eggersmann & Partners Factory Tours Fall 2024
Factory Experience Highlights
In September 2024, eggersmann USA hosted a trip for its concierge program customers and some of its designers and technical team to visit the eggersmann factory in Hiddenhausen, Germany. The group also visited partner suppliers: Schmalenbach factory in Gummersbach, Schwanekamp stone crafters in Gescher, and CUBIC Outdoor Living’s new factory in Oberleichtersbach-Haghof. In addition to seeing behind the scenes how eggersmann’s luxury cabinetry and solutions are created, the group enjoyed sightseeing, fun activities, and exceptional food.
If you are a designer, builder, or architect, learn more about how to join our Concierge Program to perhaps join us on a future Factory Experience tour.
The eggersmann factory is both state-of-the-art and full of craftspeople who are true artisans utilizing new and old technologies to create one of a kind cabinetry and other precision engineered solutions for modern home living.
German Factory Trip Video
Enjoy the highlights of this fun and informational trip in the video below with the full story below.
Day 1 – Train & Bus to Billerbeck, Germany
After an overnight flight between Newark and Frankfurt, the group arrived mid-morning. After breezing through EU Border Control and Customs, they made their way to the Flughafen Frankfurt long distance train station adjacent to the airport. The 3-hour train ride traveled rapidly through western central Germany’s countryside and the cities of Bonn, Cologne, and Dusseldorf on its way to Münster. In Münster, a sprinter bus was ready to whisk the group to Billerbeck for a restful evening at the Hotel Weissenburg.
The welcoming hotel offered spectacular views over the countryside that lay between Billerbeck’s town square feature its twin-spired dom, Propsteikirche St. Ludgerus. This landmark is a Catholic church built in the late 1800s with exceptional architecture and stained glass windows. A couple of the group walked the 1-1/2 miles to the dom to explore the town, but most enjoyed the comfortable hotel and the red stag farm in its backyard.
Dinner at the hotel feature traditional Westphalian fare. The group thoroughly enjoyed the food and the special guests, Michael Brinkjost of eggersmann Gmbh and the owners of Schwanekamp Gmbh, a brother and sister team carrying on their family’s tradition of stone crafting.
Day 2 – Schwanekamp unique Stone Factory
At the family-owned Schwanekamp stone crafting factory, the group was greeted by the third generation owners, a brother and sister team, Stephanie and Jan. In fact, the family homes of the 2 generations are next to the factory and showroom in the eclectic, but very tranquil neighborhood where residential use is only permitted if there is a business located in the home. So interesting!
They and their father, Walter, before them, have collaborated with eggersmann for decades to deliver specialty stone finishes and applications such as eggersmann’s unique cabinetry collection.
The group enjoyed the behind-the-scenes tours among specialty machinery and experienced stone artisans.
Then the group enjoyed a locally catered lunch in the Schwanekamp showroom. Following lunch, the group explored the various stones and finish samples. Then some of the latest innovations such as a large-scale mobile device charging under a stone surface that enables charging 2 phones or a larger tablet device.
A bus carried the group to Herford where they checked in to the Innercity Hotel that is across the street from the contemporary art museum, MARTa Herford. Some of the group rested and others walked to a local grocery, Edeka. Then they were treated to a walking tour of the city.
Tour highlights included the Old Town, a treasure trove of historical architecture and charming streets. Beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the Middle Ages are surrounded by cobblestone. The Herford Cathedral is an awe-inspiring example of Gothic architecture that stands as a testament to the city’s rich history.
Every turn offered more delights from whimsical fountains to monuments celebrating historic figures to modern shopping.
Following the tour, the group gathered at Elsbachhaus for a delicious meal with appetizers and sides served family style. Michael Wunram, Leon Wunram, Michael Brinkjost, and Anke Eigengrod from eggermann joined the group for dinner. For some, the evening ended with a German favorite nightcap of schnapps.
Day 3 – eggersmann Cabinetry Factory & Veneer Shop
eggersmann Factory Tour
The group was welcomed by eggersmann Gmbh senior leaders: Michael Wunram, owner, Michael Brinkjost, sales; and Anke Eigenbrod, marketing. Then the group ventured into the factory floor seeing first hand how the cabinetry is created using precision computer-controlled machinery and artisans who perform tasks that machines cannot as well as oversee the machine operations. The eggersmann craftsmanship is truly one that takes the precision and repeatability of machinery matched with the experience and artistry of cabinetmakers.
Then the group toured the cabinetry showroom featuring the latest finishes, innovations, and designs. Highlights included the artful nami kitchen island in a hideaway kitchen featuring depot doors and the SKYWALK kitchen island.
A delicious lunch was catered in the showroom giving everyone the opportunity to explore the display kitchens on their own and chat with the eggersmann representatives. Interesting discussions about favorite materials such as linoleum and glass cabinetry as well as the attention to detail and quality of the cabinetry were heard throughout the showroom.
A special treat awaited the group in a corridor of the eggersmann Germany showroom: an original model of the first eggersann kitchen unit ever made. A family in Hiddenhausen was remodeling and offered the treasured unit to the eggersmann showroom. Its pristine condition is evidence that quality and durability have always been hallmarks of eggersmann.
Veneer Shop Tour
A bus picked the group up from the eggersmann factory for a short journey to the family-owned veneering shop where they learned about the painstaking process of selecting woods from around the world, then slicing them paper-thin to artistically apply them to cabinet substrate.
The depth of experience and talent required to perform the veneering tasks seemed unbelievable. Some wood veneers are stitched together with a specialty glue to create wide veneers. The technology used in the veneering shop is another example of the marriage of the best of technology and skilled artisans.
