bernd Kussmaul began his career as a lone fighter in the world of motorsports. Today, at the age of 60, he leads a company with 60 employees based in Weinstadt, Baden-Württemberg. What is produced there is difficult to put into words — it’s something you have to see for yourself. And that’s exactly what Green Party state parliament member Petra Häffner and around 20 of her guests recently did by accepting the invitation.
Photocredit: Bernd Kussmaul GmbH
Even in the entrance area, visitors are greeted by a cutaway model of an Audi RS6 engine — a fitting symbol of how the Bernd Kussmaul GmbH success story began. Founded in 1996 and relocated from Winnenden to Weinstadt in 2002, Bernd Kussmaul, owner and managing director, is now responsible for 60 employees — and, as he puts it, for 60 families. That’s exactly what impressed Green Party state parliament member Petra Häffner during her first visit in 2018. “It’s this unique blend of stability, innovation, and down-to-earth values that defines this family-run company,” says Häffner, representative for the Green Party in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament. “At the same time, Manufaktur Kussmaul is a trusted partner to premium car manufacturers, serving clients all over the world. I’ve always found it remarkable just how much is happening right here in the Remstal region.”
Photocredit: Bernd Kussmaul GmbH
And this is something you have to touch — because at Bernd Kussmaul, everything revolves around surfaces and the countless ways they can be refined. A prime example: the world’s first illuminated medals for the 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart — an innovation in the world of sports, made in Weinstadt. One of the company’s key success factors is its ability to explore new technologies through an extensive partner network — and then share the acquired know-how with those partners. These groundbreaking medals, for instance, were developed in collaboration with Staatliche Münzen Baden-Württemberg, which now holds the unique distinction of being able to emboss material up to 3 millimeters high in a single stroke.
Photocredit: Red Dot / Steffen Jahn
“From the very beginning, we’ve found success by operating in a niche — and that’s exactly why we’re consistently recommended as a reliable and trustworthy partner,” says Bernd Kussmaul, reflecting on 27 years of company history. “Even if we sometimes take bold steps and embrace risk.” And that courage pays off. One challenge came from the French luxury brand Bugatti: to build a bicycle weighing less than 5 kilograms. Kussmaul’s solution? Just 4.5 kilos. The latest project from the manufactory, located on the former Jacobi site in Weinstadt, is no less ambitious: the production of the “Red Dot: Best of the Best Trophy”, the prestigious award presented by one of the world’s leading design competitions.
Photocredit: Bernd Kussmaul GmbH (2x)
