On-Site in Leonberg

Lewa, a key player for the region’s economy

The lyrics of the song that callers hear in the loop when they ring the mayor say it all: ‘Leonberg is a great place to be …’ Leonberg is located on the outskirts of Stuttgart and is home to a population of 45,000. More people leave the town each day to go to work than come into the city to earn their living. Lewa is the second largest manufacturing company in Leonberg. Any responsible politician would therefore look twice when a company like that changes hands. After all, it directly affects jobs, apprenticeships for young people and, not least, tax revenue.

Mayor Bernhard Schuler is very pleased
about Lewa’s outstanding performance
in a globally competitive field.

“At the time, I told the workforce that the sale to Deutsche Beteiligungs AG was a good solution for the company,” says mayor Bernhard Schuler, who also candidly admits to his initial scepticism over the acquisition. And even though Lewa was the most successful enterprise to be established in Leonberg in the post-war era, he adds, the company’s sale was expected, since there was no successor in the family to take over. Fortunately, Lewa’s performance after the change of ownership quickly dispelled all doubt. “Naturally, in my role as mayor, I would prefer to deal with family owners, since they are generally more approachable – you can rely on what they say,” he explains. “But that was also true of Mr Stütz. He was always as good as his word.”