Dinner was a spectacular barbecue buffet with a wide variety of fresh vegetables, farm-fresh cheeses, and classic German desserts. The restaurant, von Laer, is set in the countryside in an old farmhouse with goats and chickens roaming the surrounding grounds.
Day 4 – Schmalenbach Factory & Showroom Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, the group boarded a bus coach for a 2-hour drive through the countryside to Gummersbach. Owner, Karsten Schmalenbach, along with his parents greeted the group into the Schmalenbach cabinetry showroom.
They had prepared a catered lunch with a local bartender serving up delicious libations on “opening day” of the impressive Schmalenbach bar display in the showroom.
Following lunch, the group left the showroom through a back entrance that led directly into the factory. Quality and attention-to-detail were seen at every station from the CNC machines that using instructions entered in the office drill holes and indentations with great precision to the jewelry drawer insert station where upholstered inserts are hand glued with great care.
The showroom tour of closets, media walls, bedrooms, bar, and other home living solutions were the perfect way to see the results of the factory full of talented artisans.
Then the group checked in to Das Steinmueller Hotel. An elegant hotel adjacent to shopping and restaurants. At dinner time, the group enjoyed dinner at 32 Süd. Some enjoyed burgers while others indulged in large salads and regional meats and veggies.
Day 5 – Sightseeing in Bonn & Cologne
Drachenfels Castle
After breakfast, the group boarded vans to head to Drachenfels Castle in Bonn, Germany. A quick fun trip aboard the Drachenfels Vertical Tram led to the top of the hill for panoramic views of the Rhine River, city of Bonn, and verdant valleys below. Above the tram station are the ruins known as Drachenfels Castle. This architectural marvel is part villa, part mansion, and part castle…a truly unique building built in the early 1880s. The group hiked the stairs up to the ruins to get a close-up view and even better views.
Drachenburg Castle
Then after reboarding the tram, the group went back down the mountain halfway for a tour of the grand Drachenburg Castle. It was never lived in by its owners, but serves as an entrancing tourist attraction with a great hall featuring stained glass honoring leaders in politics, industry, religion, and all aspects of life. The surrounding grounds are beautifully landscaped.
Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom
After taking the tram down to the bottom of the mountain and a quick ride in the vans, the group was treated to a meal and FRÜH beers at Brauhaus FRÜH am Dom in Cologne. The traditional German fare of sausages, pretzels, schnitzel, and fried potatoes was sampled while enjoying the ambiance of the old world brewhouse restaurant. Full of charm and a few quirks such as the vomitorium near the men’s restroom in the basement.
Cologne Cathedral
The Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) is UNESCO site. The cathedral’s facade is one of the most recognizable in the world. Its history goes back to the Middle Ages. Construction of this Gothic masterpiece began in 1248, when building the cathedral was conceived to hold a goldsmith’s work of art entitled the Shrine of the Three Kings, where it has been since 1164. The cathedral was completed in several stages and was not completed until 1880. Its towers, built in the 1800s, remain the second-tallest structures in Cologne.
Riverfront & Brewery Districts
Then the group set off with some free time to explore the riverfront district (Rheinauhafen) and brewery district.
Dinner at ITO
Then the group reunited to head to ITO, a Japanese restaurant in Cologne. It may seem strange to seek out Japanese food while in Germany, but dinner was a feast for the senses. Beautifully presented food offered amazingly tantalizing taste “explosions” through several courses.
Day 6 – CUBIC Outdoor Living Factory
After breakfast, the group checkout to head 3 hours southeast to the factory of CUBIC Outdoor Living, a second generation family-owned cabinet maker for exterior applications.
The group visited the first CUBIC showroom and site of an outdoor kitchen installed in 2016 that looked brand new.
The showroom is actually the home of the company founders and parents of the current leader of CUBIC.
CUBIC was set to move its factory to its new nearby location the week after our visit so we were very honored that they took the time to show us the old and the new. The group reboarded the vans to head to the new factory that was an architectural marvel itself. Set in the countryside surrounded by fields and forest, CUBIC’s commitment to sustainability was evident.
The group arrived at the home of the founders of CUBIC with the original showroom on a fabulously landscaped terrace. It is the site of the first outdoor kitchen installed by CUBIC in 2008.
The new factory was still empty awaiting the move, but the showroom was teeming with beautiful exterior kitchens to explore. After enjoying a barbecue lunch prepared in the outdoor kitchen on Zwilling Flammkraft grill, the group enjoyed the quality and innovation of the displays including a Kitchen in a Cabinet, C1, C2, and C4 cabinetry, and many popular features such as in-counter gas burners and under-counter induction cooktops.
CUBIC showed the group that their outdoor kitchens work hard. Grilled seafood, meats, and veggies were grilled in the outdoor kitchen display in front of the showroom and added to a beautiful buffet of antipasti, salads, and sides. The cloudless warm day made the perfect dining experience.
The new CUBIC showroom was expansive and highlighted their versatile outdoor kitchen and furniture offerings. The group explored the bump-to-open cabinets, luxury grills, inset gas burners, hidden induction stovetop, and other innovations that make outdoor living as gracious as indoors.
The CUBIC owners joined the group on a drive to Kloster Kruezberg where a short hike to the top of the hill led to breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and a thirst for more German beer. Back down at the monastery, beer crafted by Franciscan monks was served along with plates of delectable cheese, bread, and butter with paprika.
After enjoying beer, great conversations, and a gorgeous sunny afternoon at the cloister, the group took a quick ride to Fulda where they checked in to the beautiful and a bit quirky Golden Karp hotel. Each room is decorated in a different theme and intriguing, sometimes cheeky artwork fills the halls.
The we took a short walk to Hohmanns Brauhaus for our last meal together as a group. The completely German experience was the perfect way to end our journey together.